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Message From the Commander |
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Welcome to the December 2022 edition of the Franconia Community Report. I hope each of you had an opportunity to be with family and friends during the Thanksgiving holiday. On behalf of the Franconia Police team, we’re thankful for your continued support and dedication to public safety. A special thank you to our Community Advisory Committee (CAC), led by Chair Kim Barber, for once again preparing Thanksgiving meals for our officers who spent the holiday at work and away from their families.
Our Christmas Anti-Theft Operation kicked-off on November 19th. Thank you to Mission BBQ for catering a working lunch for this year’s team members. We were honored to be joined by Supervisor Lusk, CAC Chair Kim Barber and representatives from the PREIT Corporation and Amazon.
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Public-safety is best achieved when it is a collaborative process; early results from this year’s operation reflect the value of this thinking – since November 19th, our anti-theft team has made more than 100 arrests and recovered nearly $6,500 in stolen property!
The district-wide crime fight is continuing to gain momentum as well. Since June 30th, Franconia District crime trends include a 19% reduction in robberies, a 14% reduction in stolen autos and an 8% reduction in assaults. YTD, Group-A offenses remain above 2021 data by approximately 20%. Larcenies, especially of motor vehicle parts, continue to drive that trend. Initiatives are in-place to counter these offenses and are proving effective. For instance, officers responded to a total of only three reports of catalytic converter thefts in the entire month of November! Crime is constantly evolving and I’m proud of the hard work and professionalism on display each day by our officers and professional staff. Together, we’re all making a difference!
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John
John Lieb, Captain
Commander, Franconia District Station
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Comments?
Let us know what you think of the Community Report. Are there things you would like to see, not see, or see differently? Tell us about it.
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- Commander's Message
- Officer of the Month Averts Possible Suicide
- Victim Services Donation Drive
- Holiday Driving Dangers - Speeding and DWI
- Community Outreach - Traffic Town Hall, Edison HS Event
- Franconia Incident Reporting
- Bias Crime
- Franconia Calls for Service YTD Up Led by Traffic Calls
- Serious Crimes Increase Compared to Last Year
- Arrests Up 35% Over November 2021
- December Traffic Initiatives Focus on Speeding and DWI
- Community Advisory Committee - Schedule and Events
- Recruiting, Crime Solvers and Social Media Links
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Officer of the Month Averts Possible Suicide |
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PFC Zil Javaid is Franconia District Station Officer of the Month for November.
On November 3, 2022, officers were dispatched to the 7200 block of Skyles Way in Springfield for a domestic incident. The caller stated that her son was intoxicated and destroying property inside their apartment. PFC Javaid was the first officer to arrive on the scene. She immediately recognized a juvenile in crisis and took the proper steps to try to negotiate with him from the door.
While she was speaking with the juvenile, he ran towards the apartment balcony. PFC Javaid decided to enter the apartment alone and grabbed the juvenile from the balcony because she feared he would jump. As she grabbed him, he kicked her in the upper body, but she still managed to gain control and prevent him from jumping.
Due to the swift actions from PFC Javaid, the juvenile was safely restrained and ultimately received the appropriate mental health care.
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You Can Help the Victims of Crime |
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Victim Services is holding their 9th Annual Holiday Gift Card Drive through December 16th. Click on the image to see how you can participate. |
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Victim Services Division is always in need of gift cards to provide for victims and their children who have fled the home due to violence and are now in a safe shelter.
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Holiday Driving Dangers -Speeding and DWI |
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The winter holiday season can be a joyous time, but it brings with it increased danger for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and others. Early darkness, poor weather, and the holiday rush in general are all factors in making December the most dangerous of the winter driving months. Two driving behaviors are particularly dangerous but also very avoidable: speeding and driving while intoxicated (DWI). |
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Speeding
Speeding increases the risk of having an accident and the severity of the accident in several ways:
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Reaction. Reaction time - the time between the moment something happens in front of you and your body's ability to start reacting to it - means there is more danger at higher speeds. With darkness or poor weather, the danger is even more pronounced.
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Braking. The distance required to bring a vehicle to a halt increases with the square of the car's speed. Thus, doubling the speed means it takes roughly four times the distance to stop.
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Impact. The higher the speed, the higher the momentum of a vehicle and the higher the force of impact when a collision occurs.
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Driving While Intoxicated
According to the CDC driving while intoxicated (DWI) plays a role in one out of every three vehicular deaths in the US. Just a small amount of alcohol can impair your judgment and vision. So, not being “legally” drunk, doesn’t mean it is safe to drive. If you drink don't drive. Instead, call Soberride, a cab, a rideshare service, or have a designated driver.
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Judgment. Consuming alcohol impairs judgment and makes you more prone to distractions while driving. You need a clear head to judge stopping distances and recognize dangers.
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Coordination and Reaction Times. Alcohol causes the body to react more slowly. It slows reflexes and affects other motor skills, including foot, eye, and hand coordination.
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Impaired Vision Alcohol can cause blurred vision, involuntary eye movement, and loss of peripheral vision, The more you drink, the more impaired your vision is likely become.
