Springfield Springfield Fairfax Symphony Orchestra to Celebrate Beethoven FranconiaFranconia ❖❖ KingstowneKingstowne News, Page 9 NewingtonNewington Torres Trial Date Set for December Inside News, Page 3 Newcomers & Community Guide 2015-2016 Follow on Twitter: @SprConnection on Twitter: Follow Waldo Garcia, of Alexandria, brought his children, Chris and Melody, to go for a walk at Lake Accotink Park. Springfield Franconia ❖ KingstowneKingstowne ❖ Newington Photo by Renée Ruggles/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comLocal Media Connection LLC Springfield onlineConnection at ❖www.connectionnewspapers.com Newconers & Community Guide 2015-16 ❖ 1 Classified, Page 10 Classified, Newcomers ❖ & Community Guide Sports, Page 8 Dennis Hosken (left) of Springfield and ❖ Casey French (right) of Burke are mem- bers of Burke-based Boy Scout Troop 1965. They helped spread gravel to improveimprove thethe trailtrail that’sthat’s partpart ofof thethe LongLong Branch Stream Valley path. Entertainment, Page 8 TheThe PathPath toto EagleEagle News, Page 5 Photo by Tim Peterson/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comAugust 27 - September 2, 2015 online atSpringfield www.connectionnewspapers.com Connection ❖ August 27 - September 2, 2015 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Springfield Connection ❖ August 27 - September 2, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Photos by Photos Tim Peterson Tim /The Connection Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh (center) speaks with reporters outside the Fairfax County Courthouse following the ar- John Geer’s friend Jeff Stewart (center) speaks to reporters outside the raignment hearing for former Fairfax County Police officer Adam Fairfax County Courthouse following Adam Torres’ arraignment hearing. Torres. Judge Stephen Shannon denied Torres’ counsel’s request to Torres was indicted Aug. 17 by a special grand jury and faces second- set a bond; Torres was released to the custody of the Sheriff’s Office. degree murder charges in the August 2013 shooting death of John Geer. Both parties agreed to begin a jury trial on Dec. 14. Torres Trial Date Set for December Bond denied for former police officer charged with murdering John Geer. By Tim Peterson to the community.” ney said it’s not unusual for individuals to The Connection The attorney went on to summarize the faint or pass out in the courtroom. Geer shooting incident, beginning to jus- Outside the courthouse, Morrogh com- hortly after 10 a.m. on Aug. 19, tify Torres by saying a handgun owned by mented to reporters that though he’s pros- former Fairfax County Police officer Geer had been found on the scene “within ecuted judges and lawyers in his career, “It’s SAdam Torres entered the circuit reach, in our estimation,” and that Geer had rare to see a case like this — there’s cer- courtroom for his arraignment, made “numerous erratic movements,” prior tainly no joy in it.” dressed in a baggy, blue-green prison to Torres firing. As for Torres being the first Fairfax County jumpsuit. Torres was indicted the previous And because the shooting in question was Police officer in 75 years to be charged with Monday by a special grand jury for killing in Torres’ performance of duties as a police such an offense, Morrogh said he thinks “it’s Springfield resident John Geer in August, officer, Carroll argued, “there’s no reason a really good thing that we don’t have many 2013. for anyone to be fearful.” Carroll then asked of those.” He was still an officer at the time and one that a bond for Torres be set at $25,000. “It’s just the length of time this case has of several who responded to a call from Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond F. taken, that’s not right,” Morrogh said. “We Geer’s longtime partner Maura Harrington Morrogh spoke after Carroll in opposition have to have a finality to this.” that Geer was throwing her belongings out to the bond motion. “Not only did he kill Fairfax County had withheld much of the on to the lawn of their Springfield home. Mr. Geer,” Morrogh said, “but did so with information about the case, including After the indictment, malice.” Morrogh later Torres’ name, until Geer’s family filed a $12 Fairfax County Police said added that was the consen- million lawsuit against the Police Depart- Torres surrendered himself “It’s the first time sus of the special grand ment. that evening at the County jury. Torres had been taken out of field work Adult Detention Center. I’ve seen a police The prosecutor also ref- but remained employed by Fairfax County Circuit Court judge erenced evidence that until he was fired in July of