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November 14, 2008
Awesome. Comments (1)
Beer-Tossing During Domestic Dispute Erupts at Halloween Parade
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Vienna police arrested a man and woman on Oct. 29 after they allegedly threw beer during a domestic dispute the Vienna Halloween Parade.
While directing traffic at the parade at about 8:56 p.m., an officer observed a domestic dispute beginning inside a vehicle.
The female participant, a 43-year-old Vienna woman then allegedly threw a beer from the vehicle onto the ground in front of families and children. She was arrested.
During the arrest, the other disputant, a 47-year-old Vienna man, allegedly threw another beer towards the officer and he, too, was arrested, police said.
Both subjects were charged with disorderly conduct and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where they were held on $300 bond, police said.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Vienna police arrested a man and woman on Oct. 29 after they allegedly threw beer during a domestic dispute the Vienna Halloween Parade.
While directing traffic at the parade at about 8:56 p.m., an officer observed a domestic dispute beginning inside a vehicle.
The female participant, a 43-year-old Vienna woman then allegedly threw a beer from the vehicle onto the ground in front of families and children. She was arrested.
During the arrest, the other disputant, a 47-year-old Vienna man, allegedly threw another beer towards the officer and he, too, was arrested, police said.
Both subjects were charged with disorderly conduct and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where they were held on $300 bond, police said.
August 28, 2008
One Catalytic Converter Theft .... Comments (0)
... and it gets its own headline in the Sun Gazette? Do stabbings at Cedar Lane Shopping Center even register a blip in the Praise-Be-To-Vienna-I-Love-Maud-Sun-Gazette?
Vienna Latest to Be Hit by Thefts of Catalytic Converters
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Vienna police are asking residents to report suspicious activities under vehicles, after someone allegedly stole the catalytic converter from a vehicle parked at Money & King Vienna Funeral Home on Aug. 17.
This is the first known case of a catalytic converter theft in the town of Vienna this year, police said.
The theft occurred between 1:45 and 2:30 a.m. at the funeral home, which is located in the 100 block of Maple Avenue, W.
Thieves have been stealing catalytic converters from parked vehicles in Northern Virginia, police said. A regional task force of law-enforcement agencies is looking into the matter.
A catalytic converter is inline exhaust apparatus that cleans burned engine gases before expelling them from a vehicle.
The device typically looks like a slender steel pipe, but may vary in shape.
Catalytic converters contain iridium and platinum and are very costly to replace, police said.
The Vienna case shows how quickly vehicles may be targeted and their catalytic converters removed, police said.
Anyone who observes people acting suspiciously or crawling underneath vehicles and removing a catalytic converter should report this to police immediately, authorities said.
July 28, 2008
Our Elected Leaders Are All Worthless. Comments (16)
Every single one of them should resign. Keeping your head buried in the sand has gone on too long. None of this violence is random. We have a nasty underbelly that has come to stay in Vienna.
July 26, 2008
Stabbing at the Vienna Inn. Comments (7)
From Channel 7 News:
Police Arrest Man in Vienna Attack
Sun July 27, 2008 - VIENNA, Va.Police have arrested a Vienna man who allegedly stabbed an area restaurant worker.
Police say they received a call about 2:45 a.m. Saturday from an employee of Vienna Inn on Maple Avenue, reporting he had been assaulted. Officials found the 38-year-old man bleeding and took him to a local hospital, where he was in intensive care.
Police say 21-year-old Jaimea Espinal of Vienna has been charged with aggravated malicious wounding in the incident. Espinal allegedly stabbed the victim at the Maple Avenue Restaurant before making a quick getaway.
Those familiar with the area say they are shocked by the attack. "[Vienna] is generally a very safe community, so you don't hear a lot about anything like this happening," said former Vienna resident, Kevin Stratton.
Saturday morning was different.
The owner of the Virginia restaurant was at the hospital this morning and spoke with ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 reporter, Phil Stewart. "He's a great guy, a friendly guy, harmless, so we don't know," said Marty Volk, owner of the Vienna Inn. "We're waiting for the answers too."
Police say the the motive for the stabbing, and whether it happened inside or out, is unclear. But what they do know is the victim frequently works nights, cleaning up after closing time. Volk said, "He's coming in and out of the building several times."
Evidence was found both inside the restaurant and out in the parking lot.
"Everybody who works at the Vienna Inn is probably considered family on some level, so to have somebody get hurt...our hearts go out to them," said Vienna resident, Pat McCloskey.
