Victoria Drive, 12/30, 9:55 p.m. On this date, a resident reported receiving multiple calls throughout the day from a male subject who identified himself as Lt. Westbrook.
The caller informed the victim that there was a warrant out for her arrest and she needed to immediately pay $1,500 in the form of gift cards or she would be arrested.
Hospitals in Fredericksburg and Stafford are telling us about the first new bundles of joy of the New Year. A hospital spokeswoman states:
Mary Washington Hospital [in Fredericksburg] had the first baby born in the Fredericksburg region. Baby girl Winter Wren was born at 4:32 a.m. on January 1 to parents Leah and Marcus of King George, was 7 pounds 5 ounces and 19 inches long.
Stafford Hospital had their first baby born at 8:27 a.m. Baby boy Winter Gael was born to Yoxany and Gerber, he was 6 pounds 8 ounces and 20 inches long.
Both families received a gift basket from Mary Washington Healthcare filled with newborn essentials.
Those free fares riders on the very first OmniRide bus ever to serve Stafford County came to an end Tuesday.
Those buses are the Stafford-Washington route (Route 543) and the Stafford-Pentagon route (Route 942). Service on the new routes began Oct. 28, 2019, as part of an effort to get more people out of their cars and onto buses along the Interstate 95 and 395 corridor, just as the newly tolled E-ZPass Express Lanes on I-395 were opening.
The one-way fare for the bus is $9.20, while those paying with a SmarTrip card pay $6.20 one-way.
That’s nearly 3,000 times Potomac Local brought you closer to your community — connecting you to the decision-makers, making you smarter about how the local news that affects your family, home and business, faster.
I’m grateful for the 730,000 users who trusted us, viewing our content 1.5 million times over the past year.
With coverage of more local meetings, transportation, and the region’s newest baseball team the Fredericksburg Nationals, we plan to bring you even more coverage, by more reporters.
With a redesigned website, and with new reader options where even non-subscribers will soon be able to read now and pay later, we’re excited about 2020!Â
A man accused of shooting at a vehicle on Warrenton Road in Stafford County on Saturday night has been arrested with the assistance of the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. A press release states:
On December 28, 2019, at 11:57 p.m., Deputy McAlister was on patrol in the area of 550 Celebrate Virginia Parkway when he observed a vehicle with several occupants approaching him. A passenger then exited the vehicle and made contact with the deputy.
The subject told the deputy that they were turning onto Celebrate Virginia Parkway from Warrenton Road when a dark colored Chevrolet pickup truck drove alongside them. The driver of the pickup truck pointed a gun at their vehicle and fired a shot. He said the suspect vehicle then continued traveling northbound.
The two men charged in a December 26 murder at a Denny’s restaurant on Sudley Road near Manassas were arrested Sunday.
They’re believed to have been responsible for a string of other armed robberies in the area, including this one that occurred at a Walgreens Pharmacy in Woodbridge on Christmas Eve.
Prince William police tell us:
Armed Robbery – On December 24 at 12:10AM, officers responded to the Walgreens located at 14095 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a robbery.
A store employee reported to police that two masked men entered the business and approached the counter. During the encounter, one of
the suspects brandished a firearm and escorted an employee to the back office where he demanded money. The other suspect demanded money from the cash registers. Both suspects fled on foot prior to police arriving at the business.
This is the fourth in a series of armed robberies to include the murder and shooting at Denny’s. The other incidents were reported at a bowling alley on Balls Ford Road, and a hotel on Williamson Boulevard near Manassas.
Potomac Local: Wanted to pass along a safety issue in hope you can pursue.  They opened the new lanes on Rt 1 and it’s a crazy mess at the intersection at Rt 123.  Drivers don’t know where to stop and we’ve seen some close calls.  It’s especially bad at night since there are no light poles turned on.  It appears that it’s bad enough that a police cruiser is now posted there.  Hoping you can check with VDOT on what they plan to do to fix this ASAP before someone gets killed.Â
Prince William police tell us that, in fact, they do not have a cruiser posted at the intersection. However, they were recently called to the area to help VDOT with a signal issue, according to spokesman Jonathan Perok.
Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Ellen Kamilakis says it’s going to take some time for drivers to get used to the new traffic pattern:
The issue boils down to the unfamiliarity of drivers to a new traffic pattern. The traffic pattern switch was done in accordance of the published plans. We issued a traffic alert and the project team had variable message signs placed in several approaching locations, as well as a variable message sign, ground-mounted signs, and new lane striping at the intersection to show where traffic is supposed to stop.
The project was reviewed by a “maintenance of traffic” (MOT) coordinator and external designers for additional safety suggestions, which were implemented. The project team noticed that driver inattention to the signs was continuing (although it has improved with time), so the project team set up a special police assignment for enforcement out of an abundance of caution due to the traffic volumes at that intersection.
Additional span wire signals are being installed [started Thursday] and our signal operations center continues to monitor and adjust signal timing as needed.
There haven’t been light poles at the intersection since the beginning of the project [in May 2016] (or earlier), so the visibility has not changed recently. New light poles will be installed at the intersection once the widening is complete.
It can sometimes take drivers a little while to learn a new traffic pattern, especially when the previous pattern is essentially muscle memory.
A Woodbridge man was killed today while traveling on Purcell Road near Dale City.
A Prince William police press release states:
Fatal Crash Investigation – On December 16 at 10:42AM, investigators with the Crash Investigation Unit responded to the area of Purcell Rd and Fair Hill Ln in Manassas (20112) to investigate a single vehicle crash.
