BRISTOW — Those working to protect and improve Prince William County’s rural area say it will be a campaign issue in 2019.
But it could be until 2020 before voters see policies reviewed and action is taken, they add.
More than 50 people ventured out into Thursday’s snow turned to cold rain and came to the Bristow Manor Golf Club for a discussion hosted by the Prince William Committee of 100 on the county’s Rural Crescent, the land between Quantico Marine Corps Base and Manassas Battlefield National Park preserved for farming and residential development on 10-acre lots.
Labeled by county leaders for the first time in 1964 and protected in 1998, housing and commercial developers have largely been kept out of the area. But property owners, like 65-year-old dairy Farmer Dale House whose lived on his 10-acre farm his on Vint Hill Road in Prince William County his entire life, continue to push elected officials for change.
With homes just outside of the rural area sprouting up around his farm, House says its time for the Board of Supervisors to allow cluster developments on the rural crescent. His days as a dairy farmer are coming to a close, but if he’s liable to make little financial return from a developer if it can’t place multiple homes on his land.
Right now, developers are restricted to building one home per every 10 acres. Many are custom builds, unlike other neighborhoods where a large number of homes are built to drive up profits.
A cluster development, however, if permitted by county leaders, would allow a developer to place a large number of homes on about 40 percent of the property, while leaving the remaining property untouched, in a conservation easement.
“Let’s cluster these developments. Let’s work this thing out now before we lose what we’ve got,” said House. “Get your heads together and work it out.”
He points to the success of similar developments in neighboring Loudoun County.
Instead of homes dotting the rural area, House says the county could encourage agro-tourism like breweries and wineries to be built on those clustered plots of conserved land.
“We’ve got 2 Silos [brewery] down the street. I’ve got five silos on my farm,” he quipped.
Despite the fact that a county-funded study outlining a future for the rural area has been collecting dust for the past six years, it’s likely the Board of Supervisors won’t take up the Rural Crescent issue until after the November 2019 Election. Every seat on the board is open next year.
That will give home developer Mark Granville-Smith, of Classic Concept Building, a firm that has been more than 500 custom homes — many of them in the rural area — time to educate the public about the Rural Crescent.
His newly formed Rural Crescent Preservation Foundation has 100 members who will urge for policy changes, like to allow cluster developments in the rural area.
“What’s happened in the 10 years since the county started its Rural Crescent study? Not a whole lot,” said Granville-Smith. “It seems like, over time, we get closer to having a real discussion and real solutions but then we kick the can down the road.”
Part of that solution could be a Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program like the one in use in Stafford County.
Under a PDR, the government purchases a property owners development rights put the property in a conservation easement barring all future development and allow the owner to continue living on the property and farming it.
A TDR is a private transaction between the property owner and a developer where a developer purchases the property rights of a landowner in a rural area and then transfers them to a property in an identified development area for development there.
Prince William Conservation Alliance President and 30-year former employee of the U.S. Dept. of Interior Charlie Grymes said that protecting the rural areas don’t work unless the identified development areas, like Woodbridge in eastern Prince William County where those development rights would be transferred, are thriving. He urged the county to consider a PDR program that would increase the density of the eastern side of the county so it could become more like its neighbors to the north Arlington and Alexandria.
“The future is adding to density to north Woodbridge, at Innovation Park [near Manassas], building the live, work, and play neighborhoods, where you don’t need a car,” said Grimes. “That’s how we’re going to get jobs in Prince William County. That’s how we’re going to get a commercial tax base.”
ALEXANDRIA – (Press Release) A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man today for his role in a conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
“Sex traffickers often prey upon the most vulnerable victims in our society,” said G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The victims were targeted specifically because Rhymes knew they were vulnerable and that he could exploit them, and he used fear, coercion, and control to force them into a form of modern-day slavery. We are grateful to the jury for their time and attention to this difficult case, and to our trial team and investigative partners for their terrific work in pursuit of justice for the victims in this case.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Cornell Devore Rhymes, 32, conspired with others, including but not limited to Justin Robinson and Markus Plummer, who have been previously convicted, to forcibly sex traffic young women during the Summer of 2017. The jury found that Rhymes used tactics such as non-consensual sex, cocaine and violence to keep these and other young women prostituting for their benefit.