The victim worked at the establishment for 14 years. He is described as an Hispanic male. He is a husband and father. He underwent surgery Saturday morning at Fairfax hospital and is expected to be OK. "Now that we've seen him; we're happy," said Volk. "Not happy that it happened, but we're happy that he's doing well. It could have been worse."
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July 17, 2008
Forget the Flop Houses and Child Rapes .... Comments (6)
ALL HANDS ON DECK: Someone might steal a fire-hydrant!
Police Ask Residents to Report Thefts of Fire-Hydrant Parts Thursday, July 17, 2008 Sun GazetteVienna police, citing reported thefts in other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, are asking residents to keep an eye out for people who have been stealing operating nuts from fire hydrants.
The brass nuts, which are located on top of the hydrants, are used to open and close the fireplugs' water-flow valves. Theft of these parts can render the fireplugs inoperable and cause a safety hazard, police said.
Prince William County police on July 9 arrested Douglas Mumaw, 40, of Strasburg, Va., after he allegedly tried to sell stolen fire-hydrant parts.
Vienna police said if residents see people stealing the hydrant nuts, they should call 911 and take notes, but not intervene. Observers should note description details of the thieves, their getaway vehicles and any of the occupants, police said.
July 16, 2008
Is the Vienna Times Reading HistoricVienna.com? Comments (5)
Vienna has eye on crime
By Monty Tayloe
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16 2008
In the past few months, the Town of Vienna has experienced a series of serious crimes, from the apparent murder of a young woman just outside the town borders last week to a string of recent sexual assault cases, and the attempted abduction of a man at knifepoint last month.
"We've had a lot of serious events in recent weeks. ... These kinds of events would stand out for us at any time," said Vienna Police Chief Robert Carlisle. However, despite the recent string of incidents, Carlisle says that for the year so far, crime in Vienna has not increased significantly over the last few years.
So far, Vienna has experienced two aggravated assaults in 2008. In all of 2007 there were five, in 2006 11. Chief Carlisle is quick to point out that the drop-off doesn't mean much more than an uptick would.
"When you have such small numbers of crimes, they can vary pretty wildly from year to year," Carlisle said.
The numbers are just as close in other categories of crime.
"So far this year we've had 17 burglaries, last year we had 26," Carlisle said.
One reason it may feel like a heavier year for crime in Vienna is that residents are getting more information from the police than they ever have before. "We are doing a much more robust program in pushing info out to the community," Carlisle said.
Last fall, Officer William Murray, a 20-year veteran of Vienna police work, became the force's first public information officer.
"Before, that information wasn't getting out, it wasn't as accessible," Murray said.
Murray's work means that violent crimes in Vienna are now ending up on the evening news and the local papers, which might contribute to some residents felling more unsafe. However, Carlisle says that's not the point.
"Knowledge is power. ... I think we can prevent more crimes by letting people know about what's happening," Carlisle said.
Even with that flood of knowledge, many Vienna citizens don't feel that their town has a crime problem.
Greg Moessian, whose Alfa Shoe Repair store has operated in Vienna for 20 years, says that crime is not a big worry for him.
"I feel very safe here," said Moessian. "I hear about some crimes, but not very often."
"Having traveled and seen what real crime is, I think we live in a very safe area," resident Deborah Pratt said.
"We're trying to put things out there as much as we can, if we have a thousand eyes in Vienna on crime maybe we can get ahead of it," Carlisle said.
By Monty Tayloe
In the past few months, the Town of Vienna has experienced a series of serious crimes, from the apparent murder of a young woman just outside the town borders last week to a string of recent sexual assault cases, and the attempted abduction of a man at knifepoint last month.
"We've had a lot of serious events in recent weeks. ... These kinds of events would stand out for us at any time," said Vienna Police Chief Robert Carlisle. However, despite the recent string of incidents, Carlisle says that for the year so far, crime in Vienna has not increased significantly over the last few years.
So far, Vienna has experienced two aggravated assaults in 2008. In all of 2007 there were five, in 2006 11. Chief Carlisle is quick to point out that the drop-off doesn't mean much more than an uptick would.
"When you have such small numbers of crimes, they can vary pretty wildly from year to year," Carlisle said.
The numbers are just as close in other categories of crime.
"So far this year we've had 17 burglaries, last year we had 26," Carlisle said.
One reason it may feel like a heavier year for crime in Vienna is that residents are getting more information from the police than they ever have before. "We are doing a much more robust program in pushing info out to the community," Carlisle said.
