Saturday, May 25, 2013
Misconduct by prosecutors was not reason enough to prevent the retrial of a capital murder case, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
A federal appeals court in Virginia ruled Wednesday that misconduct by Prince William County prosecutors should not prevent the Commonwealth of Virginia from retrying Justin Michael Wolfe for the 2001 murder of his drug dealer, Daniel Robert Petrole Jr., of Centreville. Wolfe was first convicted of ordering the murder due in large part to testimony from the triggerman, Owen Merton Barber IV—who has since recanted his story. Saying that prosecutors had suppressed evidence, a lower federal court ordered Wolfe's release last year—but the appeals court ruled Wednesday that this was an "overbroad remedy" and the district court had "abused its discretion" in preventing Wolfe's retrial. "Though we reiterate that a federal habeas court possesses …
Plus, we tell you where NOT to find your next lawnmower.
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. Cicadas Everywhere (Or Not): A line has been drawn, and it isn't residents rejecting the D.C. metro label — it's cicadas that have decided they'd rather avoid the congestion inside the Beltway. We've been anxiously anticipating a crazy spring of buzzing cicadas crawling everywhere. Now, some of us are finding the big bugs crawling out of holes and up trees in Fredericksburg, Woodbridge and lower Fairfax County, but others haven't seen any of this year's brood. Enjoying the Breeze: Manassas City Police have a description of a suspect in …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Her dog, an American Eskimo, was allegedly underweight and maltreated
A Fairfax Station woman has been charged with cruelty to an animal after turning her dog over to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter on Tuesday, May 21. Leonela Cruz, 45, brought the American Eskimo to the shelter on Tuesday afternoon. "The dog allegedly appeared under-weight with other signs of maltreatment," according to Fairfax County Police daily crime report. Charges are pending for the dog’s co-owner.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Utility problem redirecting traffic on busy roadway.
Update 3:50 p.m. Washington Gas is now on scene and crews hope to have the leaked gas line repaired within the hour, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesman Dan Schmidt. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue units received a call about a gas odor in the area of Ox Road and Clifton Road and arrived on scene around 1:50 p.m. "Units arrived on the scene and found a moderate-to-heavy smell of gas. Fairfax County police commenced shutting down surrounding roads. No one was injured from the leak," said Schmidt. -- Ox Road is closed in both directions Tuesday afternoon, as of 2:55 p.m., according to Fairfax County. The closure is due to a gas line break. An alert went out on the county emergency system that the roadway was …
Monday, May 20, 2013
FCPD provided information about the new police cruisers during the recent CAC meeting at Franconia District Police Station.
Fairfax County police officers are saying goodbye to their old cruisers as the department purchases 127 Ford Police Interceptor sedans and utility vehicles in FY2013. Retired Lieutenant Chalrie Bond — who is now the director of the logistics and property division for the department — conducted a presentation during Wednesday night's Citizen Advisory Committee meeting. Bond said Ford Motor Vehicles recently discontinued the Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. The 2007 model was the last of its kind. FCPD has 1,500 vehicles — 762 which are assigned to eight stations, and Franconia District Police Station has 109 of those vehicles alone, Bond said. The current cruisers are large four-door vehicles with a V8 engine and upgraded brakes and …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The latest incident report for the Sully/West Springfield District Station, which includes parts of Fairfax Station and Clifton.
Sully District Station Larcenies: Stolen vehicles: West Springfield District Station None reported
Monday, May 13, 2013
The latest incident reports from the West Springfield and Sully District Stations, which include parts of Fairfax Station and Clifton.
West Springfield District Station Unlawful Entry A resident reported finding an unknown person in his garage at 8:15 p.m. Saturday on the 9600 block of Pemberly Lane in Fairfax Station. The person fled and nothing was stolen, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Larcenies: Sully District Station Assault An apparently intoxicated, injured man tried to assault an officer, according to police. An officer found the intoxicated man at 4:15 a.m. on May 11 on the intersection of Centreville Road and Machen Road in Centreville, police report. Police said that rescue personnel arrived and tried to move the man, when the man assaulted the rescue officer. Oscar Romer, 18, of Chantilly, was charged with being drunk in public and assault…
A Fairfax County firefighter was sent to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The cause of Friday evening's house fire in the 6700 block of Tempo Lane in Fairfax Station is still under investigation. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue arrived at around 5 p.m., and found heavy smoke and fire coming from the attached two-car garage of the single family home. Two adults were displaced and one firefighter was sent to the INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One of the homeowners noticed smoke coming into the house from the garage and called 911. Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units responded to the fire Friday at 5 p.m. The damage is estimated at $100,000, including the loss of two cars.
38.77465
-77.3404
6700 Tempo Ln, Fairfax Station, VA
/articles/two-displaced-in-fairfax-station-house-fire
/locations/9380926
Saturday, May 11, 2013
It's time for this week's roundup of the region's wackiest news.
Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that something weird isn't happening in at least one of them. Here's a look back at some weird goings on over the past week. Weird Virginia/DC usually runs on Patch sites every Saturday. Everyone knows that Northern Virginia and DC traffic is notoriously bad. Add a sinkhole to the mix, and you've got problems. That's what happened in Reston this week when motorists on Lawyers Road near Steeplechase were detoured, as a 10-foot sinkhole showed itself. Fairfax Water and road crews patched the spot by the evening rush hour, and thankfully no one was injured by the giant hole in the road. We realize everybody hates traffic, but somebody out there also hates Mother's …
Monday, May 6, 2013
The following incidents were reported to the Fairfax County Police Department's Sully District and West Springfield District Stations, which include parts of Fairfax Station and Clifton.
Sully District Station A 27-year-old Centreville man was charged with being drunk in public, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. Police were initially called at 8:10 p.m. on Saturday on the 6200 block of Multiplex Drive for a report of a person brandishing a firearm. Police did no find a weapon when the got there. However, they arrested 27-year-old Amir Shukry, of Centreville, and charged him with being drunk in public. Assault A 20-year-old man was sitting at a Centreville restaurant when an unknown man assaulted him, according to police. The incident was reported at 12:40 a.m. Sunday on the 14100 block of Saint Germain Drive. The attacker reportedly fled, and the victim did not report serious injuries. Larcenies: West …
Steve Austin
11:53 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2013
Amen! Justice prevails and if Wolfe is not guilty, a new jury will find that! I am betting Wolfe will accept a plea deal to a lesser charge! more ›