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Ramifications Not only does drinking and driving put you and others at risk for injury or death, if you are found to be DWI, you may end up in jail for the night, and you will face increased fines, driving restrictions and other penalties. Your automobile insurance may also be affected.
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Don't Miss the Traffic Town Hall
To register for the Traffic Town Hall, click on the image.
You can also register using the URL or QR code in the image.
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Students Buckle Up
Captain Lieb and the Franconia Police District partnered with Edison High School Principal Pamela Brumfield, FCPS School Board Vice Chair and Franconia District Representative Tamara Derenak Kaufax, and Amazon Global Specialty Fulfilment Manager Nick Ruggiero for a traffic-safety outreach event aimed at emphasizing the importance of seat-belt usage. Knowing that seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers, officers verified that student drivers and their vehicle occupants were properly buckled – we found 100% compliance! Student participants received Amazon gift cards, Fire Tablets, TV Sticks, Echo devices & Starbucks gift cards.
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For more information about these events or for other crime prevention information and assistance, contact the
Franconia District Station Crime Prevention Office:
Crime Prevention Officer
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Click below to visit the Fairfax County Police Department's
Crime Prevention & Awareness page.
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Franconia Incident Reporting |
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In response to community feedback, Captain Lieb recently launched the Franconia Crime Report. The information below is from his most recent postings on nextdoor. The information is based on initial reports and is not a comprehensive list of every police event.
November 16 to November 23
BURGLARY (Commercial): November 17th @ 4:47a.m. 6134 Brandon Ave, Springfield (A&D Pharmacy). Two suspects forced entry and stole prescription medicines. The suspects left in a dark sedan driven by a 3rd suspect. Case is active and assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division.
BURGLARY (Residential): November 16th @ 9:34p.m. 6300 block of Still Spring Place, Lorton. A 37-year-old man from Falls Church arrested for committing two burglaries of neighboring homes.
November 17th @ 11p.m. 4600 block of Backlick Road, Springfield. Personal items stolen; No signs of forced entry. Case is active and assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division.
ROBBERY: November 18th @ 9:21p.m. 6655 Springfield Mall (Dave and Buster's). Offender displayed a firearm and stole the victim’s shoes. Juvenile offender charged.
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE: Between November 17th @ 7p.m. and November 18th @ 1:30a.m.:
- 5900 block of Founders Hill Drive, Alexandria. (x2)
- 5919 block of Coverdale Way, Alexandria.
- 6000 block of Goldenrod Court, Alexandria
- 6100 block of Gardenia Court, Alexandria
LARCENY: November 18th @ 1235p.m. 5980 Kingstowne Towne Center (Safeway). Victim reported being approach by two adult men; one distracted the victim while the other stole her wallet from her purse. Similar incidents occurred at other Kingstowne retail stores on November 11th and 12th. Cases are active and assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division.
STOLEN AUTO: November 21st at 11:30a.m. 5900 block of Coverdale Way, Alexandria. 2022 Dodge TRX, locked & keys accounted for.
November 24th - November 30th
BURGLARY (Commercial): November 29th @ 1:53a.m. 6920 Bradlick Shopping Center, Annandale (Subway). Offender gained access by breaking the glass storefront and stole the cash register. Case is active and assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division.
November 29th @ 1:53a.m. 6920 Bradlick Shopping Center, Annandale (ABC Store). Offender gained access by breaking the glass storefront. Case is active and assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division.
LARCENY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE: Between November 20th @ 6:30 p.m. and November 21st @ 8:30a.m., 7300 block of Calamo St, Springfield. Landscaping equipment stolen from bed of a truck and from cabin area, entry was forced via rear window.
STOLEN AUTO: November 26th @ 3:41a.m. 6300 block of Walker Lane, Alexandria 2002 Toyota Camry, vehicle left unlocked with engine running. (Arrest made.)
November 26th between 4:00p.m. - 6:00p.m. 2010 Mercedes E550, unknown whether vehicle was locked; keys accounted for and not reported to be left inside.
LARCENY: November 20th and November 27th - 6575 Frontier Drive, Springfield (ULTA): Perfume and cosmetics valued at more than $7,000 stolen. Female offenders left in a Honda sedan with unknown license plates.
November 20th and November 28th – 5840 Kingstowne Boulevard, Alexandria (Bath and Body Works): Candles valued at more than $1,000 stolen. Female offenders left in an unknown vehicle.
(These cases are active and assigned to our Criminal Investigations Division. Detectives are exploring whether these cases are related.)
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Juveniles Arrested Following Armed Robbery at Dave and Buster's
On November 19th, four juveniles were arrested for committing an armed robbery the previous day at the Dave and Buster's in the Springfield Town Center. The offenders displayed a firearm and stole the victim’s shoes. A search warrant was later executed at the home of one of the juvenile offenders, and evidence was seized, including several firearms. The offenders are believed to be responsible for a number of recent crimes in both the Mount Vernon and Franconia Police Districts. Those cases remain active, and charges are pending based on additional investigation.
