Updated 2:45 p.m. – On February 12, law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions worked together to apprehend Gideon Owusu, Jr., 31, after a high-speed chase spanning Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties. Owusu, wanted for the malicious wounding of two Prince William County Police officers, was taken into custody after a dramatic pursuit on Interstate 95.

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Law enforcement and emergency responders in Prince William County, Stafford County, and the City of Manassas handled multiple incidents over the past several days, including a house fire that displaced a family in Woodbridge, two shooting investigations, drug-related arrests, and a series of disturbances and crimes.

Prince William County

House Fire Displaces Family in Woodbridge

On February 10 at approximately 8:30 p.m., fire crews responded to a house fire on the 3000 block of Fillmore Drive in Woodbridge. Flames broke out in the home’s laundry room, causing moderate damage. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported. The home was deemed unsafe for occupancy, and two adults and one child were displaced. The Red Cross is providing assistance. The Fire Marshal confirmed the fire started in the laundry room, though the cause remains under investigation.

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A suspect in a bank robbery on Route 3 was arrested thanks to a tip leading authorities to a Fredericksburg hotel.

According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the robbery occurred at Truist Bank, located at 3600 Plank Road, next to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. A bank employee called 911 to report that a man had entered the bank and demanded money. The employee complied with the demands, and the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Authorities confirmed that the suspect did not display a weapon during the robbery, and no injuries were reported. Witnesses at the scene provided law enforcement with a description of the suspect’s getaway vehicle, which was identified as a copper/orange pickup truck.

Later that evening, a tip was received by the Sheriff’s Office, prompting an investigation by the Street Crimes Unit (SCU). The investigation led deputies to a hotel in Fredericksburg, where they located and arrested the suspect with help from the Fredericksburg Police Department.

Lemar Gerald Dawson, 45, of Locust Grove, is charged with robbery and has been remanded to the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any of the stolen money was recovered. The case remains under investigation.

Maryland Man Convicted of Supplying Drugs to Fredericksburg Trafficker
Sean Shaka Myles Sr., 50, of Baltimore, was convicted for conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl to a Fredericksburg trafficker. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. (Full details)

Stafford Man Convicted for Assaulting Passenger During Flight
Everett Chad Nelson, 44, was found guilty of attacking a sleeping, deaf passenger on a flight to Dulles Airport, causing severe injuries. He faces up to 10 years in prison. (Full details)

Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry & Failing to Register as a Sex Offender
Eliseo Garcia Gordillo, 43, previously convicted of sexual battery in Prince William County, was sentenced to two years in prison for reentering the U.S. and failing to register as a sex offender. (Full details)

Dumfries Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Kingsley Apenteng, 40, admitted to falsifying documents to obtain a $149,740 PPP loan, which was later forgiven. He faces up to 20 years in prison. (Full details)

From Prince William County Police Department: 

Fatal Crash Investigation Nokesville Rd. & Sowder Village Sq., Nokesville:  On February 6 at 5:48 AM, crash investigators responded to the area of Nokesville Rd. and Sowder Village Sq. in Nokesville to investigate a fatal pedestrian crash. The investigation revealed that the driver of a 2024 Nissan Sentra was traveling southbound on Nokesville Rd. when the vehicle struck a pedestrian who was attempting to cross the road outside of a crosswalk while wearing dark-colored clothing. The pedestrian was subsequently struck by a 2005 Mazda 6, also traveling southbound on Nokesville Rd.

The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Nissan was also transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities determined that speed, alcohol, and drug use were not factors for either driver.

Crash investigators are seeking any witnesses to this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Prince William County Police.

Identified:

• The deceased pedestrian was identified as Donte Antonio CARTER, 33, of Manassas.
• The driver of the 2024 Nissan Sentra was identified as a 20-year-old woman of Woodbridge.
• The driver of the 2005 Mazda 6 was identified as a 37-year-old man of Stafford.

From Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: 

Suspect Located Using Drone & SWAT Team Taylors Hill Way, South Stafford: On February 6 at 8:08 PM, deputies responded to a disturbance involving a weapon on Taylors Hill Way. Deputies learned that a 29-year-old resident, identified as Franco Charles, was intoxicated and had fired several shots inside the home.

Deputies received conflicting information on whether Charles was still inside the residence or had fled on foot. A drone was deployed into the home, confirming the suspect was not inside. The SWAT Team responded, and drone operators began scanning the surrounding area.

Deputy C.M. Sterne later spotted Charles walking along Truslow Road and issued commands to surrender. Instead of complying, Charles fled into a wooded area. Drone operators immediately focused on the suspect’s last known location and quickly located him in the woods.

