<sh>Suspicious Death in Lorton
<sh>Fairfax County Police are investigating a suspicious death that occurred in the Lorton area. On Saturday, Aug. 23, around 8:30 a.m., police received the report of a dead person. Officers arrived in the 9500 block of Inverary Court and found Manfredy Molina, 20, inside his home, dead from a gunshot wound to the upper body. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Molina's death.
<sh>ATMs Robbed
<bt>Fairfax County Crime Solvers is asking for the public's assistance identifying the persons responsible for a series of larcenies from ATMs in the Springfield and McLean areas. Since June of this year, at least four ATMs have been drilled open and had the cash stolen, according to police. All of these ATMs have been located inside hotels or food establishments where there are no security cameras located near the machines. In each case, the machine was located in an area that was not heavily traveled or visible. In one case, the persons gained access to the machine by crawling through the ceiling tiles inside the cafe to reach the ATM, which was located behind a locked door. More than $30,000 in cash has been stolen, and over $4,500 in damage has occurred as a result. Detectives believe that similar cases in Arlington County and Rockville City may also be related to this string of larcenies they are investigating.
Police described suspects in the case as four white men, 20 to 25 years old, and one white man, 45-50 years old. Anyone with information on any of these larcenies or the suspects involved is asked to call Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 1-800-673-2777 or 703-691-888. A $1,000 cash award will be paid for information leading to an arrest and indictment. As always, callers do not have to give their names or go to court.
<sh>Federal Funds for TAGS, Metro
<bt>According to a press release issued by U.S. Rep. James Moran (D-8th), the federal Department of Transportation has awarded $489,023 to the Transportation Association of Greater Springfield's shuttle program (TAGS). The money will be used to purchase six 22-foot diesel buses to replace older buses in the TAGS fleet.
Metro has also received $489,023 to make improvements to the Franconia-Springfield Metro station parking garage, so it will be able to accommodate the TAGS shuttle buses.
The funds for the buses and garage expansion originated from FY ‘01 appropriations, but is only now being awarded.
<sh>Drunken Driver Kills Springfield Man
<bt>A 40-year-old Springfield area man was killed on Sunday, Aug. 31, when a drunken driver lost control of his car on Commerce Street, reported Fairfax County Police.
Around 9:15 p.m., Carlos Camacho, 32, was driving west on Commerce Street. While steering his Nissan through a long curve near the Springfield Garden Apartments, Camacho allegedly lost control of his vehicle and drove onto the sidewalk.
Camacho's Nissan struck Luis Oreellan-Portillo and Jose Cruz of the Springfield area, who were walking on the sidewalk. Both victims were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where Oreellan-Portillo was pronounced dead. Cruz received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Police arrested Camacho, charging him with involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated. He was held without bond.
<sh>Highway Closing
<bt>The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning the second of two highway closings at the I-95/I-495 interchange on Saturday, Sept. 6, to hang the remaining beams for an overpass. Starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, northbound I-95 will close, and traffic will be diverted off the Baltimore exit. Cars will the be routed off the Van Dorn Street exit and back on I-495 for all those heading west toward Tysons Corner. Vehicles heading toward Washington, D.C., will be able to get back on I-395 north. Weather may delay or suspend the project.
<sh>2 Charged in Robbery Case
<bt>Fairfax County Police have arrested two men in connection with the Saturday, Aug. 23, robbery of a Springfield-area man.
According to police, Adolfo Pena Castellon, 40, of Arlington Drive in the Alexandria area, and Geovan Guevara, 25, of Skyles Way in the Springfield area, approached the victim on Aug. 23, around 6:30 p.m., in the 7000 block of Rhoden Court. They allegedly demanded money and attacked the victim with a broken bottle.
After receiving a cut on his hand, the victim handed over his wallet, which contained an undisclosed amount of money. The suspects fled the scene on foot. Patrol officers located and arrested both suspects. After detectives interviewed them, Castellon and Guevara were charged with robbery.
<sh>Accidental Fire in Springfield
<bt>Units from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department responded on Sunday, Aug. 24, at approximately 2 p.m., to a single-family home at 7213 Lamar Drive in Springfield.
The first units to arrive reported smoke visible from the eaves of the structure. The fire took firefighters approximately 10 minutes to bring under control. The fire caused damage to the basement of the home and smoke and water damage to the first floor. The fire also displaced two adults and two children, who are receiving assistance from relatives. No injuries were reported, and damage was estimated at $75,000, according to the fire department.
Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was accidental. An electric lamp was knocked over onto an upholstered chair, triggering the fire.