Rhymes was convicted of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Prior to trial, Rhymes pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Rhymes faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 15, 2019. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Nancy McNamara, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, and Barry M. Barnard, Chief of Prince William County Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney Dougherty Russell and Raizza Ty are prosecuting the case.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY – (Press Release) The criminal investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred on November 4, 2018 on Laurel Street in the Woodbridge area of Prince William County has been completed. This investigation was conducted by detectives from the Prince William County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and was reviewed by the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office for a determination of criminal liability concerning the officers’ actions, as well as the suspect’s actions, during the incident. In the interest of keeping the residents of Prince William County informed of significant incidents involving our officers and the community, further details of the investigation and the ruling of criminal liability are being publicly disclosed.
On November 4, 2018 at approximately 5:41PM, the Prince William County Public Safety Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from an individual reporting that his grandson, later identified as Brett Anthony Monteith, was bleeding and holding a firearm at their residence located at 1106 Laurel Street. An update reported that Brett was last seen running out of the back door to the residence where the caller lost sight of him. The call was dispatched to responding officers at 5:42PM as a shooting-in-progress with injuries. The first responding officers arrived at the home at approximately 5:44PM and faced immediate gunfire from the roof area of the residence from a man armed with a .22 caliber rifle. At 5:45PM, patrol supervisors monitoring the call, and hearing that the officers were being fired upon, declared a “Signal 1” — officer in trouble, calling for all available units to respond to the scene. Four officers were on scene at the time shots were fired towards police. Two officers at the scene returned fire on the suspect, ultimately striking him in the upper body, before subduing him in front of the residence at approximately 5:49PM. During the shooting, one of the officers on scene was struck by a round fired from the suspect, striking the officer in the back, across the exterior ballistic vest. The officer was seen at an area hospital as a precaution. No other injuries were sustained other than to the suspect. Officers rendered aide to the suspect prior to medical crews arriving on scene. The suspect was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries and has since been released. He is currently incarcerated at the Adult Detention Center.
On November 8, Brett Anthony Monteith was charged with one count of attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer and one count of using a firearm in commission of a felony. A preliminary court date is scheduled for December 12, 2018. Any additional charges are expected through indictments by the Grand Jury at a later date.
The investigation into the incident revealed that Mr. Monteith had shot himself with a firearm prior to the initial call to 9-1-1 by the suspect’s grandfather. At some point between the time of the call and officers arriving on scene, the suspect got onto the roof of the home where he then opened fire on responding officers. Other homes were struck during the encounter resulting in property damage only.
Upon reviewing the actions of the officer involved in the shooting and the details of the investigation as described above, Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney, Paul Ebert, ruled that both officers were justified in their use of deadly force against the accused during this encounter. No criminal charges will be sought against any officer in this incident. Mr. Ebert stated, “The evidence indicates that the responding officers used great restraint and used deadly force only when necessary, in my opinion.”
Prince William County Police Chief Barry Barnard commented, “As the administrative investigation into this incident continues, I am confident that our officers performed with the upmost courage as they faced a dangerous, unprovoked attack by an armed assailant. Their actions that evening were heroic and we are fortunate that none of the officers in the incident or any innocent residents in the area were harmed.”
The Prince William County Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards is continuing an independent administrative investigation into the shooting. A final review of the incident will be conducted by the Police Department’s Use of Deadly Force Review Board, which will examine all aspects of the incident. The Board will determine if the shooting was within policy and will make any recommendations as needed based on their findings.
The officers involved in the shooting were identified as Evan Jurgensen, age 25, with 2.4 years-of-service with the Prince William County Police Department and John Yenchak, age 22, with 1.5 years-of-service with the agency. Both officers are assigned to the Eastern Patrol District within the Operation Division and have not been involved in any previous officer-involved shootings. Both officers have returned to full duty.
The Police Department recognizes the sensitivity of officer-involved shootings and the public’s interest in remaining informed as to the circumstances surrounding incidents when the police use deadly force actions. We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation when these incidents occur and appreciate our community’s patience while we gather and process information.
The Police Department is evaluating this incident and will continue to release any additional, pertinent information related to this investigation as needed to keep our community informed.
TYSONS – (Press Release) Before drivers hit the road this Thanksgiving, the Express Lanes team recommends planning ahead to avoid traffic and delays.