Charles was taken into custody and charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling and reckless handling of a firearm. He was transported to the Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond.

Biblical Break-In: During Bible Study Renee Road, Stafford County On February 5 at approximately 7:35 PM, deputies responded to a disturbance on Renee Road that was quickly escalating. The caller, David Campbell, 48, of Stafford, reported his neighbors had double-parked and, rather than addressing the matter with property management, confronted them directly in their residence. Upon seeing a large gathering of people inside, he assumed it was a human trafficking operation and contacted authorities. While speaking with dispatchers, Campbell could be heard taunting and cursing at the neighbors.

Deputies arrived and found Campbell standing in the roadway, displaying signs of intoxication. He complained about the parking issue and demanded that deputies identify everyone in the residence. After speaking with Campbell, deputies made contact with the neighbors, who provided a much different account of the situation.

According to the neighbors, the gathering was a Wednesday night Bible study, which explained the number of attendees. They stated that Campbell forcibly entered the home, nearly striking an ordained minister and threatening to punch another male. Video evidence corroborated their claims.

Campbell was arrested and charged with breaking and entering, assault, and public intoxication. He was transported to the Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond.

DUI Arrest St. Albans Boulevard:  On February 6 at 7:26 PM, Deputy J.J. Holetzky responded to a report of a reckless driver. Upon contact, the driver, a 23-year-old male, was found to be intoxicated. He was charged with DUI and driving without a license and held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.

Fraud Cases

• Chamonix Drive (9:38 AM) – A resident reported that a mailed check never reached its intended destination. The check had been altered and deposited into a fraudulent account.
• Boxwood Drive (1:39 PM) – A resident received a text about a fraudulent purchase. After calling the number in the text, money was fraudulently withdrawn from his account.
• Celebrate Virginia Parkway (1:15 PM) – Deputy A.G. Hart stopped a vehicle for expired registration and an improper lane change. The driver attempted to use a fictitious name but was identified and arrested for false identification, no driver’s license, and traffic violations. He was released on an unsecured bond.

Larceny Reports

• Hatcher’s Run Court (7:55 AM) – A resident reported one vehicle stolen and another damaged. A green Kia Soul was reported stolen and entered into a law enforcement database.
• Corbin’s RV, 348 Kings Highway (9:54 AM) – Employees discovered that catalytic converters had been stolen from four RVs on the lot.

Littering Incident Hartwood (8:13 AM) – A resident awoke to find their property littered with toilet paper and eggs. An 18-year-old suspect was identified and issued a littering warrant.

Public Intoxication Royal Farms, 4 Commerce Parkway (7:36 PM) – Deputy W.E. Trainor IV responded to a disturbance involving a 35-year-old male who was intoxicated and causing issues over missing keys. The suspect was arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication and held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office

Warrant Service Leads to Three Arrests

• Olympic Drive, 2/4, 9:02 p.m. – A warrant service escalated when a suspect and two others attempted to flee law enforcement. Deputies arrived to serve multiple felony identity fraud warrants on Rehela Lacatus, 31, and observed her inside the residence. As deputies announced themselves, Lacatus and two others attempted to escape through the backyard but were quickly apprehended. The three—a 26-year-old female, a 28-year-old male, and Lacatus—were charged with obstruction of justice and are being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond. Lacatus was additionally served on her outstanding warrants. A separate warrant for obstruction was issued for another female who obstructed the investigation at the front door but has not yet been served.

Fraud

• Truslow Road, 2/4, 1:36 p.m. – A resident received a call from an individual claiming to be “Simon” from Microsoft’s Security Department. Simon falsely stated that the victim’s account had been hacked and instructed him to deposit money into another bank account to resolve the issue. The victim’s bank teller recognized the scam and advised against complying.
• Whitsons Run, 2/4, 7:05 p.m. – A resident received a call from “Albert,” who claimed to be from her bank’s Fraud Department. Albert falsely reported that the victim’s account had been compromised and directed her to transfer money into an account under his control.

Larceny

• Home Depot, 305 Worth Avenue, 2/4, 11:13 a.m. – Two unidentified suspects wearing hoodies stole a saw valued at nearly $450 from the store.

Swatting

• Julian Drive, 2/4, 2:42 p.m. – Deputies responded to a report of a shooting in which the caller claimed he had shot his juvenile brother and was suicidal. Due to inconsistencies in the caller’s statements, deputies approached the situation cautiously. Upon arrival, they confirmed there was no emergency and determined the call was a hoax.

