<sh>Police Seek Bank Robber
<bt>Fairfax County police are looking for yet another bank robber. This time, the crime was committed at a Chevy Chase Bank inside the Giant Foods store in the Colonnade at Union Mill Shopping Center.
The incident occurred last Saturday, July 8, around 12:20 p.m. Police say a man entered the bank at 5740 Union Mill Road and implied that he had a gun. He passed a note to a female teller demanding cash, and she relinquished an undisclosed amount of money to him before he fled.
The suspect is described as black, 25-30 years old and about 140 pounds. He wore a black hat, sunglasses and a blue shirt beneath a light-colored shirt. Anyone with information about this incident or the suspect is asked to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Police Arrest Chantilly Man
<bt>Fairfax County police arrested a Chantilly man last Thursday, Aug. 3, and charged him with two counts of use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children. They also charged him with one count of taking indecent liberties with children.
He is Ramanuj Naik, 38, of 25869 Spring Farm Circle. According to police, on June 14, he allegedly exchanged instant messages with a county police detective posing as an underage teen-ager. Police say he was arrested at a business in Chantilly after reportedly arranging by phone to meet for sex.
Authorities say there's also a real 15-year-old victim, so Naik's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. If convicted, he could be sentenced to as much as 20 years in prison.
<sh>WFCCA Land-Use Meeting
<bt>The next meeting of the West Fairfax County Citizens Association (WFCCA) Land-Use Committee will be Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Cases on tap are as follows:
* PNC hopes to build a drive-through bank in the vicinity of Centreville's Historic District. It would be at Route 29 and Braddock Road realigned and would have two stories and 5,378 square feet. But first, it needs county approval of a special-exception permit for its two, drive-through lanes.
* Zoning Ordinance Amendment: The Fairfax County Planning Commission will soon hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the county zoning ordinance. It deals with parking requirements for residential areas, and the WFCCA will review and comment on the proposed amendment.
* Freedom Fitness is proposing an expansion of a previously approved fitness center in an office complex off Willard Road in Chantilly. However, this agenda item is tentative.
<sh>Free Carseat Inspections
<bt>Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections, Tuesday, Aug. 15, and Thursday, Aug. 24, from 5-9 p.m. each day, at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. They’ll make sure the carseat is correct for the child’s age, height and weight, the child is securely placed in the seat, and the seat is properly installed in the vehicle.
No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves, so the technicians may properly inspect and make adjustments, as necessary. Call the Sully District Child Seat Information line (703-814-7000, ext. 5140) to confirm dates and times. For additional child seat inspection times throughout Fairfax County, call the Fairfax County Operations Support Bureau at 703-280-0559.
<sh>Police Academy Graduating 47
<bt>The Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy will graduate 47 recruits next Wednesday, Aug. 16. Thirty-six of them will work for the county Police Department, nine will work for the county Sheriff’s Office, one will work for the Town of Herndon Police Department and one will work for the county Fire Marshal’s Office.
The justice academy, at 14601 Lee Road in Chantilly, trains some 140-150 new law-enforcement officers a year. It's also the current training center for all law-enforcement officers from the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office and the Herndon and Vienna town police departments. Animal wardens and fire marshals are trained there, too.
The six-month basic recruit session is a nonresidential training program. Recruits commute to the facility Monday through Friday for eight hours. The curriculum includes Virginia law, report writing, criminal and accident investigation, warrant service, crime prevention, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, first aid and firearms skills.
<sh>Meals on Wheels Needs Drivers
<bt>The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging "Meals on Wheels" program is in immediate need of drivers to deliver meals, Monday through Friday, to senior adults living in Fairfax County. Volunteers who speak Vietnamese are also needed.
The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m.-noon and delivering them to seniors by 1 p.m. Drivers may choose to deliver meals on a daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly or substitute basis. Call the Fairfax AAA Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or e-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov.
<sh>Role Models for Children
<bt>Volunteers are needed throughout Northern Virginia to be positive role models for children who currently have an incarcerated parent. Mentors meet with children two hours per week. Weekly meetings are supplemented by monthly group recreational activities. The only qualification required is a desire to help a child in need.
To sign up for the mentor training session at the Center for Multicultural Human Services in Falls Church, call Ellen Klene, Volunteer Program manager, at 703-533-3302, ext. 107, or see www.cmhs.org.
<sh>Blood Donations are Sought
<bt>The Inova Blood Donor Center in the Centremed I Building on Route 29 in Centreville (across from the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas) is in urgent need of blood donations — especially O positive or negative, as well as A and B. They're accepted Tuesday-Friday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For an appointment to give blood, call 703-322-1970, or drop in at your own convenience.