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A major house fire broke out early Saturday morning in Lake Ridge, displacing seven people but causing no injuries.

Fire crews were called to the 19200 block of Luca Station Way, near Old Bridge Elementary School, at 2:44 a.m. and found heavy flames emanating from the garage, which were spreading into the home. All residents had safely evacuated before firefighters arrived. A second alarm was briefly issued due to the fire’s intensity and reports that someone might still be inside, but those units were quickly returned to service.


Police Blotter

In a series of DUI incidents in Stafford County, a 33-year-old woman from Stafford was arrested after failing to maintain her lane on Oakridge Drive and Garrisonville Road.

The driver, who displayed signs of intoxication, became combative during the arrest, leading to charges of assault and battery on law enforcement, obstruction of justice, and refusal to provide a blood sample. She was held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail under no bond, police said.


Police Blotter

Stafford County faced a series of vehicle-related crimes on November 13, 2025. The most serious incident involved a motor vehicle theft on Clark Lane, where a resident reported their car missing after parking it in front of their home the previous night. Another vehicle theft was reported on Everglades Lane, with the vehicle last seen parked in the driveway on November 12.

Additionally, there were two attempted vehicle thefts on Barclay Lane and Bloomington Lane. In both cases, the vehicles were damaged, and evidence suggested attempts to steal them.


Police Blotter

A 15-year-old male from Manassas Park is charged in connection with an armed robbery that took place on July 22 in Woodbridge. The incident involved a food delivery driver who was threatened and robbed by two suspects. During the robbery, one suspect brandished a firearm while the other took the food. The suspects fled the scene, and the victim reported the incident to the police. No injuries were reported.

In a separate incident, a strong-arm robbery occurred at a Sunoco gas station in Woodbridge on November 12. Two teenage males engaged in a struggle with an employee over vape products before fleeing with multiple items. The suspects were described as white and Hispanic males with thin builds. No injuries were reported.


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“Omini Tete Riman, 60, earned income as an information technology specialist and landlord,” U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced. “Riman filed false Internal Revenue Service Forms 1040 for tax years 2013 and 2014, resulting in tax refunds of $213,577 for 2013 and $186,468 for 2014, to which he was not entitled.”

“Riman took numerous steps to frustrate the IRS’s collection efforts,” the office said, including transferring property to a trust, directing income to accounts in the trust’s name, telling a tenant to ignore IRS notices and calling them a “scam,” and submitting false documents claiming an IRS officer had received more than $600,000 from him.


Traffic

“Smithfield Road (Route 746) between Petterson Lane and Sinclair Lane (Route 747) will be closed to through traffic during daytime hours Monday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Nov. 19, and Doves Lane (Route 650) between Shawnee Lane (Route 793) and Bradley Forest Road (Route 752) will be closed to through traffic during daytime hours for drainage pipe replacement,” Virginia Department of Transportation announced. “Those needing to reach properties along Smithfield Road and Doves Lane will have access; however, drivers will not be able to go beyond the work sites in either direction.”

“Smithfield Road through traffic will be detoured via Coopers Lane, Bradley Forest Road and Doves Lane back to Smithfield Road; Doves Lane through traffic will be detoured via Smithfield Road, Coopers Lane and Bradley Forest Road back to Doves Lane.”


Manassas

The Manassas City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the tax relief program for elderly and disabled taxpayers on Monday.

The amendment, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, is the first time Council has considered a change to the program since 2017. The modification will allow those making up to $60,000 in gross household income who are either elderly or disabled to qualify for up to $3,400 on their local real and property taxes.


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Mayor Ernie Porta’s latest Occoquan Radio Podcast recapped the November 5 Town Council meeting and shared updates on local businesses and upcoming holiday events. Here’s what residents should know:

For more on town events, visit VisitOccoquanVA.com/events.