Community Corner

Top News: Flashmob Proposal, Delgaudio Apology, Graffiti Battles

Top stories from nearby Patches.

By Sherell Williams


Patch has 31 sites in Northern Virginia and DC. Here are some of the top stories from around the Patches last week.

Flashmob Marriage Proposal in Rosslyn: She Said…

A flashmob erupted during the song "You're the One that I Want" in an outdoor showing of the musical "Grease" at Gateway Park last week. It was the Rosslyn Business Improvement District's final outdoor screening of the summer.

During the dancing, Tyler Pepin pulls his girlfriend Sara Powell into the fray. But then the music fades, he gets down on one knee and a man hands him a microphone. He proposes, and she says yes.

The crowd seemed quite entertained. So did Sara.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 Graffiti Battle Gets Real in Reston

In Reston, school and law enforcement authorities are investigating vandalism at both South Lakes and Herndon High Schools. Athletic facilities at both schools were defaced, including damage to South Lakes’ new $1.4 million artificial turf field.

Find out what's happening in Restonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Principals of both schools issued a statement saying “these were not just innocent pranks” and that the perps were using the schools’ names “in the most cowardly manner possible.”


Dog Beater Found Guilty, Will Do Time

A Manassas man was found guilty Wednesday of kicking, punching and later abducting a dog from its owner's home. He offered no explanation for his actions other than saying he hated the animal, according to testimony heard Wednesday in a Manassas courtroom. Khanh Hong, 43, was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty involving dogs owned by a former girlfriend. The incidents include the April abduction of the two West Highland Terriers — Ozzy and Piper — with Piper dying and Ozzy suffering significant injuries.

Judge Peter Steketee, handed down a sentence of 12 months for a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge in the April 17 abduction of Ozzy, along with 24 months of probation.

Hong still faces one felony count of animal torture in connection with Piper's death and abduction, as well as charges of burglary and larceny of animals. A grand jury will consider indictment on those charges Oct. 7.  On Wednesday, Hong was also sentenced to 12 months, with nine months suspended, for a December incident when a neighbor saw Hong kicking and punching one of the dogs at a Manassas-area home on Copeland Drive.

Police Search for Motorcyclist Who Revved Engine, Caused Rider to Fall off Horse in Battlefield Park

Prince William County Police are searching for a motorcyclist who apparently disregarded a designated horse crossing, spooked a passing horse and caused it to knock its rider to the ground. It happened Sunday at a horse crossing on Route 29 in Manassas National Battlefield Park along the Fairfax and Prince William county line. The injured rider, a Herndon woman who asked not to be identified, said she and a group of other riders were almost across the road when a motorcyclist, passed five other stopped cars, crossed a double yellow line and revved the engine as he drove passed the horses.  The woman was taken to a hospital and treated for whiplash and a sprained ankle.

Police: McLean Teen Found Dead in August was Not a Runaway

Fairfax County police announced Wednesday that 16-year-old Emylee Lonczak was out voluntarily with people she knew when she went missing two weeks ago.

Lonczak, a McLean High School student, was found dead two days later in Vienna.

The investigation has revealed that Lonczak was not a runaway, police said in a news release. Lonczak's mother posted that same information on Patch on Aug. 28.

Delgaudio Relents On Censure, Apologizes For ‘Embarrassment’ Caused

Sterling Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio on Friday announced that he would no longer fight the board of supervisors’ decision to censure him and strip him of committee assignment, but he said he would continue to seek control of his district budget.

Supervisors took action Delgaudio after a grand jury took the unusual step of issuing a report on its investigation of allegations that Delgaudio used his public office and staff for personal or political gain. The grand jury report indicated that it could not indict Delgaudio because he is not considered a full-time supervisor.

The Loudoun County Republican Committee came to Delgaudio's defense, passing a resolution Monday asking that the board reverse its decision to take control of the Sterling District budget away from Delgaudio and form an ad hoc committee to investigate the accusations further.


Police: Stolen Car Crashes Into Traffic Light Pole Near Dumfries

Police are looking for a suspect who reportedly stole a vehicle and then crashed it into a traffic light pole near Dumfries, Prince William County Police spokesperson Jonathan Perok said.

Dumfries Town Police and PWC Police responded to Williamstown Drive and Fraley Boulevard in Dumfries on Aug. 29 at 10:16 a.m. for the report of a stolen vehicle.

"Caller reported to police that he had left his vehicle running in front of an address in the area above when an unknown man got into the vehicle and fled the area," Perok said. "A responding Prince William County officer, traveling southbound on Jefferson Davis Highway, spotted the vehicle traveling northbound in the area of Dumfries Road. The officer activated his lights and made a U-turn to catch up to the vehicle. While fleeing, the driver crashed the vehicle into a traffic light pole in the area of Jefferson Davis Highway and River Heritage Boulevard and fled on foot."

Oakton High School Unveils New Turf Friday at Oakton/Madison Bowl Game


The Oakton High School community celebrated the opening of three new turf fields on campus Friday evening to kick off the traditional Oakton/Madison High School varsity football Glory Days Grill Bowl game.


Funding for the $2.4 million project came to fruition through Fairfax County Athletic Council grants, partnerships with Vienna Youth Incorporated and Vienna Youth Soccer, and donations from athletic boosters and other community members.

“We are excited about being able to kick of the year in such an amazing way,” said Pat Full, the school’s director of student activities.

Gunfire Sunday Injures 2 Officers, Spotsylvania Man

Two deputies and a Spotsylvania man were wounded during an exchange of gunfire early Sunday morning, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

At about noon Saturday, as sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve an Emergency Commitment Order on Michael Antosh, 61, at a home on the 10300 block of Gordon Road, the man barricaded himself in the residence and threatened officers with a large caliber firearm, according to a sheriff’s office report.

At about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Antosh began firing at deputies, who returned fire. Two deputies and Antosh were wounded in the exchange, according to the report. The deputies were reported in stable condition at Mary Washington Hospital; Antosh received surgery and was listed in critical condition.

Police: Three Men Assault 16-Year-Old Boy in Springfield

Around 3:35 p.m. Aug. 22 in the 7400 block of Floyd Ave., a 16-year-old was at a basketball court when three unknown men struck him several times. The victim went to the hospital and was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

Man Became ‘CIA Agent’ to Stay Married to Two Women

City of Fairfax police recently assisted NCIS in catching a man who had allegedly been flashing around fake CIA credentials, which they believe he did to cover up the fact that was feigning double identities to stay married to two women, one of which was a Fairfax City resident.

Body of Missing Herndon Man Washes Ashore Off Delaware River

The body of 30-year-old Anthony Del Prete of Herndon washed ashore last weekend on a small Delaware River island. Del Prete went missing on the river on Aug. 10 during a tubing trip with 10 friends.

Fire Crews Contain 6-Alarm Blaze in Alexandria

A six-alarm fire that sprung from a Pickett Street warehouse Monday close to noon was contained at around 3:20 p.m., according to the City of Alexandria.

A city official tells Patch one firefighter was taken to the hospital for treatment of a “minor medical condition” related to the huge blaze, which cast a huge plume of smoke above the city that could been seen from miles away.

Fire crews from several neighboring jurisdictions were called in to battle the blaze, including Arlington and Fairfax Counties as well as Prince George’s County, Md.    




Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here