Community Corner

Top 18: Green Paint at the National Cathedral, Ashburn Mourns Gavin Rupp, Missing Woman Returns Home, Police Search for Richmond Highway Bank Robber

Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and Washington.

By Drew Hansen

Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and Washington. Here are some of the top stories from around the region from last week.

Green Paint Vandalism at National Cathedral, Smithsonian: Police arrested a woman in connection with the green paint vandalism at the Washington National Cathedral Monday, the Washington Post reported.

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Police said they arrested 58-year-old Jiamei Tian, of no fixed address, and charged her with defacing property.

The Washington National Cathedral confirmed Monday afternoon that its Bethlehem Chapel including one of its organs was vandalized with green paint.

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Heaven Gains 'An Angel Warrior': Gavin Rupp, 13, Dies After Battle with Brain Cancer: An Ashburn boy who for years captured the hearts and prayers of those following his battle with inoperable brain cancer has died, according to friends of the boy and his family.

Gavin Rupp, 13, was first diagnosed with brain cancer in the fifth grade; the rising eighth-grader at Eagle Ridge died early this week, according to friends of the family.

Rupp, an aspiring baseball player Washington Nationals All-Star Bryce Harper called his "hero,"  threw out the first pitch to Harper at a Nats game July 5.

Gavin was celebrated with services Friday in Ashburn. Additional services were scheduled for Monday in Ohio, where he was born. He will be buried there Tuesday.

Police: Woman, 84, Dies After Getting Hit by Car Thursday in McLean: An elderly woman died after being struck by a car in McLean Thursday, according to Fairfax County Police.

On Thursday, around 3:47 p.m. a 56-year-old driver of a 2008 Dodge Charger was attempting to turn left onto Chain Bridge Road from Laughlin Avenue when he struck an 84-year-old pedestrian who was in the crosswalk.

The pedestrian, Elvira Slijepcevic of McLean, was transported to a local hospital where she died.

Police: Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Killed Suspect Fleeing Arrest: The suspect in an early-morning shootout Thursday died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Prince William County Police.

Douglas Clayton Lewis, 56, of Manassas, fled from his 9580 Covington Pl. home during the execution of a search warrant by U.S. Homeland Security officials, according to PWCPD spokesman Officer Jonathan Perok.

Local officers, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security executed the search warrant and arrest warrant at 6:30 a.m.

Woman Robbed, Sexually Assaulted in Alexandria: The victim in an armed robbery that occurred Thursday morning on E. Myrtle Street was also sexually assaulted, according to police.

Mark Bergin of the Alexandria Police Department said at 10 a.m. a man wearing a mask covering his nose to his chin approached a 30-year-old woman while she was parking her van in the unit block of E. Myrtle Street near its intersection with Braddock Road.

The suspect showed the woman a black, semiautomatic pistol and demanded money. He then asked the woman to step out of the vehicle. The two met at the front of the van and the suspect put his arm around the woman, who handed him her cash.

“She was touched inappropriately, which is considered sexual battery,” Bergin said.

Springfield Woman Who Went Missing in Herndon Returns Home: Laura McIntyre, 42, a Springfield woman who went missing from her job cleaning an office in outer Herndon Monday under seemingly suspicious circumstances, was found late Thursday afternoon. McIntyre’s mother and boyfriend reported her missing when she never returned home from work Monday evening. Her car with cell phone and medication was found parked near the office at the Fox Mill Shopping Center in Herndon, and her purse and car keys were found inside the office.

Police Searching for Bank Robber in Richmond Highway Incident: A TD Bank on Richmond Highway was robbed Monday morning, according to Fairfax County Police.

The suspect is described as black, around 180 pounds with a blue hat and sunglasses.

The man walked into the bank at around 9 a.m. Monday at 6615 Richmond Hwy. The subject demanded money from a 23-year-old teller, who complied, according to police.

Beer Here: World of Beer, a national chain of pubs that feature more than 500 beers, announced it will open next year at Reston Town Center.

The 180-seat restaurant will be located in the new Avant mixed-use building, currently under construction. World of Beer already has a location in Ballston, which opened in 2012.

Fairfax Board Approves Bus Route 432 in Tysons, Vienna: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Silver Line Bus Route 432 Tuesday, much to the dismay of many local residents in the Creek Crossing and Old Courthouse neighborhoods who have opposed the route for months.

Supervisors approved a bus that will run down Old Courthouse Road, Creek Crossing Road and East Street, a route that has drawn criticism and opposition from those who say the roads are not fit to accommodate large buses.

During a packed meeting last month, residents of Creek Crossing said running 30-foot buses down their street — one they said is already in need of repairs — would be a safety hazard that would make the street even more dangerous for pedestrians.