this year. Judge Stephen C. Shannon officer shoot Torres had been in a “de- the incident of a deteriorating mental state,” The county justified not releasing the in- placed Torres’ arraignment teriorating mental state,” Shannon denied Carroll’s request for a bond formation previously due to ongoing inves- first on his docket. The someone who had saying the former police to be set. tigations by Police Internal Affairs, the defendant’s attorney John his hands up,” “I officer had fought with his Torres and the attorneys were asked to Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and the F. Carroll began by rebut- supervisor and with his stand while the details of his trial were ne- U.S. Department of Justice. ting his client being held think that makes wife because he suspected gotiated. Carroll hoped to start early in Jeff Stewart, Geer’s best friend who wit- without bond until the her of infidelity. 2016 while Morrogh was intent to begin as nessed the shooting and became a member trial. Murder qualifies as him dangerous.” Though Morrogh didn’t soon as possible. of the Fairfax County ad hoc commission to an offense for which bond Commonwealth’s Attorney disagree with Torres’ con- The two parties settled on Dec. 14 to be- review police practices, sat directly behind is denied in Virginia, but it nection to the community Torres during the arraignment. He had Raymond F. Morrogh gin the trial, which Morrogh said he ex- can be argued whether the and lack of flight risk, “It’s pected would last about a week. As the date never seen the man face to face prior to that person accused poses a the first time I’ve seen a was reached, Torres suddenly collapsed morning, and expressed sympathy for flight risk or is a threat to the community. police officer shoot someone who had his backward and fell to the ground. Torres and members of his family who were Carroll stated the case that Torres, 32, hands up,” he said. “I think that makes him Judge Shannon cleared the entire court- present at the hearing. immediately turned himself in, has no prior dangerous.” room as the bailiffs rendered first aid and Stewart described having “mixed emo- criminal record and has a wife and two chil- Judge Shannon reminded that, “We’re not called a rescue team. tions” since the indictment. “I feel good for dren. As Hayfield and George Mason Uni- here to decide the merits of the case today, Torres was taken to a nearby hospital, the process, and bad for the man,” he said. versity graduate, Carroll said he doesn’t solely the bond.” Morrogh said afterwards, and his vitals were Torres’ wife and family members declined think “you can find anyone with greater ties Citing “some indications at the time of said to have returned to normal. The attor- to comment after the hearing. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Springfield Connection ❖ August 27 - September 2, 2015 ❖ 3 POTOMAC 37503750 JeffersonJefferson DavisDavis Hwy.Hwy. RIVER Alexandria,Alexandria, VAVA 2230522305 ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIAALEXANDRIA 703-684-0710703-684-0710 TOYOTA TOYOTATOYOTA www.alexandriatoyota.comwww.alexandriatoyota.com NEW!NEW! ExtendedExtended ServiceService DepartmentDepartment Hours:Hours: MondayMonday –– Friday,Friday, 77 amam toto 99 pmpm Saturday,Saturday, 88 amam toto 55 pmpm 29 YEARS OF RECEIVING TOYOTA THIS LIFETIME GUARANTEE Sunday,Sunday, 1010 amam toto 44 pmpm HONOR Mufflers•Exhaust Pipes•Shocks•Struts SundaySunday byby appointmentappointment onlyonly.. 1 OF 4 Toyota mufflers, exhaust pipes, shocks, struts SundaySunday byby appointmentappointment onlyonly.. 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Try our new Greek-inspired Small Plates: The Path to Eagle Mussels Santorini, Shrimp Saganaki, Chicken Souvlaki, Lamb Boy Scouts team Lollipop and more! up with Friends group to improve Join Us at the Bar for Happy Hour Specials public trails. Mon.–Fri. 3–7 P.M. By Tim Peterson The Connection 9000 Lorton Station Blvd., Lorton, VA n the morning of his ser- 703-372-1923 • firesidegrillva.com Ovice project, Carter Murray of Fairfax real- ized he’d forgotten a small but vi- Dennis Hosken (left) of Springfield and Casey French tal detail: Food. (right) of Burke are members of Burke-based Boy Scout It took two months to develop Troop 1965. They helped spread gravel to improve the the project: shoring up sunken, trail that’s part of the Long Branch Stream Valley path. well-worn trails of the Long Branch Stream Valley with special Valley nonprofit service organiza- “We help support what the Park gravel provided by the Fairfax tion and local civic and Authority can’t do, be a stopgap County Park Authority.