Vandalism

• Boxelder Drive, 2/4, 3:56 p.m. – A suspect became enraged after a family member discarded his “green leafy items” and retaliated by throwing a rock through her window. Deputies charged the suspect with felony destruction of property. He was later released on personal recognizance.

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Prince William County Police Department

Commercial Burglary

• Tobacco King and Vape, 4315 Dale Blvd., 2/5, 4:03 a.m. – Officers responded to a burglary in which a masked suspect broke the front glass door with an object and stole merchandise before fleeing in a vehicle.

Strong-Arm Robbery

• Molinari Juvenile Shelter, 8642 Wellington Rd., 1/25, 9:25 p.m. – Three juvenile residents assaulted a staff member and took his keys before fleeing the facility. No injuries were reported. Following an investigation, the three juveniles—ages 13, 16, and 17—were charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit theft and are being held at the Juvenile Detention Center.

Assault & Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer

• 17100 block of Old Stage Rd., Dumfries, 2/5, 3:04 a.m. – Officers encountered Saria Andora Wilson, 25, a wanted individual. When they attempted to detain her, she pushed an officer and provided false identification. She was arrested and charged with assault & battery on a law enforcement officer, false identification, and obstruction of justice. She is being held without bond.

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Manassas City Police Department

Increased Police Presence – No Threat to Public

• Pristine Ct. & Hood Rd., 2/4, 8:47 p.m. – Police responded to an ongoing investigation at a single residence in the area, resulting in increased law enforcement presence. Authorities advised residents to avoid the area as traffic was impacted. The incident has concluded, and officers have cleared the scene. Police have confirmed there is no threat to the public but have not released further details.

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Contact Information

• Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: (540) 658-4450
• Prince William County Police Department Tip Line: (703) 792-7000 or submit a web tip at pwcva.gov/policetip
• Manassas City Police Department: (703) 257-8000

Prince William County Police Department

Armed Robbery in Woodbridge
On February 3 at 4:03 p.m., officers responded to the Orchard Mills Apartments in the 3200 block of Blazer Loop, Woodbridge, for a robbery report.

A U.S. Postal Service worker reported that while delivering mail, an unknown man approached him and implied he had a weapon before grabbing a key chain and fleeing. The postal worker left the area and contacted police. No injuries were reported.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6’0” tall, in his 30s, with a full beard and mustache, wearing all-black clothing.

Manassas area Domestic Strangulation – Suspect Wanted

On February 2 at 1:58 p.m., officers responded to the TGM Sudley Crossing Apartments in the 10800 block of Gambril Drive near Manassas for a domestic assault.

The investigation revealed that a 28-year-old woman and a family member, identified as Masihullah Rahmati, 31, were involved in a verbal altercation that escalated. Rahmati allegedly struck the victim multiple times before grabbing her neck. The victim was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Rahmati left the scene before officers arrived. He is currently wanted for strangulation and domestic assault & battery.

Suspect Description: White male, 5’4”, 180 lbs., black hair, brown eyes
Last Known Address: 10800 block of Gambril Drive, Manassas

Anyone with information on Rahmati’s whereabouts is urged to contact police.

Manassas area Domestic Strangulation – Arrest Made
On February 2 at 10:11 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 6600 block of River Ford Court, near Manassas for a domestic assault.

The investigation revealed that a 23-year-old woman was involved in an altercation with a family member, identified as Waleed Ahmad Sadozai, 27. During the dispute, Sadozai allegedly pushed the victim down and grabbed her neck.

Sadozai was arrested and charged with strangulation and domestic assault & battery.

Court Date: Pending
Bond: $1,000 Unsecured

Teenagers Charged with Distributing THC Gummies at Potomac High School
On January 24 and 29, the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Potomac High School in Dumfries investigated two separate incidents where students were found in possession of THC-infused gummies.

The investigation revealed that two female students, aged 14 and 16, brought the gummies to school with the intent to distribute them. Several students who consumed the gummies experienced adverse reactions and required hospital treatment.

The two juveniles were charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Their court dates are pending.

Prince William County Police Department Tipline: (703) 792-7000
Submit a Web Tip: pwcva.gov/policetip

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office

Anvil Attacker Arrested

A 48-year-old Stafford man was arrested on February 2 after allegedly assaulting an individual with a wooden slat.

At 11:51 a.m., Deputy N.D. Fonseca responded to Anvil Road for an assault report. Upon arrival, the deputy found the victim with injuries to his head and arm. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to witnesses, the suspect and the victim had been traveling together when the suspect began acting erratically and accused the victim of stealing his property. A verbal argument ensued, escalating into a physical altercation in the roadway. During the fight, Berryman reportedly picked up a discarded wooden slat and struck the victim before fleeing the scene.

