Incidents

"On May 27, 2020, an individual later identified as having a name with the initials J.R. (hereinafter “JR”) was arrested by Fairfax County Police Department (hereinafter “FCPD”) officers in the parking lot of the Office Depot located at 2901 Gallows Road.

On June 22, 2020, JR contacted the Office of the Independent Police Auditor to complain about the three officers’ use of force (hereinafter “UOF”) against her during the arrest. She also alleged other misconduct by the officers which was considered by the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel.

JR alleged that prior to and during the arrest, she was forcibly yanked out of her car, dragged across the concrete parking lot, lifted from the ground by her hair, and punched in her stomach."

"On January 28, 2020, shortly before 10:00 p.m., detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department (hereinafter “FCPD”) Organized Crime and Investigations Bureau (hereinafter “OCIB”) went to a residence on Lee Landing Drive in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County to conduct a search of the residence pursuant to a search warrant. The detectives also planned to arrest an individual residing at the home (hereinafter “DV”) pursuant to warrants authorizing his arrest. Members of the FCPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (hereinafter “SWAT”) were there to assist the OCIB detectives.

Earlier that evening, at approximately 9:30 p.m., there was a briefing to discuss the execution of the search warrant attended by members of both OCIB and SWAT. Officers were informed that, in addition to the search warrant, there were outstanding arrest warrants for DV for possession with intent to distribute marijuana1 and failing to appear in criminal court.

The lead detective also provided information that DV was affiliated with a street gang and that he had access to weapons. Finally, the presence of a second-floor camera had also been noted during pre-search warrant surveillance of the residence, causing concern that DV would know in advance that the officers were getting ready to execute the warrants.

Based on this information and the nature of the search warrant itself, SWAT supervisors approved dispensing with the 1 Va. Code § 18.2-248.1 2 Va. Code § 19.2-128. 3 See, for example, Slain FBI agents gunned down through closed-door: report (nypost.com). usual requirements of first knocking, announcing, and then waiting a reasonable amount of time4 before entering the search location.

SWAT officers were to make the initial entry into the home and to secure the location prior to the OCIB detectives conducting the search authorized by the search warrant. Because the front door to the residence was locked, one SWAT officer used a ramming device to breach the door.

The first three SWAT officers to enter were Master Police Officer #1 (hereinafter “MPO#1”), Police Officer First Class #1 (hereinafter “PFC#1”), and Sergeant #1 (hereinafter “SGT#1”), each of whom shouted, “Police, search warrant!” as they crossed the threshold.

After MPO#1 entered the residence, the entrance to the kitchen was to his left. In the kitchen, MPO#1 saw DV approaching him with what appeared to be a rifle7 pointed at him. MPO#1 raised his handgun from the “ready-gun” position8 and fired three times at DV.

One round struck DV in the leg, who then fell to the ground and was handcuffed by MPO#1. Master Police Officer #2 (hereinafter “MPO#2”) quickly rendered medical aid to DV before medics from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (hereinafter “FCFRD”)—who had been pre-staged very near the search location—arrived shortly thereafter.

The FCFRD transported DV to Fairfax Hospital, where he was treated and released to the custody of the FCPD. During the transport to the hospital, Police Officer First Class #2 (hereinafter “PFC#2”) accompanied DV and the FCFRD personnel. PFC#2 documented DV stating, unprovoked, “I didn’t mean to point the gun at you,” while he was being transported. Following DV’s treatment and release from the hospital, Police Officer First Class #3 (hereinafter “PFC#3”) transported him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (hereinafter “ADC”), arriving at approximately 2:20 a.m. on January 29, 2020."

NOTE: The identity of the officer referred to as"MPO#1 in the report above has been revealed to in fact be Officer Eric W. Crago, a Master Police Officer in FCPD's Special Operations Division)

Crago was also the officer to shoot in this incident, according to a news release by PCPD.) and the Independent Police Auditor's Report describing MPO#1's actions during the shooting.

Police Narrative (Not Verified):

"[After being bit by a police dog]: ...PFC#1 hit TG once with a closed fist to his head. At this point, TG rolled to his stomach with his hands underneath his stomach.

PFC#1 then used hand strikes to TG’s back. PFC#1 was joined by PFC#2... When TG was finally handcuffed, PFC#1 immediately took control of Lobo [dog] and called for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (hereinafter “FCFRD”) to respond and provide medical care to TG for the dog bite.