Last fall, Officer William Murray, a 20-year veteran of Vienna police work, became the force's first public information officer.
"Before, that information wasn't getting out, it wasn't as accessible," Murray said.
Murray's work means that violent crimes in Vienna are now ending up on the evening news and the local papers, which might contribute to some residents felling more unsafe. However, Carlisle says that's not the point.
"Knowledge is power. ... I think we can prevent more crimes by letting people know about what's happening," Carlisle said.
Even with that flood of knowledge, many Vienna citizens don't feel that their town has a crime problem.
Greg Moessian, whose Alfa Shoe Repair store has operated in Vienna for 20 years, says that crime is not a big worry for him.
"I feel very safe here," said Moessian. "I hear about some crimes, but not very often."
"Having traveled and seen what real crime is, I think we live in a very safe area," resident Deborah Pratt said.
"We're trying to put things out there as much as we can, if we have a thousand eyes in Vienna on crime maybe we can get ahead of it," Carlisle said.
Another Stupid Vienna Crook. Comments (2)
Too bad we don't have a police sketch ...
Alleged Champagne Thief Threatens Grocery Clerk Wednesday, July 16, 2008, Sun GazetteFairfax County police are looking for a man who allegedly stole champagne from a grocery store in the Vienna area on July 4 and threatened a clerk who confronted him.
The suspect entered the alcoholic-beverage section of the Safeway store at 3043 Nutley St. at about 8:45 a.m. and asked an employee about champagne.
After the employee returned to his duties, the suspect allegedly placed six bottles of champagne into his backpack and walked out without paying, police said.
The employee chased the suspect until he produced a knife and threatened the clerk. No one was injured, police said.
The suspect was described as white, between 18 and 22 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 140 pounds, with short brown hair. He was wearing a blue shirt, khaki shorts and white shoes, police said.
July 11, 2008
Young Girls Sexually Abused in Vienna Flop House Comments (13)
Town of Vienna, Virginia Police Department
Media Information Release
Multiple Arrests for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
Involving Minors
On July 7, 2008 at approximately 10:00 a.m. Town of Vienna Police Officers responded to a residence on Cottage Street, SW in Vienna for an unwanted guest. An uninvited 19 year old Hispanic male was seen entering a home occupied by three young girls ages 10-13.
Arriving officers located the unwanted subject hiding in a bathtub within the home. The individual and all involved parties were interviewed. Subsequent to conducting interviews, detectives learned of several events which had occurred in the past involving two of the girls.
Additional investigation revealed that sometime during the month of April, 2008 a then 17 year old male, engaged in Unlawful Carnal Knowledge of a Minor with one of the girls. This offense is a Class 6 Felony and the individual, now an adult, is being charged as a juvenile because of his age at the time of the offense. The individual, currently 18 years of age, was arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, formally charged, and held without bond.
Continuing investigation revealed that another adult male, Luis Roberto Portillo Ramos, 20 years of age of Vienna, had solicited sex from one of the girls. He was charged with Indecent Liberties with a Child, a Class 5 Felony. Mr. Portillo Ramos was already incarcerated on an unrelated charge at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He was formally charged with Indecent Liberties with a Child and held without bond.
A third adult male, Jose Narisco Ramos Portillo, 19 years of age, of no fixed address was also arrested and charged with Aggravated Sexual Battery involving one of the girls. This charge is an unclassed Felony punishable by 1-20 years in prison upon conviction. This individual was also arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he is being held without bond.
Please contact MPO Bill Murray for further information at
703.255.6396 or wmurray@viennava.gov
Multiple Arrests for Unlawful Sexual Conduct
Involving Minors
On July 7, 2008 at approximately 10:00 a.m. Town of Vienna Police Officers responded to a residence on Cottage Street, SW in Vienna for an unwanted guest. An uninvited 19 year old Hispanic male was seen entering a home occupied by three young girls ages 10-13.
Arriving officers located the unwanted subject hiding in a bathtub within the home. The individual and all involved parties were interviewed. Subsequent to conducting interviews, detectives learned of several events which had occurred in the past involving two of the girls.
Additional investigation revealed that sometime during the month of April, 2008 a then 17 year old male, engaged in Unlawful Carnal Knowledge of a Minor with one of the girls. This offense is a Class 6 Felony and the individual, now an adult, is being charged as a juvenile because of his age at the time of the offense. The individual, currently 18 years of age, was arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, formally charged, and held without bond.
