<sh>Mall Stabbing
<bt>An 18-year-old Washington, D.C., woman got into a verbal altercation at Springfield Mall with a female acquaintance and an unidentified man. The altercation escalated and the 18-year-old woman was stabbed three times before the couple walked away. A warrant charging malicious wounding was on file for Chiquita Chapman, 22, of Lotus Court in Triangle, Va. The victim was treated at Inova Fairfax Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The investigation was continuing into the man's identity.
<sh>Robbery
<bt>Christopher Bowers, 18, Lakeside Oak Court in the Burke area, allegedly approached a 19-year-old Fairfax area man, as he sat in a car in the parking lot of the Exxon service station in the 5700 block of Burke Centre Parkway.
Bowers showed the victim a handgun tucked in the waistband of his pants and demanded money, according to police. The victim did not immediately comply, and Bowers pulled out the handgun and struck the victim in the face with it. The victim got out of his car and ran away.
Investigation led to Bower's identity, and he was arrested and charged with robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and malicious wounding. The victim was treated at Access of Fairfax for non-life threatening injuries.
<sh>Assault
<bt>A Burke area man, 45, was unloading groceries from his car when a Burke area girl, 16, approached him, stated she needed help and asked for a ride home. The man agreed because he recognized her from his place of employment, and as a neighborhood resident.
As they approached the girl's home, the girl asked the driver to pull over in the parking lot of a nearby church. The man complied and she got out of the car and asked him to wait for her. Moments later, he heard her screaming for help and got out of the car to investigate. Two men jumped him from behind and began beating him. One man took the victim's wallet, removed his cash, then the two men and the girl fled toward Oak Leather Drive. The suspects were identified and charges were pending the completion of the investigation
<sh>Cub Scout Bike Rodeo
<bt>On Nov. 9, Cub Scout Pack 1501 hosted its third annual “Bike Rodeo” at Rolling Hills Swim Club. The rodeo promoted bike safety and support for local law enforcement officials. In attendance were officers of the West Springfield Police bike patrol.
“This event is about safety and teaches kids to be prepared for any obstacles they might encounter,” said Officer Edward Henderson.
The officers instructed Pack 1501 and their friends on bicycle safety tips and then lead them through an obstacle course. Following the obstacle course, Pack 1501 presented the bike patrol with a plaque of gratitude for its service.
“We really appreciate the work the West Springfield Bike patrol does,” said Cub Scout leader Dan Garcia. “They were doing 12-hour shifts during the sniper crisis.”
Pack 1501 has been affiliated with Messiah United Methodist Church for nine years. It is composed of first through fifth graders.
<sh>Second Zoning Meeting
<bt>A citizen information meeting on the rezoning of a 17.2 acre property off Zion Drive has been rescheduled. The proposal is to change the zoning from R-1 to R-3. At the initial meeting, issues such as transportation, trees, buffer, drainage, erosion, open space and density were raised. The second meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m., at the Braddock District office, 9002 Burke Lake Road, next to the Kings Park Library.