Update 5:30 p.m.
A second town official and former Haymarket Town Councilman was also arrested following Haymarket Day.
Robert Weir, who is appointed as the head of the town’s planning commission, was served with a summons charging him with “curse and abuse,” according to Virginia court documents.
Haymarket Police Chief James Roop said only the cursing portion of the statue applies to this case as “there was no abuse.”
Town Mayor David Leake pressed those charges on Weir, and claimed he was on a town street having a conversation with Haymarket Councilwoman and Planning Commission member Rebecca Bare on Sept. 21 during the annual Haymarket Day celebration and Weir interjected and began cursing at both of them.
“It was an ugly incident…we had children in the street,” said Leake.
Potomac Local News has reached out to Weir will bring you any comments he might make in an update.
Weir, a Republican, told the Washington Post he sought to unseat Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart in 2009
Town Council reacts
Monday will mark the first meeting of the Haymarket Town Council since Vice-Mayor Jay Tobias was charged with public intoxication on Sept. 21. The council is expected to review the town’s code of ethics for elected officials during the meeting.
Leake said Tobias could be removed from council with a 2/3 vote on the seven-member governing board. Such charges for both Tobias and Weir would warrant such a vote, added Leake.
“We need to show the citizens that this is unacceptable behavior,” he added.
3:20 p.m.
HAYMARKET, Va. — An elected official in Haymarket was arrested on the day of the town’s largest celebration, Haymarket Day.
Haymarket Vice-Mayor Jay Tobias was charged with public intoxication in public on Sept. 21, following an altercation with another man at Giuseppe’s Restaurant on Haymarket Day, an annual family-friendly event that draws thousands to the tiny western Prince William County town.
Tobias was involved in an altercation with another man about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21, said Haymarket Police Chief James Roop. Afterward, Roop and another deputy separated the men and drove both of them to their respective homes.
“I instructed [Tobias] to stay home and not come back out that day,” said Roop.
Later that evening at 7:50 p.m., Roop spotted Tobias at Giuseppe’s Restaurant drinking a beer and arrested him, and then charged him with drunk in public, said Roop.
Tobias was taken before a magistrate that evening and released.
“At no time did he cross into the jail,” said Roop.
Roop described the incident as isolated.
Tobias said he had no comment about the arrest, and he is due in court on Nov. 7 for the charge. He faces a $250 fine, according to Roop.
Tobias has lived in Haymarket since 2003 and works as an investment banker, according to the town’s website.
More than 1,800 people, including several community groups and schools, participated in this year’s annual Haymarket Day festival.
Recent Stories
Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors easily approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with a few changes on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to take effect on July 1.
School officials in Prince William County say Antisemitic symbols were found painted on the side of Coles Elementary and Benton Middle schools near Woodbridge.
Manassas City Council held a public hearing on the city’s budget, as residents once again are facing the prospect of paying more in taxes.
On April 22, 2024, at approximately 2:16 a.m., the Manassas City Police Department responded to a 911 call for shots fired in the 9100 block of Winterset Drive.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Do stress and anxiety seem to dominate your thoughts? At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that navigating mental health can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our team of compassionate therapists is here to guide you on your journey toward inner peace and emotional well-being. With a client-centered approach, we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with depression, coping with trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and supportive space for healing and growth.
Embark on a path of self-discovery with our comprehensive range of therapy services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you cultivate resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