A warrant for malicious wounding was obtained for Marcellus Berryman, and deputies later discovered he had a similar warrant out of Maryland. Later that night, at approximately 9:52 p.m., First Sergeant D.W. Fetterolf and Deputy C.A. Osborn spotted Berryman driving in the area of Short Street. With the assistance of Sergeant E.E. West, Deputy S.T. Myers, and his K-9 partner, Gunner, deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop at Fredericksburg Tattoo Works, located at 348 Warrenton Road.

Police said Berryman was driving on a revoked license and was taken into custody without further incident. He has been charged with malicious wounding and driving on a revoked license. He is currently being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Assault at Monarch Court
At approximately 4:59 p.m. on February 2, Deputy J.J. Holetzky responded to Monarch Court for an assault. The victim reported that while playing “chuck it” with his dog, an unknown male approached aggressively. The suspect assaulted the victim and attempted to kick his dog. The victim was able to defend himself using a dog toy, forcing the attacker to walk away without further incident.

The suspect remains unidentified, and the investigation is ongoing.

Juvenile Assault at Domino’s Pizza
Deputy K.F. Bierfeldt responded to the Domino’s at 2606 Richmond Highway at approximately 6:31 p.m. on February 2 after reports of a disturbance. The juvenile victim reported being assaulted by a former friend. The altercation, which resulted in damage to the business, was captured on security footage.

Bystanders intervened to separate the two juveniles. Deputy Bierfeldt later located the suspect and submitted criminal complaints for assault and battery and destruction of property.

Fraudulent Returns at Walmart
At approximately 3:51 p.m. on February 2, Deputy C.M. Sterne responded to Walmart at 11 Village Parkway for a fraud report. Store staff reported that a known male had been making fraudulent returns in multiple locations along the East Coast, including Stafford.

Surveillance footage confirmed the suspect had returned tampered-with external hard drives in exchange for refunds. The investigation is ongoing.

Purse Stolen in Walmart Parking Lot
Deputy T.K. Phillips responded to Walmart at 217 Garrisonville Road at approximately 1:07 p.m. on February 3 for a reported larceny. The victim stated she left her purse in her vehicle while shopping. Upon returning, she discovered it had been stolen.

Deputies are reviewing security footage and urge anyone with information to contact the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.

Contact Information
Anyone with information regarding the incidents listed in this report is encouraged to contact:

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: (540) 658-4450
Twitter: @staffcosheriff
Facebook: Stafford Sheriff
Instagram: @StaffordSheriff

Press release:

A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.

According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.

Ayilaran recorded the sex acts on his cellphone. A forensic examination of Ayilaran’s phone revealed 73 sexually explicit images and videos of the victim and approximately 1,000 images and videos depicting other minors, including prepubescent children, engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ayilaran kept the majority of his CSAM in a folder that he titled with a smiley face emoji.

Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kai Wah Chan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Vanessa Strobbe prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Fatal Crash in Nokesville Claims the Life of Manassas Driver

A fatal crash in Nokesville on January 30 has left one man dead and another injured, according to the Prince William County Police Department. The incident occurred at approximately 3:28 p.m. at the intersection of Aden Road and Parkgate Drive.

Authorities report that the driver of a 2008 Nissan Titan, identified as 29-year-old David Joseph Russell Callen of Manassas, was traveling southbound on Aden Rd at a high rate of speed. The Titan crossed into oncoming traffic, colliding with a 2022 Subaru Outback heading in the opposite direction. The force of the collision caused the Titan to leave the roadway, rolling several times before coming to a stop on its roof.

Callen, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Subaru Outback, a 37-year-old woman from Gainesville, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a nearby hospital.

Crash investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward and contact the police. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The police department urges motorists to always wear their seatbelts and drive safely to prevent tragic accidents like this.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Prince William County Police Department.

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Stafford County Police Investigate Bomb Threat on School Bus

A juvenile is facing a serious charge after allegedly making a bomb threat on a school bus in Stafford County on January 30.

At 4:26 p.m., deputies responded to the area of Monument Drive and Muster Drive following reports of a bomb threat. The investigation revealed that a middle school student, while riding the bus home from Rodney Thompson Middle School, loudly claimed to have a bomb. Sergeant J.T. Harrod III arrived and removed the student from the bus.

A search of the bus found no explosive device, and the threat was determined to be unfounded. Juvenile Intake was contacted, and the student was released to a parent. The juvenile faces a charge of threatening to bomb, with the case still under investigation.

Police did not release the age of the juvenile involved in the incident. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the matter.