Springfield Mob Beating Caught on Surveillance Camera: A surveillance camera belonging to a Fairfax County homeowner recently captured a group of partygoers repeatedly punching and kicking a man. Police are currently working to gather information about the victim and suspects who were involved, ABC7 reported.

The surveillance footage shows what appears to be a group of teenagers and men in their 20s kicking and punching a young man in a Springfield neighborhood Monday night near Braddock Road.

Fredericksburg Baseball: Why Was The Public Locked Out of Meeting?: A planned public meeting was canceled Monday between the Hagerstown Suns and the Fredericksburg City Council's Baseball Committee. But an unannounced closed meeting was held instead.

The Baseball Committee composed of Vice-Mayor Brad Ellis, Councilman Fred Howe and City Manager Bev Cameron met with representatives of the Hagerstown baseball team.

State law allows for closed sessions of public bodies for several reasons, including competitive negotiations, but the law requires public notification and a public vote from the body before taking talks behind closed doors.

City staff did not return Patch calls for comment, but Howe called the meeting a "fact-finding mission" and said that public notification was not required.

Costco Shooting: Loudoun Deputy Justified in Shooting Employee, Prosecutor Finds: A Loudoun County sheriff’s deputy was acting in justifiable self-defense when he shot a woman holding a knife at a Sterling Costco earlier this year, the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office determined.

The Washington Post reported the attorney’s office findings from a news conference held Wednesday.

Authorities were called to the Costco on May 29 after reports of a woman acting erratically, Patch reported at the time.

Mhai Scott, 38, was working at the store as an employee of Club Demonstration Services — a California-based firm that provides workers that hand out food samples — when she began acting strangely, Loudoun County Sheriff's Deputies said.

Deputies were called to the store after Scott reached for a 13-inch knife. Deputies tried to subdue her with a Taser, LCSO said, but the Taser failed, the report showed Wednesday.

When she continued to come at authorities, an officer fired five times, LCSO said.

Board of Zoning Votes Down AT&T Application for Parklawn Cell Tower: The Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals voted Wednesday to deny AT&T’s application for a special permit to build a 128-foot tall monopole on the Parklawn Recreation Association property in Mason District.

The BZA decision, which was deferred following a public hearing on July 17, contradicts the previous recommendation by the Fairfax County Planning Commission to approve the application.

Parklawn residents have been divided for more than a year over the proposed tower with many arguing for and against the monopole.

Construction Starts at Terra Centre Elementary School: Construction crews have started working on planned renovations over at Terra Centre Elementary in Burke.

The school, which is currently ranked fifth in the Fairfax County Public Schools renovation queue, is included in the FCPS Capital Improvement Plan for construction planned for FY 2014-2018.

Alexandria’s John Braswell Identified as Michigan Drowning Victim: The Alexandria man who died Friday while swimming in a lake in northwestern Michigan has been identified as John Braswell.

Braswell, 58, was a partner at Redmon, Peyton and Braswell. The law firm has an office in Old Town in the 500 block of King Street.

Fairfax City Crime: Gas Station Busted for Selling Alcohol to Minors, Teen Charged for Underage Party: Some teens in Fairfax City have been taking their summer vacation partying very seriously of late. Recently, a 19-year-old female was busted by City of Fairfax Police for hosting a party and serving alcohol to all her underage friends. Across town, officers discovered an employee of the Shell gas station was selling alcohol to minors when they witnessed two teens entering the gas station’s store, and then leaving and getting into their vehicle carrying two cases of beer. The officers pulled over the vehicle and confirmed the Fairfax teen and Burke teen inside were underage.

Copperwood Tavern to Open in Shirlington on Sept. 1Copperwood Tavern, a new cabin-style restaurant and bar that will feature seasonal farm-to-table menu options, is slated to open Sept. 1 in Shirlington Village.

The latest concept from Wooden Nickel Bar Co. — owners of Irish Whiskey and the Mighty Pint in the District and Wilson Tavern in Clarendon-Courthouse — will fill the former Bistro Bistro spot at 4201 Campbell Ave.

The tavern will seat 188 people and feature 24 draft beers, 30 small-batch whiskeys and Virginia moonshines, and offer front porch dining for people and their pets

Arlington in 'Home Stretch' for Dog Park Near Clarendon: County officials say they're in the "home stretch" for improvements at James Hunter Park, a dog park just outside of Clarendon named after a late Arlington County Board chairman.

The park, originally slated to open this past spring, has faced delays in order for the contractor to meet requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Major components, including the surface for the community canine area, pathways, public art, lighting and landscaping, have been installed.


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