[W]hile being treated TG suffered a medical emergency (cardiac arrest) deemed life-threatening by the FCFRD. The handcuffs were removed so that life-saving treatment could be administered. TG was then transported to Reston Hospital where he received additional medical care.

In May of 2020, TG was placed in a nursing home facility able to breathe on his own, but he remained non-verbal. "

A use of force complaint was filed against a police officer for an incident on October 25, 2019. The complaint says the victim claimed "PFC#1 (Police Officer First Class #1) put his forearm across his throat and applied pressure while securing the seatbelt. He also indicated that he was unable to breathe for approximately two seconds while this occurred. YW said that he did not understand why PFC#1

did this, but that he appeared angry during the encounter."

An officer driving a police cruiser loses control and crashes, killing a pedestrian, 40-year-old Carlos Romeo Montoya.

Police Narrative (Not Verified):

"...Master Police Officer #1 (hereinafter “MPO#1”) wrapped his arms around JP’s upper torso, which allowed other officers to handcuff JP. Bystanders shouted that MPO#1 was choking JP."

Officer shoots a dog in a park by firing a round straight into its leg.

"Specific to the use of force during his arrest, MM alleged that “twelve guys with guns” pointed at him threw him out of his car, causing an injury to his knee."

From the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel:

"This report concerns a citizen complaint related to an interaction between the citizen (Complainant) and a Fairfax County police officer in a parking lot. The incident began when the officer, while driving his patrol car, observed the Complainant as the officer drove past him. The officer followed the Complainant into the parking lot of the Complainant’s apartment building and questioned the Complainant. The officer’s questions focused on whether the

Complainant lived in the apartment complex.

The complaint alleges that racial profiling was the impetus for this conversation, and that the Complainant had done nothing wrong. The Complainant maintained that he should have never been approached by the officer

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) investigated the incident and ultimately agreed with the Complainant that the officer had no reasonable suspicion to suspect that the Complainant had violated a law or was in the process of committing a crime. The FCPD concluded that the Complainant had every right to not answer the officer’s questions.... At the time [2019], the officer had been with the FCPD for approximately six years and was assigned as a detective in the Reston Criminal Investigations section of the FCPD."

Use of force complaint filed regarding assault by police officers.

"After arriving at the ADC, MM remained in the backseat of the patrol car while PFC was retrieving items out of the trunk. When MM heard PFC#1 cut open a bag using a knife, he asked PFC#1 if he was planting evidence. PFC#1 then angrily pulled MM out of the car—with the open knife still in his hand—while telling him to “get out of the fucking car.” After removing MM from the backseat, PFC#1 slammed him into the rear quarter panel of the car before escorting him into the ADC and presenting him to a magistrate. "

A woman was dragged out of her car through the driver's side door and sprayed in the face with OC spray by a police officer (Mason District) conducting a traffic stop.

An Internal Affairs investigation found Ofc. J. Patrick's use of force against Abrar Omeish and use of OC spray against her was inappropriate. Luntz assisted Patrick and searched Omeish. The incident is described in the Internal Affairs letter linked below.

A civil rights lawsuit was filed against Vaught, Hulse, and Davenport for threatening and falsely arresting an individual serving as a Criminal Informant.

Officer Salino runs into a 26-year-old pedestrian while driving a police cruiser. The victim died.

A civil rights complaint was filed against Joshua (Joe) Shoemaker, Brandon Vinson, and five other unnamed Fairfax County Police officers. It claimed police officers were driving at excessive speeds and crashed into Edwin C. Roessler, Jr.'s vehicle, severely injuring his daughter.

On the evening of May 19, Fairfax County Police officers claimed they were responding to a call received regarding a "wanted person. The officers (who came from both Patrol and K-9 Units) were soon inside the apartment of the individual they claimed had called. Inside, they found a 22-year-old man named Gray Alan Combs, Jr. in a bedroom. Officers were familiar with Combs from interactions the previous Friday.

The police officers claim that in response to them Combs then "threatened them with a sword;" they also complained that he "refused to obey [their] commands."

The group of officers began to fire a barrage of bean bag rounds and lethal bullets at Combs.... (Bean bag rounds were also fired at his head during the attack, for which one officer was reportedly placed on "routine administrative leave" after the incident).

Combs sustained severe injuries from the officers' attack and he was taken to the hospital, where he died three days later.

Gray Alan Combs, Jr. was 22 years old.

Michelle Holden filed an Internal Affairs complaint against Kenneth Bridgeman alleging false arrest. He was exonerated by the Police Department.