Traffic on I-95 is expected to surge on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. If last year is any indication, drivers could save as much as one hour in travel time by taking the 95 Express Lanes next week.
What to expect and when to travel
In 2017, more than 228,000 trips were taken on the 95 Express Lanes between Tuesday, November 21 and Sunday, November 26. Drivers who took the Lanes saved an average of 27 minutes, with some saving more than one hour compared to those who took the regular lanes. In fact, drivers who avoided the busiest travel periods also saved as much as 50 percent off their tolls.
This year:
Traffic will likely be heaviest on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. For drivers going south, the best times to travel include:
Tuesday, November 20: Before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 21: Before 1:30 p.m. or after 5:30 p.m.
Toll prices may be higher than normal during busy travel times, so it pays to plan ahead. Drivers can check real-time toll pricing and live traffic updates by heading to ExpressLanes.com or downloading the free Express Lanes mobile app (Apple App Store® or the Google Play Store®).
To help the region with the changing holiday travel patterns, the 95 Express Lanes reversal schedule will be adjusted:
Tuesday, November 20: Southbound opens around noon.
Wednesday, November 21: Southbound opens around noon.
Thursday, November 22: Northbound opens around 2 a.m. and remains all day.
How to stay updated
Once drivers are on the road, pricing and traffic updates will be available on overhead signs. Updates will also be available online via Twitter (@VAExpressLanes).
As a reminder: An E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex is required to use the 95 and 495 Express Lanes. If out- of-town visitors accidently travel on the Lanes without an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex, they can head to ExpressLanes.com/missed-a-toll or contact the customer service center at 1-855-497-9777.
About the Express Lanes operated by Transurban
The 95 and 495 Express Lanes provide drivers in Northern Virginia with faster and more predictable travel options. The Express Lanes stretch more than 40 miles from north of the Dulles Toll Road to Stafford County. Thanks to a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, the Express Lanes give drivers reliable travel choices on two of northern Virginia’s most congested roadways. For more information, please visit ExpressLanes.com.
STAFFORD COUNTY — (Press Release) Virginia State Police Trooper Z.G. Torrance is investigating a fatal crash in Stafford County. The crash occurred Nov. 15, 2018 at 7:05 a.m. in the 700 block of White Oak Road/Route 218.
Here’s today’s OPM status.
The Twitter list below will show closings, delays, and updates from Prince William County Public Schools, Stafford County Public Schools, Manassas City Public Schools, Manassas Park City Public Schools, Northern Virginia Community College, Germanna Community College, George Mason University, Mary Washington University.
A Twitter List by PotomacLocal
This Twitter list below will show closings, delays, and updates posted by local governments in Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas City, Manassas Park, Dumfries Town, Haymarket Town, Quantico Marine Corps Base, Fort Belvoir.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — Stanley Bender was the independent third-party candidate in a Special Election on Nov. 6 for Prince William County School Board Chairman At-large.
He was a long shot, having raised no money, erecting no campaign signs, and participating in just two of three election forums held prior to the vote.
Bender won nearly 15,000 votes, 10 percent of the total vote in the three-way race with victor Dr. Babur Lateef, endorsed by Democrats, and Alyson Satterwhite, endorsed by Republicans.
While the candidates received endorsements, they run as independents not affiliated with any political party under Virginia law.
Satterwhite and other Republicans attribute Bender’s success to bright red signs erected outside polling places on Election Day that stated “Republicans for Bender.” Also printed on the signs: “Authorized by Republicans for Stanley Bender.”
A search of public records at the Virginia Department of Elections showed Immediate Past Chairman Prince William County Democratic Committee Chairman Harry Wiggins on Oct. 24 filed for the creation of a political action committee of the same name.
Satterwhite appeared at a press conference outside of the Prince William County Public Schools headquarters at Kelly Leadership Center the day after Election Day to announce the end of her campaign. She added the Bender signs confused voters and amounted to voter suppression.
Jeanine Lawson and Ruth Anderson from the county’s Board of Supervisors joined Satterwhite and called for the county’s Electoral Board — comprised of three Democrats — to investigate the signs and bring charges against Wiggins if it uncovers evidence of election meddling.
“This is certainly not the tone we want in Prince William County,” said Lawson. “This is an assault on the integrity of the vote.”
Wiggins, nor any member of the county’s Electoral Board have returned a request for comment for this story.
