Public Safety Notes
Police seek witnesses to Nov. 14 fatal accident
Police still are looking for witnesses to a fatal crash involving a bicyclist that occurred Nov. 14 near the intersection of Fort Hunt and Belle Haven roads in Mount Vernon.
According to police, around 3 p.m., a bicyclist identified as Christopher Benton, 50, of Alexandria was headed eastbound on Belle Haven Road. At the same time, a four-door 2005 Toyota Corolla attempted to turn left onto Fort Hunt from westbound Belle Haven.
Benton and the vehicle collided and Benton was thrown from his bike. He was transported by helicopter to a local hospital where he died Nov. 22.
Police ask anyone who might have witnessed the crash to call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131.
Chantilly woman killed in Gainesville crash
A Chantilly woman and a Warrenton man are dead after a fiery Gainesville crash that police say was caused by a driver high on PCP.
The driver, Carlos Eugene Lucas, 22, of Gainesville has been charged with driving under the influence and possession with intent to distribute PCP. According to police, Lucas was driving a 2005 Chevy Impala on Nov. 19 when he struck a 1996 Honda Accord in Gainesville around 9:15 p.m.
Meghan Christine Jandrositz of Chantilly was killed when she was ejected from the vehicle.
David Vernon Richardson, 50, of Warrenton also was killed. Prince William County police say prosecutors will decide whether to charge Lucas with more serious crimes related to the crash.
Police: Black man dressed as Caucasian robs bank
County police are searching for a black man in his 30s who they say robbed a McLean bank dressed as an elderly Caucasian man.
Police say the man entered the Wachovia Bank on the 1300 block of Chain Bridge Road around 9:13 a.m. Nov. 24 and robbed two tellers, a 42-year-old woman and a 63-year-old woman.
Police say the man, who was dressed as an "elderly white man," displayed a gun, demanded money and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspect was described as black, in his mid- to late-30s, about 5-foot-8 and between 150 and 170 pounds. Police say they think the man might be linked to prior robberies in the county. Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131.
State senator seeks to ban synthetic marijuana
Sen. Mark Herring (D-Dist. 33) of Leesburg, whose district includes parts of both Loudoun and Fairfax counties, plans to introduce legislation in the 2011 General Assembly that would make it a crime to possess, use or distribute synthetic marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana, which is commonly sold under the names K2 and Spice, is marketed as an incense product. It's made in China and Korea, and the mixture is sprayed with a chemical that is similar to the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana's use has been reported to cause sleepiness, relaxation, reduced blood pressure, and at higher doses, hallucinations and delusions.
Herring is one of seven state legislators to prefile bills that would criminalize synthetic marijuana in Virginia.
Nine states have criminalized synthetic marijuana this year, while three did so prior to 2010. There is pending legislation in four states other than Virginia.
The bills prefiled for the 2011 General Assembly session would set penalties for possession or distribution of synthetic marijuana as follows:
-Less than half an ounce, a Class 1 misdemeanor
-Half ounce to 5 pounds, a Class 5 felony
-More than 5 pounds or manufacturing any quantity, 5-30 years in prison
Loudoun authorities seek knife-wielding robbers
Loudoun sheriff's deputies are searching for two unidentified men who robbed the employees of a Sterling business at knife point Sunday.
At 6:30 p.m. the men walked into the Spice Bazaar convenience store, 21950 Cascades Parkway, brandished two large knives, and demanded money, authorities said.
Deputies searched the area for the men following the robbery, but did not locate any suspects, authorities said.
Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, said employees of the store waited 30 minutes following the robbery before calling law enforcement.
Employees of the store, Troxell said, contacted the business' owner before calling authorities.
Deputies are working with store employees and nearby businesses to either locate video surveillance of the suspects or create a composite sketch, Troxell said.
Authorities describe the first suspect as 6 feet tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with an unknown print on the front and dark jeans.
The second suspect is described as 5- foot-8, 140 to 160 pounds and was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with pockets and dark jeans.
Both suspects are thought to be Hispanic men, authorities said.
Authorities are asking anyone with any information regarding the robbery to contact Loudoun County Investigator K. Poland of the Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.
9 treated for carbon monoxide poisoning
Nine people in a Reston apartment were treated for possible carbon monoxide poisoning on Sunday.
According to Fairfax County fire officials, the nine individuals were removed from an apartment in the 2200 block of Stone Wheel drive in Reston, after complaining of feeling nauseous. They were taken to two local hospitals.
According to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue spokesman Dan Schmidt, the Reston residents are alright, but carbon monoxide poisoning can potentially be fatal. The source of the carbon monoxide still is under investigation.