Continuing investigation revealed that another adult male, Luis Roberto Portillo Ramos, 20 years of age of Vienna, had solicited sex from one of the girls. He was charged with Indecent Liberties with a Child, a Class 5 Felony. Mr. Portillo Ramos was already incarcerated on an unrelated charge at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He was formally charged with Indecent Liberties with a Child and held without bond.
A third adult male, Jose Narisco Ramos Portillo, 19 years of age, of no fixed address was also arrested and charged with Aggravated Sexual Battery involving one of the girls. This charge is an unclassed Felony punishable by 1-20 years in prison upon conviction. This individual was also arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he is being held without bond.
Please contact MPO Bill Murray for further information at
703.255.6396 or wmurray@viennava.gov
July 10, 2008
Young Girl Sexually Assaulted Comments (0)
Girl assaulted in Vienna
Fairfax County
Source: Fairfax County Times
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 2008
A 13-year-old girl reported that she was sexually assaulted while visiting relatives Vienna last weekend, according to the Town of Vienna police.
On July 1, the victim was alone at the Nutley Street home of a relative when a black male aged 18 or 19 allegedly entered the home and forced the girl to have sexual intercourse. The crime wasn't reported until July 8. Police are still investigating how the subject, a stranger, gained entry to the residence.
The suspect is described as a black male, 18-19 years old about 5 feet 11 inches with twisted or braided hair, two vertical shave marks in each eyebrow, single diamond earrings in both ears and a tattoo on the right shoulder depicting a cross with the letters “R.I.P.” under it. He was wearing a black V-neck T-shirt, black socks, new black Jordan sneakers and was wearing a silver chain necklace with a heavy 5-6-inch cross hanging on the end.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Detective Tina Brook of the Vienna Police Department at 703-255-6395.
Fairfax County
Source: Fairfax County Times
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 2008
A 13-year-old girl reported that she was sexually assaulted while visiting relatives Vienna last weekend, according to the Town of Vienna police.
On July 1, the victim was alone at the Nutley Street home of a relative when a black male aged 18 or 19 allegedly entered the home and forced the girl to have sexual intercourse. The crime wasn't reported until July 8. Police are still investigating how the subject, a stranger, gained entry to the residence.
The suspect is described as a black male, 18-19 years old about 5 feet 11 inches with twisted or braided hair, two vertical shave marks in each eyebrow, single diamond earrings in both ears and a tattoo on the right shoulder depicting a cross with the letters “R.I.P.” under it. He was wearing a black V-neck T-shirt, black socks, new black Jordan sneakers and was wearing a silver chain necklace with a heavy 5-6-inch cross hanging on the end.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Detective Tina Brook of the Vienna Police Department at 703-255-6395.
July 09, 2008
Woman's Body Found on Malraux Drive near Trail Comments (4)
Please see section in bold below. Doesn't this mean she was found pretty much on/near the trail? Over the years, the trail has been the site of numerous criminal attacks.
Arrest Made in Slaying of Vienna Woman
(Created: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 9:06 AM EDT)
Sun Gazette
Fairfax County police have arrested a 30-year-old Woodbridge man in connection with the July 4 slaying of a 25-year-old Vienna-area woman.
A resident found the woman's body shortly after 6:30 a.m. on the sidewalk in the 2300 block of Malraux Drive.
The victim, identified as Homaira Rahman of Litwalton Court, apparently had suffered upper-body trauma, police said. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, officials said.
Police arrested Ehsan Amin of Woodbridge at Inova Fairfax Hospital on July 4 and took him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, where he was charged with abduction and murder.
Authorities said the victim and suspect may have known each other.
Rahman's body was discovered within sight of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. Police ask anyone who may have been on the trail or in that vicinity recently to call Crime Stoppers at 1 (866) 411-8477 or county police at (703) 691-2131.
July 07, 2008
F%$king Awesome. Comments (4)
Let's hear it for NW Vienna. Whoo-hoo! And, you all thought all the fun was just at Cedar Lane?! Nothing says Happy 4th of July like an abduction at knife-point. Isn't this the same day we found the dead body across town in the Dunn Loring area?