Potomac Local first reported on the Bender signs on Election Day. Satterwhite slammed her opponent Lateef for not condemning the signs while voters were still lining up at the polls Nov. 6.
“Silence is complicit,” she said.
Prior to Satterwhite’s post-election press conference the next day, Lateef told Potomac Local, “My campaign does not condone those actions and we strongly condemn them, period…The alleged individual did not have a role in our campaign.”
Don Shaw, the current Prince William County Democratic Committee Chairman issued a statement denouncing what Republicans called “trickery” at the polls.
Shaw told Potomac Local that Wiggins still has a non-voting role in the county Democratic Committee until at least next month when his title of Immediate Past Chairman expires. Shaw said he plans to interview Wiggins after Thanksgiving to ascertain his involvement in the incident.
“It’s going to be a long discussion,” said Shaw. “This is not something we take lightly.”
In an interview, Stanley Bender appeared to have a sore spot for Democrats in Prince William County.
“Democrats are rotten. Period,” he said.
The retired engineer said he had no advance knowledge of the Republicans for Bender PAC, or that the signs had been created. He says he knows of Wiggins but says the two are not close.
Bender, who says he didn’t seek an endorsement from either party, said most “people don’t know who they’re voting for” in local political races and tend to vote by party ticket.
“I didn’t feel I should put any [his own] campaign signs up… If I had, and I had put signs up in places that I know, I would have won the battle,” said Bender.
As for his nearly 15,000 votes?
“I just got lucky,” he said.
While it’s not illegal to form a PAC and erect signs for any candidate, benefitting candidates are required to sign off stating they are aware of the organization.
This case is tricky should it ever proceed to court.
“The legal system gives a wide latitude to something like this,” said Dr. Steven Farnsworth, Professor, and Director at the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at Mary Washington University. “It’s an uphill challenge to deal with this. You’ve got the first amendment, and that’s a tough hurdle to overcome.
The professor says this case is unprecedented in Virginia politics, but with a growing partisan divide in the state, it could become politics as usual.
“Both major parties have ramped up endorsements for non-party offices,” said Farnsworth. “Maybe the Republicans should have been more vigorous for their candidate.”
Prince William County voters next year must go back to the polls to elect a School Board Chairman At-large to a new four-year term. The Special Election on Nov. 6 filled the seat vacated by former Chairman At-large Ryan Sawyers.
Lateef was appointed to the At-large seat following Sawyers’ departure.
STAFFORD – (Press Release) 60 Butler Road, 11/10, 2:17 a.m. Suspect arrested for DUI as well as drug and firearm charges. On that evening, Deputy Scott Fulford observed a suspicious vehicle parked with its headlights on. When the cruiser approached the vehicle and turned his takedown lights on, the driver proceeded to exit the vehicle. The deputy instructed him to get back in the vehicle and the driver obeyed his commands. The driver was identified as Jeremiah Kerns, 26, of Colonial Beach. The deputy detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the suspect and subsequently took him into custody. A search of the vehicle yielded a firearm and a substance consistent with marijuana. A search of the suspect’s person during the jail intake process yielded a small plastic bag containing a white powdery substance. Kerns was charged with possession of controlled substances, possession of a firearm while in possession of controlled substances, possession of marijuana, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and driving under the influence of alcohol. He was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail and held without bond.
MANASSAS – (Press Release) On November 11 at 4:26AM, officers responded a residence located in the 11800 block of Hilltop Dr in Manassas (20112) to investigate a domestic. The investigation revealed that the victim, an adult woman, and the accused, an acquaintance, were involved in a verbal altercation that escalated. During the encounter, the accused grabbed a rifle and threatened the victim. The victim left the home and got into her vehicle in the driveway. At that point, the accused pointed the rifle at the victim and then proceeded to strike the vehicle with the firearm multiple times. As the victim was pulling away from the home, the accused fired a round into the air. No injuries were reported. The victim went to a nearby fire station where police were contacted. The accused was located at his place of employment. Upon searching the vehicle belonging to the accused, the rifle and narcotics were located. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Adam Christopher CHASTAIN, was arrested.
Arrested on November 11:
Adam Christopher CHASTAIN, 40, of the 11800 block of Hilltop Dr in Manassas
Charged with reckless handling of firearm, brandishing of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm with narcotics
Court Date: December 5, 2018 | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond
