Women files $10M claim against National Airport
A New York woman who claims her rights were violated when she was beaten by airport security at Reagan National Airport is filing a 10 million dollar lawsuit against the airport.

Robin Kassner says she was pulled out of the security line at Reagan National Airport after her contact lens solution violated TSAs liquid restrictions. As a TSA employee searched her bags, airport police arrived and appeared to motion to her to step away. Upon turning her back, she alleges, two officers dragged her away from her belongings and slammed her to the ground.

According to Kassner, she was pulled to her feet and dragged to a nearby table by three officers who were involved. One of the officers used his elbow to slam her face into the table. She says she suffered a concussion and hearing problems as a result.

One witness stated, I just thought it was extreme; others said they didnt think that level of violence was justified. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said, the passenger was interfering with the screening process and refusing to follow security procedures.

Last year a passenger claimed he witnessed an incident in which security at Reagan National demanded that a woman remove her blazer.

She requested not to remove her blazer because she had nothing on underneath and the TSA agent insisted she remove the blazer and eventually she did and she was naked, Scott Franklin of Triangle, Va. said. 

An airport spokesman could not be reached.

Child allegedly abused at Kingstowne restaurant
At about 7:30 p.m. on June 27, Fairfax County Police responded to a report of a woman abusing a child at the Noodles and Company restaurant at 5900 Kingstowne Village Pkwy. inAlexandria.

Officers were directed to a 34-year-old Springfield-area woman and her 4-year-old son. A patron had alerted employees after the woman allegedly struck the child. Police were called when she began shouting at the boy.

Investigators said a witness reported seeing the woman strike and shout at the child. Officers released the child to another family member after discovering numerous bruises on his body. The investigation continues.

Investigators request that anyone who was in the restaurant or observed the incidents that evening call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. The woman is described as white, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 350 pounds. She had long brown hair and was wearing a T-shirt and blue stretch pants.

Guilty pleas in campfire assault near Mount Vernon trail
Edwin Alexander Chavez Abrego, 25, and Antonio Benitez, age 21-27, pled guilty to felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury in relation to an attack on two victims near the Mount Vernon Trail by Reagan National Airport and Four Mile Run.

Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement today after the pleas were accepted by United States District Judge Claude M. Hilton. The defendants, who will be sentenced on October 3, 2008, face up to 10 years imprisonment for the assault convictions. The defendants plea agreements provide that the defendants agree with the government that a sentence of 63 months of imprisonment is appropriate.

According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreements, on March 29, 2008, Abrego pushed and knocked one victim, causing the victims face and other body parts to go in the open flame of a campfire for an extended period of time. The burns that the victim suffered to his face and body required hospitalization for two days. During the same incident, Benitez punched and kicked a second victim in the face, resulting in a blood clot in the second victims brain that required hospitalization. After an investigation, United States Park Police detectives identified and arrested Abrego and Benitez as the assailants.

Alexandria Police investigate fatal accident
Alexandria police are investigating a crash that resulted in the death of the driver of a motorcycle at the intersection of North Fairfax Street and Montgomery Street, just after 9:00 p.m. on Thurs., July 10.

Initial investigation indicates that Joseph Martin Reynolds, a 38 year-old Falls Church man, was riding his motorcycle on North Fairfax Street when he struck a vehicle making a left-hand turn.  He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead on Fri., July 11.

Members of the Crash Reconstruction Team are investigating this case.  At this time, it appears that alcohol and speed were factors.