Wednesday, April 10, 2013
More than 75 Fairfax County residents have had false tax returns filed in their names — here are some tips to protect your identity.
While some are under the stress of a looming tax deadline less than a week away, some Fairfax County taxpayers are dealing with a different problem. More than 75 people have called Fairfax County Police complaining their identities have been stolen and false tax returns filed in their names. Lucy Caldwell, a county police spokeswoman, said taxpayers don’t realize they’re victims until they go to file their tax returns and are told that the IRS has already received and documented their returns. Victims are being told by the IRS to call their local police department, Caldwell said. “Here in Fairfax County, they file an online report and will receive their number electronically from our system,” Caldwell said. “Supervisors in the Financial …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and DC.
Patch has 31 community sites in Virginia and D.C. Here are some of the top stories from around the region over the past week. 20. Affordable housing continues to be a major topic of discussion in Alexandria. The Virginia Department of Transportation sold Hunting Point, two eight-story apartment buildings, to a realty firm. Alexandria's City Council had asked that any purchaser not turn the buildings into luxury apartments that could displace its current tenants who require more affordable housing. That message was passed on to the new buyers, according to VDOT, but was not a condition of the sale. 19. On the west side of Alexandria, the City Planning Commission gave the go-ahead to major rezoning in the Beauregard area that will tear down …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Three 16-year-old Fairfax County students arrested for possession of substance during off-campus DECA meeting.
Three 16-year-old girls were arrested last week in Springfield for allegedly being in possession of marijuana at an off-campus event. Officer Bud Walker, a spokesman for Fairfax County Police, say the teenagers were arrested at Waterford Receptions, an event venue that was hosting a regional high school leadership conference at the time of their arrests last Tuesday. They were each charged with possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor. On that day, Waterford Receptions hosted a fall leadership conference for several DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) clubs in Northern Virginia, part of an international group that trains young entrepreneurs in marketing, hospitality and other fields. Walker said officers responded to the address …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Mary Jean Martin, of Oakton, died of complications from heart disease
Mary Jean Martin, who died during a police transport in April, died of natural causes, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Martin, 85, of Stuart Mill Road in Oakton, died of a tear in her aorta caused by hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Martin died April 24 during a police transport from Inova Fairfax Hospital to Woodburn Mental Health in Annandale after behaving irrationally and exhibiting mental confusion during an examination, police said. During the transport, Martin experienced medical distress, police said. Officers summoned rescue personnel and began CPR. Martin was transported back to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Get daily and breaking news email updates from Oakton Patch by signing …
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Despite surrounding jurisdictions reaping profits, Fairfax County has no plans to reinstate program discontinued in 2005
Despite recent news from surrounding jurisdictions reaping profits from red light cameras, Fairfax County currently has no plans to reinstate its program. The Virginia legislature issued a red light camera law in the 1990s and Fairfax County gained red light cameras at 10 different intersections. The Photo Red Light Monitoring program expired in Fairfax County on June 30, 2005. The state legislation was renewed but new requirements were added. The county would have had to upgrade from film to digital cameras and provide for additional engineering studies. A recent Washington Post article reported Washington, D.C., made $55.1 million in 2011 from its red light and speed cameras. In Alexandria, the city has taken in more than $100,000 in the…
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Downed wires keep traffic from passing between Galloping Way and Whippoorwill Road
UPDATE 1:17 a.m. Lawyers Road is now open, according to a Virginia Department of Transportation traffic map. Fairfax County Police were called off the scene about two hours earlier, a dispatcher said around 1 a.m., though barricades remained in place, blocking traffic. The original closure prevented drivers from traveling on Lawyers Road between Galloping Way and Whippoorsville Road; VDOT closed the road up to Hunter Mill Road to complete its repairs, according to its traffic map.The closure lasted about 11 hours in total. Commuters, through email and Twitter, told Patch they were frustrated no signs appeared to let drivers know about the issue, especially as minutes turned into hours and the backup stretched several miles to the Dulles …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Fairfax County Crime Solvers has a new app, TipSubmit.
Yes, there’s an app for that, too. Fairfax County residents who need to report a crime quickly now have access to a free app for smartphones, called TipSubmit, the first app of its kind. TipSubmit works both on the iPhone and Andriod phones. It allows the public to anonymously submit tips to police through the Fairfax County Crime Solvers program. The technology is similar to current programs that allow users to text and email tips. However, the mobile app offers an extra advantage in that it has the ability to use GPS to auto-locate the nearest Crime Solvers program or law enforcement agency. Users may also manually select a location for their tip. Tipsters may also include photos and videos with their tips. Fairfax County Crime Solvers …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Mary Jean Martin died during drive from Inova Fairfax Hospital to Woodburn Mental Health
Fairfax County Police are investigating the death of an Oakton woman during a police transport from Inova Fairfax Hospital to Woodburn Mental Health early this morning. Mary Jean Martin, 85, of Stuart Mill Road began behaving irrationally and exhibiting mental confusion during an examination in the Inova Fairfax Hospital emergency room, police said. Fairfax County Police were called to the hospital at 3:27 a.m., where it was determined Martin would be transported to Woodburn Mental Health in Annandale. During the transport, Martin experienced medical distress, police said. Officers summoned rescue personnel and began CPR. Martin was transported back to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The cause of death is being …
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Helicopters respond for Tuesday night crash on Route 123
UPDATE (11:45 p.m.): With the help of Fairfax County Police officers, traffic is able to flow around the scene of the accident. Both cars involved in the accident have been moved, though one car remains on a flat-bed tow near the intersection. It appears the fire occurred on the front left side of the vehicle still left behind. Helicopters still appear to be searching the area, and two K-9 units are on the scene. Police officers crawled the properties nearby, some of them under construction, with flashlights. ----- A hit-and-run late Tuesday night at Route 123 and Oak Valley Drive has launched a helicopter search for a suspect who fled from one of the vehicles, according to Fairfax County dispatchers. Two vehicles collided at the …
Monday, February 13, 2012
Woman taken to local hospital after Monday morning accident, Fairfax County police say
A pedestrian was taken to the hospital Monday morning after she was struck by a car near Flint Hill Elementary School as students headed to class. Fairfax County Police Spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell said a vehicle struck the woman sometime after 8 a.m. near Flint Hill and Vale roads. The woman's injuries are not life-threatening, Caldwell said. One resident who drove by the scene Monday morning told Patch that Flint Hill Road was shut down where it intersected with Vale Road around 8:40 a.m., and paramedics still appeared to be assisting the person who was struck. Police are not releasing the woman's identity pending notification of her family, they said. Witnesses said they believed the woman was a school crossing guard. It is not clear how …
Arielle Masters
8:38 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
Excellent suggestion, Mike. more ›