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The incidents below are from official FCPD news releases. Click on the underlined headings to see the full release. |
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On October 29th, a victim driving home saw three people on the side of I-495 and stopped to provide aid. One of the stranded group said they needed money to continue their travels. She showed the victim a watch and gold jewelry and requested cash in exchange. She convinced the victim to drive to an ATM while the other two men followed in a black SUV. The victim realized this was likely a scam, stopped in a parking lot and exited his car. Through intimidation, the suspects forced the man to withdraw money. Once the victim’s accounts were empty, the suspects left and the victim called 911.
Officers searched for the SUV used in the crime and on November 3rd an officer saw a gray SUV that appeared to be disabled on the Dulles Toll Road. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the occupants as Magdalena Mazil (right), 39, Hagi Voinescu (middle), 36, and Romeo Voinescu (left), 23 from Baltimore. Officers obtained consent to search the vehicle and located large amounts of fake gold jewelry.
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After further investigation, officers obtained warrants for abduction, four counts of robbery and other offenses for all three individuals. On November 22nd, Baltimore City detectives arrested Hagi and Magdalena. Romeo remains outstanding.
Detectives believe the suspects are related to other crimes in the area. Anyone with information about this crime or believe they were victim to their scheme, please call 703-691-2131. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers.
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On November 11th, officers responded to numerous calls for service for a man running into traffic and conducting himself in a disorderly manner. An officer found an individual blocking southbound Amherst Avenue. The officer attempted to speak with him and guide him onto the sidewalk, but he ran back into traffic.
After additional attempts to engage the individual, Fire and Rescue personnel were requested. He was placed in handcuffs to prevent him from running back into traffic. No force was used while taking him into custody.
While enroute to the hospital the individual suffered a medical emergency. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the specific cause and manner of death.
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November Bias Crime Incidents |
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SUSPICIOUS EVENT (Anti-Islamic/Muslim): Monday, 11/21/2022, 6900 block of Bradlick Shopping Center. The reporting party was turning into the mosque parking lot when a subject stopped behind him and cursed at him.
For more detail on Virginia and Fairfax County Bias Crime law click HERE.
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REMINDER:
Please be vigilant & report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood
Anyone with information pertaining to cases is asked to contact Crime Solvers by one of the methods below. If the information provided results in an arrest and indictment, apprehension of a fugitive or the recovery of stolen property or seizure of illegal drugs, a cash reward ranging between $100 to $1000 is paid to the tipster.
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By Phone -1-866-411-TIPS ( 866-411-8477);
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By Text - Send a text message to 847411, then type the keyword "FCCS" add a space, type your tip info and hit send;
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By web - Click HERE; or,
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Download our Mobile tip411 App "Fairfax Co Crime Solvers."
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Calls for Service and Crime Statistics
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Total Calls for Service FCPD-wide increased 7.2% in November 2022 versus November 2021.
In Franconia, total Calls for Service increased 5.4% in November 2022 compared to November 2021. Calls in the Service category decreased 3.1%, Criminal category calls increased 1.2% and Traffic category calls increased 31.5%.
YTD, Franconia Officers have been dispatched to 49,524 calls for service.
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To see the call types included in each category click HERE
For information on how these statistics are compiled click HERE .
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In the January - November period of 2022, Franconia Group A Events (more serious crimes) increased by 21% compared with January - November 2021. There were increases in all Patrol Service Areas. The increase in YTD Group A events is in the context of an increase in October arrests of 37% (see Arrests below).
The FCPD department-wide YTD change in Group A Events was a 14% increase.
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Group A offenses are more serious offenses as designated by the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). For a full description of Groups A and B click HERE.
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Franconia Police District News |
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Traffic Safety Initiatives |
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Each month, sections of the traffic code are selected for special emphasis. The selection is based on county-wide focus areas, seasonal variables, public safety concerns, and other factors. For the month of December, the areas below are selected. Brief interpretations of key points of the code are listed. Click on the code section reference numbers for the full text of the code. |
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December 1st-31st, Safe December DWI Enforcement: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”
December 1st – 31st Speed Enforcement
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46.2-873. ...The maximum speed limit shall be twenty-five miles per hour between portable signs, tilt-over signs, or fixed blinking signs placed in or along any highway and bearing the word "school" or "school crossing." ...punishable by a fine of not more than $250, in addition to other penalties provided by law.
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46.2-878.1. ...Operation of any motor vehicle in excess of a maximum speed limit established specifically for a highway work zone, when workers are present ... shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $500.
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46.2-878.2. Operation of any motor vehicle in excess of a maximum speed limit established for a highway in a residence district of a county, city, or town, ... shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of $200, in addition to other penalties provided by law.
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Franconia
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
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CAC meetings are normally held at 7 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. |
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Next Meeting: Wednesday, December 15th, 2022 at 7 PM in the Community Room, Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road.
Agenda: APO Rich Majauskas on the Auxiliary Police Officer program.
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Find your purpose and contribute to the community
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Keep in Touch with FCPD
Information and alerts from the Police Department are available
on our web pages and on many social media platforms.
Click on the button below for a list of links.
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