Town of Vienna, Virginia Police Department Media Information Release
Man Abducted and Threatened With a Knife
On July 4, 2008 at approximately 2:11 p.m., units from the Town of Vienna Police Department responded to the 100 Block of Lewis Street, NW for a reported assault. After arriving, an officer began interviewing the complainant in Spanish. The complainant reported that earlier in the day at approximately 2:00 a.m. another individual that lives in the home had attempted to make contact with the victim. The victim was sleeping and had his door locked so the subject was unsuccessful in making contact. Later on that same morning, the victim awoke and came out of his bedroom. He was approached by the same individual, Vicente De Jesus Carrion Espinosa, 42, of Lewis Street in Vienna, and told to go run an errand for him. The victim refused and was then threatened with a knife. The victim fled and secreted himself in a bedroom. The arrested subject forced the victim to remain in his room under threat of violence for approximately 4 hours. At approximately 2:00 p.m. the victim was able to exit the room and call the police. Officers entered the home and found the suspect, Mr. Carrion Espinosa. He was arrested and charged with Abduction by Force and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he is being held without bond.
July 05, 2008
Seriously, What is This Place Coming To? Comments (7)
You want to rob, cheat, steal, kill - come to Vienna. No one is on duty. No one is home. It is the wild, wild west.
Man, 30, Is Charged In Woman's SlayingBy Michael Laris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 5, 2008; B03The body of a 25-year-old woman was found on the sidewalk of a cul-de-sac in the Vienna area early yesterday, and Fairfax County police said they charged a man with abduction and murder in the case.
The victim, Homaira Rahman, lived a half-mile from where she was found, according to police. Detectives think that she and the suspect knew each other, said Officer Don Gotthardt, a Fairfax police spokesman.
Police declined to give details of how Rahman was killed, but they said she suffered trauma to her upper body. An autopsy will be performed.
Gotthardt said the suspect, Ehsan Amin, 30, lives in the 16000 block of Kings Mountain Drive in Woodbridge. However, a man reached by telephone at that address said Amin stays there only occasionally.
Amin was taken to Fairfax's Adult Detention Center, police said.
Tooba Mayel, a close friend of Rahman's family, said Rahman was a generous and sparkling force among loved ones and the broader Afghan community. Her family moved to the area in the 1980s, and she was born in the United States.
"She was a beautiful, tall girl with a smile on her face," Mayel said. "Friends and family always called her sunshine. Our entire community is in grief right now."
Rahman encouraged young Afghan American women to find jobs, Mayel said, and "she was always volunteering to do charity work for the kids in Afghanistan."
Rahman, who lived in the 8700 block of Litwalton Court in the Vienna area, was also known among her friends as "the fashionista," Mayel said. "She wore the best clothes, the newest trends in clothes. She just had a lot of love for that," Mayel said. "She's just a very colorful person. She's always wearing bright colors, happy-go-lucky, very bubbly."
A man out for a walk came across Rahman's body in the 2300 block of Malraux Drive shortly after 6:30 a.m., police said.
"Her arms were very badly scraped up," said Dennis McAuliffe, a neighbor who also saw the scene. Rahman was fully clothed, and a pocketbook lay by her side, he said.
"I don't know if there's a quieter street in Vienna, in Fairfax County, than here," McAuliffe said.
Flags dotted the neighborhood for the Fourth of July.
"People don't drive fast. There are a lot of kids. It's a pretty family-oriented neighborhood," resident Ron Alexander said.
Staff researcher Eddy Palanzo contributed to this report.
July 01, 2008
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb Comments (1)
Limo Driver and Accomplice Allegedly Rob Man in Vienna
Sun Gazette
(Created: Tuesday, July 1, 2008 12:02 PM EDT)
A limousine driver and an accomplice allegedly abducted and robbed a 26-year-old Manassas man on June 21, Fairfax County police said.
The victim was lost in Washington, D.C., at around 3:30 a.m. when he saw a limousine at a gas station. The man asked the driver for a ride to Vienna and offered to pay. The driver obliged and after a short ride, stopped to pick up another man, police said.
As the driver passed over Interstate 66 on Nutley Street, the second passenger allegedly pulled out a gun and demanded money from the victim, police said.
The suspects drove the victim to an ATM and allegedly ordered him to withdraw money and return to the car. The victim complied and handed over his money, police said.
The suspects continued driving and the victim attempted to get out of the car. The doors were locked but the suspect who was driving eventually stopped the car and the victim escaped. The victim was not injured, police said.
Both suspects were described as black. The driver was between 38 and 45 years old, about 6 feet tall and 250 pounds. He had a long beard only on his chin and wore glasses, a light-colored sweater and light-colored pants.