The investigation revealed that the driver, and sole occupant, of a 2005 Toyota Highlander, was traveling west on Purcell Rd approaching Fair Hill Ln when the vehicle lost control and ran off the roadway.
The vehicle struck a mailbox before continuing into a ditch and across Fair Hill Ln where the vehicle struck a culvert and overturned in the travel lanes of Purcell Rd. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was taken to an area hospital where he died as a result of his injuries from the crash on December 28.
At this time, speed and alcohol or drug use do not appear to be factors in the crash.
Identified:
The driver of the 2005 Toyota Highlander was identified as Jong LEE, 73, of Woodbridge
8:3o p.m. | Prince William police updated us with more information about the arrest of the two men wanted in connection to the murder at a Denny’s restaurant on Sudley Road. A press release states:
Murder Investigation *ADDITIONAL ARREST – On December 29, members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Ryan Thomas WALKER, who was sought in connection to the murder of Yusuf OZGUR and the malicious wounding of a second man that occurred at the Denny’s located at 8201 Sudley Rd in Manassas (20109) on December 26.
This suspect resides in the Chantilly area of Fairfax County and was located at the home of an acquaintance in Chesapeake Beach, MD where he was arrested without incident.
The first suspect, Jordan ANDERSON, was located by members of the Prince William County Special Investigations Bureau and ATF following a vehicle stop in the Newington section of Fairfax County.
A search warrant was subsequently conducted on ANDERSON’s vehicle and his residence in Manassas where additional evidence was recovered.
The Prince William County Police Department would like to acknowledge and thank those who submitted tips in this case which helped confirm the identity of the suspects involved. This investigation was tirelessly worked with assistance from the Virginia State Police and our Federal partners from the FBI and ATF who offered resources including technical and forensic support and the U.S. Marshals who located and apprehended the WALKER suspect.
Detectives and our law enforcement partners are appreciative of the overwhelming support from our community in this case which enabled us to identify and arrest the suspects responsible for the murder of Yusuf OZGUR and the malicious wounding of another victim who is recovering from his injuries sustained during the incident.
Arrested on December 29:Â [No photo available]
Ryan Thomas WALKER, 22, of 43491 Interval St in Chantilly
Charged with 1 count of murder, 1 count of malicious wounding, and 1 count of robbery
Court Date:Â February 6, 2020Â | Status:Â Awaiting Extradition
4 p.m. | We’re still waiting for a press release from Prince William police, but here is what we gather from the department’s Twitter account:
*UPDATE: Ryan Thomas WALKER, who was wanted in connection to the Denny’s homicide, has been APPREHENDED by the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Maryland. Additional information to follow.
1 p.m. | More than 100 tips given to police by residents led to the arrest as the man they say is the shooter — 22-year-old Jordan Anderson, of 11165 Stagestone Way in the Coverstone area of Prince William County, near Manassas.
Police have also identified the man they say was with Anderson on the morning of the shooting as Ryan Thomas Walker, 22, of Chesapeake Beach, Md. He’s still on the run and is considered to be armed and dangerous.
More from Prince William police:
Murder Investigation *ARREST | WANTED SUSPECT – On December 28, detectives with the Homicide Unit identified the two men responsible for the murder of Yusuf OZGUR and the malicious wounding of a second man that occurred at the Denny’s located at 8201 Sudley Rd in Manassas (20109) on December 26.
Since the investigation began, police received over 100 tips and information into the case. Based on forensic evidence collected at the scene, detectives identified the shooter in the case as Jordan ANDERSON who was located in Fairfax County on December 29 and charged.
The second suspect was identified as Ryan Thomas WALKER and is actively being sought in connection to the investigation. The investigation into the additional cases believed to be connected to these two men is ongoing.
Anyone with information on WALKER’s whereabouts is asked to contact Prince William County police at 703-792-6500 or your local police department.
Arrested on December 29:
Jordan ANDERSON, 22, of 11165 Stagestone Way in Manassas, charged with 1 count of murder, 1 count of malicious wounding, and 2 counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony
Court Date:Â February 6, 2020Â | Bond:Â Held WITHOUT Bond
Wanted:Â [Photo from August 2019]
Ryan Thomas WALKER, 22, of the 6500 block of a 10th St, Chesapeake Beach, MD
Described as a white male, 5’11”, 165lbs with brown hair and brown eyes
Wanted for 1 count of murder, 1 count of malicious wounding, and 1 count of robbery
SUSPECT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS
Newly elected Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey told us who will be working in her office, helping her to manage constituent issues. A press release states:
Santana
Edwin Santana will serve as the Chief-of-Staff. Edwin joins our team from Whitney, Bradley, and Brown Inc. where he served as an Operational Logistics Analyst.
Prior to that, Edwin served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. It was because of his strong sense of duty and concern that also lead him to run for Congress in VA-01 in 2018. Edwin is also a 2012 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Power Engineering.
Smith
Will Smith will serve as the Deputy Chief-of-Staff. Will most recently served as the Campaign Manager for Ann Wheeler’s successful run for Chair of the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors. Before that, he was the Deputy Campaign Manager for Dick Saslaw’s successful primary victory for the Virginia State Senate. Will is also 2018 graduate of Virginia State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
The Potomac District [formerly the Dumfries District] encompasses southeastern Prince William County and the Town of Dumfries. Supervisor’s Office is located inside the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, at 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge.
Bailey replaces the retiring Maureen Caddigan, who has served as the Potomac District Supervisor since 1992.
