Community Corner

Weird News: Running Into Flying Deer, Driving into Sinkholes, Saying 'Nooo!' to Pet Goats and E-I-E-I—Whoa?!

Plus...biting the hand that feeds you, a suspicious teen backpack and two truck drivers have a thing for shopping carts.

By Patch Staff

Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that something weird isn't happening somewhere in the area. Here's a look back at some weird goings-on over the past week.

Monday, Monday...Can't Trust That Day: What a way to start the week. A large sinkhole last Monday morning in Annandale shut down a portion of the street closest to Gallows Road. That's where a car drove into and was found swallowed by the sinkhole, but no one was injured, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

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

Ouch! Watch Out for Flying Reindeer: A vehicle hitting an animal is not unusual, but Krystine Rivera's collision with a deerqualifies as nothing less than bizarre. Rivera was jogging on a path near the Dulles Greenway when an SUV driven by a 71-year-old woman struck a deer and sent it flying — right on top of Rivera.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm: We found out last week thatVirginia law allows judges to confine prostitutes to farms. Healthy living and all that? When Arlington police walked in to what they believed was a hotel room being used for prostitution this month, perhaps even they didn't know that, however unlikely, the two people they ended up charging could be confined to a farm if they are convicted.

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

Who Ya Gonna Call? We're guessing this woman might think twice before she calls police again. A woman who called the police last week over a tow truck dispute ended up being taken to jail, along with two acquaintances, after an officer was assaulted, according to the Arlington County Police Department.

Mom Turns in Teen: If you see something, say something? A mother found a “suspicious device” in her 16-year-old son’s bedroom and brought it to authorities to investigate, according to the Prince William County Police Department. The 34-year-old woman brought the device to the lobby of the Eastern District Police Station at 15948 Donald Curtis Dr. in Woodbridge at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities report. She told authorities she found the device in her son's backpack. No specifics on what was actually found in the bag.

Doing a Little Shopping? It's the holiday season and everyone's doing a little shopping but...Richard Henry Johnson and Haylee Melendez of Reston were arrested by Frederick, Md. police for thetheft of several shopping carts. Officers were conducting a patrol beat check at the Country Hills Apartment Complex, at 1000 Heather Ridge Dr., when they observed a pickup truck parked in front of a building containing numerous shopping carts in the bed.

No Good Deed...Alexandria police and the city’s Animal Welfare League are reaching out to the public for help in finding a dog that bit a city resident, causing the victim serious injury. Last Sunday night, a woman noticed a dog walking outside in winter weather in the 300 block of N. Latham Street. The dog appeared to be limping and in need of assistance. As she offered the animal food, the dog bit the victim, causing serious injury.

Described as a medium-sized dog, similar in appearance to a collie with brown, black and white fur. The dog also appeared thin with matted hair. Alexandria Animal Control does not believe the dog related to the Dec. 8 incident to be Houdini, the Australian shepherd that went missing in Del Ray Sept. 11 and has eluded capture for three months despite frequent sightings. The dogs have similar descriptions, but there's one big difference.

Goat Vote a No-Go: A Herndon resident lost her six-month campaign to keep her miniature goats as pets (not to mention their fresh dairy and brush-clearing abilities). Proponents argued that goats are mild-mannered and that property owners should be allowed to do what they want in their own homes. Opponents argued the animals are a nuisance and would lower property values. The woman is seeking the advice of a lawyer after the ordinance was denied.


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