Use Common Sense on Trails, Police Urge

Officers at Fairfax County Police's Reston District Station have been very busy the last few months - not fighting crime, but fighting rumors.

The issue began when a resident reported being followed on the bike trail in South Reston. That set off an email chain of concerned citizens who feared a predator was in the area.

In the midst of investigating and trying to stay in control of information, The Washington Post published a large investigative article on the "East Coast Rapist," a longtime case with ties to Northern Virginia. The case remains unsolved.

Citizens immediately linked the two, creating more chaos. Citizen email chains suggested the suspicious man was in all sorts of locations, from the bike trail to shopping centers to peering in the windows of a Herndon dance studio.

"It was the perfect storm," says Fairfax County Police Lt. Thomas Rogers. "We got one report (of a suspicious incident on the trail), then another similar report. Then The Washington Post story ran, and people began blowing it out of proportion."

No one was assaulted in the reported incident and no one has been apprehended, says Lt. Rogers.

"We have not been able to prove he was on the trail," he said. "It may have been one of the area homeless men. We know who they are."

Lt. Rogers says crime on the trails is down from a year ago. 

"There has been one robbery on the trails this year," he said. "We made an apprehension about 10 minutes later. The thing to remember is we have 55 miles of trails and we have very little crime."

There are seven police bike patrol officers who work on the trails, and their presence makes a difference, Lt. Rogers says.

"The bike patrol really aids in public perception of safety," he said. "When they are not there, our calls about suspicious persons go up and our incidents of public drinking go up."

Still, he encourages people to use common sense when walking, jogging or biking on the trails.

"Be aware of your surroundings," he said. "Don't wear headphones, or maybe just put them in one ear. Don't be so focused in what is in front of you. Every now and then take a glance behind you."

Check out this video from the Fairfax County Police about staying safe on Reston's trails.