The second suspect was between 24 and 28 years old, about 6 feet 1 inch tall and 150 pounds, wearing a blue shirt and dark blue jeans.
June 25, 2008
'Emerging Gang' Members, Come On Over to Vienna to Where All the Action Is! Comments (2)
To think we could have both MS-13 and this emerging gang right here in town. FUN.
County Police Make Arrests of Members of 'Emerging Gang' by BRIAN TROMPETER, Staff Writer (Created: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 6:22 AM EDT)Fairfax County police have arrested six young men who authorities said were part of an emerging gang.
Police believe there may be 15 to 20 members of this predominately Asian group, which is based in the Fairfax, Centreville, Fair Oaks and Falls Church areas.
The investigation began after a Feb. 18 robbery and mob assault, which took place on a basketball court behind Fair Lakes Shopping Center. A verbal altercation became physical, resulting in several teenagers attacking a 15-year-old Fairfax boy, police said.
The boy was kicked and punched as he tried to get away from the group. Members of the group took the boy's backpack and belongings, police said.
Following that incident, which was not reported to police, another incident involving some of the same suspects took place on a basketball court in the Fair Oaks area.
More than 30 people met at the court, where a violent fight took place between the two groups. Police are aware of at least one person who sought medical treatment at a local hospital's emergency room. Several weapons were recovered from the scene, police said.
Police launched an investigation that coordinated with school-resource officers from Fairfax, Oakton and Centreville high schools. Fairfax County patrol and bicycle officers from the Fair Oaks District Station and gang-unit detectives also participated in the investigation.
Authorities established that there were two separate acts of violence that took place and charged the following individuals with robbery and mob assault: two 16-year-old boys and one 17-year-old boy, of Fairfax High School, on April 2; two Oakton High School students, ages 16 and 17, on May 7; and an adult, Daniel Y. Choi, 19, of 9600 Blake Lane in the Oakton area on June 7. There are no other charges anticipated.
Police ask anyone with information about these incidents to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1 (866) 411-8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County police at (703) 691-2131.
June 19, 2008
Is the Mayor Now Babysitting AND Handing Out Library Cards? Comments (7)
Child Left Unattended at Patrick Henry Library for Hours
Source: WJLA News
A mother is facing child neglect charges after police said she left her young child at a Vienna library, while she went to work.
Around 1:30 p.m., police went to the Patrick Henry Library at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Center Street. A library employee called to say a six-year-old boy was left unattended.
The child told employees his mom had dropped him off at the library, said she'd be back in three hours and then left. Officers worked to find out his name and where he lived. According to officers, the boy didn't know his address or telephone number.
Police said the boy did know where his mom worked and a dispatcher was able to call the woman at her workplace and tell her to come to the library. Both the boy's mother and father come to the library and talk with officer.
The mother, 37-year-old Mei Mei Lin was charged with child neglect for leaving her son unsupervised. She faces up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. Lin was released on a summons. The child was released into the father's custody.
This isn't the first case of a child left unattended at a library. Mary Mulrenan with the Fairfax County (web|news) 's public library says it's happened at her location. "It does happen. It's not something that happens on a daily basis, regularly, but it is something that does occur at the library."
Because of that incident, Fairfax County put pamphlets in all of their libraries telling parents how young, is too young. It recommends that any child under seven should never be left alone in a public place for any period of time.
Fairfax County Child Protective Services will be following up on the case.
June 03, 2008
Library Fun in Vienna! Comments (2)
Weekly Crime Report
By the Vienna Police Department
TOWN OF VIENNA POLICE REPORT 6/2/08
for the period May 23-June 1
Arrest Location:100 block Maple Ave., E.
Date/Time:3:20 p.m. May 27
Details:Police responded to a call for an intoxicated male harassing patrons at the Patrick Henry Library. The subject was identified as Emmett Thomas Mountcastle, 49, of Meadow Lane in Vienna. He was arrested for being Drunk in Public and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Vandalism Location:Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave., E.
Date/Time:11:55 a.m. May 28
Details:A window was broken on a vehicle in the parking lot of the Patrick Henry Library. Nothing was removed from the vehicle.
Arrrest Location:Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave., E.
Date/Time:12:10 a.m. June 1
Details:An officer observed several young men behind the library and subsequently charged Robert Michael Ashwell, 18, 11626 Ayreshire Rd., Oakton, with drunk in public and Justin Plymack, 18, 2752 Marshall Lake Dr., Oakton, with underage possession of alcohol.
