Police Investigating Death of Man Found in Kingstowne Pond

Fairfax County Police continue to investigate the death of Kenneth Duane Bernhardt, 36, of Falls Church, who was found Saturday, June 27 in a pond on South Van Dorn Street near Kingstowne Village Parkway.

Police responded to a call about Bernhardt’s body around 11:30 a.m. with homicide and crime scene detectives. They said that at the time there were “no obvious signs of trauma to the body” of the man.

In an update from Fairfax County on June 29, police haven’t discovered anything about the case to be “overtly suspicious.”

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner attributed Bernhardt’s death to drowning and determined it was not the result of any criminal action.

Torch Causes Springfield House Fire

Units responded to a house fire Monday, June 29, 2015, at approximately 9:55 p.m., in the Springfield area of Fairfax County -- according to Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department. The single-family home is located at 8600 Etta Drive.

Units encountered smoke coming from the exterior of the two-story home upon arrival. Firefighters conducted an aggressive fire attack and quickly extinguished the fire. The home was vacant and was for sale and under contract. Smoke alarms were sounding when firefighters arrived on scene. No one was displaced. There were no injuries.

Damage is estimated at $15,000.

According to fire investigators, the fire was accidental. A plumbing contractor using a torch too close to combustibles near an exterior wall caused the fire.

95 Express Lanes Schedule Adjusted for July 4

Around the Fourth of July, patriotic celebration throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area comes with heavy gridlock. To help alleviate some of the traffic into, out of and around the region for the holiday weekend, the 95 Express Lanes schedule will be adjusted, according to an Express Lanes spokesperson:

Friday, July 3:

*There are no changes to typical reversal time. The reversal from northbound to southbound starts around 11 a.m., with the southbound lanes open around 1 p.m.

Saturday, July 4:

*Reversal of lanes from southbound to northbound is scheduled to begin at midnight. The northbound lanes will open around 2 a.m.

*Reversal from northbound to southbound will begin around 7 p.m. The southbound lanes will open around 9 p.m.

Sunday, July 5:

*Lanes will reverse from southbound to northbound at midnight, with the northbound lanes open around 2 a.m.

Monday, July 6:

*There are no changes to typical reversal time. The reversal from northbound to southbound starts around 11 a.m., with the southbound lanes open around 1 p.m.

Cause, Manner of Death Still Unknown in Huntsman Lake Death

Police continue to investigate the death of Leslie P. Brassfield, 22, of Fairfax, whose body was found Sunday, June 14 in Huntsman Lake in the Springfield area.

The initial release from Fairfax County said a pair of kayakers spotted the body and reported it around 10:30 a.m.

Police are still waiting for a determination from the Medical Examiner’s office as to the cause and manner of Brassfield’s death.