Prince William County

Attempted Malicious Wounding (Domestic Related) – On August 2 at 1:04AM, officers responded to the Woodbridge Station Apartments located in the 1500 block of Constellation Pl. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a domestic dispute. The investigation revealed a man, later identified as the accused, forced entry into the apartment of an acquaintance where he then brandished a knife toward a 43-year-old male occupant of the apartment. The accused broke the man’s phone before leaving the apartment. Officers and a police K-9 searched the area for the accused who was not located. No injuries were reported. Following the investigation, officers obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Eduin Misael FLORES GUTIERREZ. Attempts to locate the accused have been unsuccessful.

Wanted: [No Photo Available]
Eduin Misael FLORES GUTIERREZ, 45, of no fixed address
Described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5’10”, 150lbs., with black hair
Wanted for malicious wounding and destruction of property

Strong-Arm Robbery – On August 2 at 12:02AM, officers responded to the area of Forestdale Ave. near Fairview Ln. in Woodbridge (22192) to investigate a robbery. The investigation revealed the victim, a 36-year old man, was riding his scooter in the above area when he was approached by an unknown man. During the encounter, the suspect grabbed the victim off the scooter causing both parties to fall to the ground. The suspect then struck the victim before leaving the area with the victim’s wallet and scooter. Minor injuries were reported. The suspect was described as a white male wearing dark-colored clothing.

Strong-Arm Robbery – On August 1 at 5:03PM, officers responded to investigate a robbery that was reported to have occurred in the 14100 block of Potomac Mills Rd. in Woodbridge (22191) on the evening of July 29. The investigation revealed the victim, 26-year-old man, was in the above area when he was approached by an unknown man. During the encounter, the suspect struck the victim who fell to the ground and temporarily lost consciousness. Upon waking, the victim’s Polaroid P1 speaker was missing. The victim went to an area hospital later for treatment where police were contacted. The suspect was described as a black male, about 5’9” with a skinny/muscular build and short black hair.

Burglary of a School – On August 2 at 4:45AM, officers responded to investigate a burglary that was reported to have occurred at Ann Ludwig Elementary School located at 14575 Potomac Branch Dr. in Woodbridge (22191) sometime between 3:30AM on August 1 and 4:38AM on August 2. The investigation revealed forced entry was made into the school through a door that was found damaged. No property was
reported missing.

Burglary of a School – On July 31 at 10:46AM, officers responded to investigate a burglary that was reported to have occurred at Woodbridge High School located at 3001 Old Bridge Rd. in Woodbridge (22192) on July 16 at approximately 8:50PM. Video surveillance revealed three individuals, possibly juveniles, were seen inside the school. Initial entry was made into the building through an unsecured window. The parties dispersed leaving the property, two in a dark-colored sedan. No property was reported missing.

Attempted Residential Burglary – On August 2 at 11:06AM, officers responded to a residence located in the 7600 block of Michelle Ct. in Manassas (20109) to investigate an attempted burglary. The investigation revealed the occupants of the residence heard a loud noise and found the rear sliding glass door damaged. Outside the residence, an unknown man was seen leaving the area on a bicycle. No entry was made into the home and no property was reported missing.

Suspect Description:
A black male, approximately 6’2”, between 190-200lbs., bald, with facial hair
Last seen wearing a white tank top, blue jeans, carrying a black/white Adidas backpack -more-
Public Information Office • 5036 Davis Ford Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192 • 703-792-5123 | pwcva.gov/police Prince William County Police Department is a Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency

Arrests

Attempted Malicious Wounding – On August 1 at 10:05PM, officers responded to the 7300 block of Sudley Rd. in Manassas (20109) to investigate an attempted assault. The investigation revealed the victim, a 35-year-old man, and two other parties, one identified as the accused, were involved in a verbal altercation in a parking lot in the above area. During the encounter, the accused got into a vehicle and drove towards the victim before leaving the area. The victim was not struck by the vehicle and contacted the police. Officers located the accused nearby where she was detained without incident. No injuries were reported. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Tamara Deshana SMITH, was arrested.

Arrested on August 1:
Tamara Deshana SMITH, 45, of 7249 New Market Ct. in Manassas
Charged with attempted malicious wounding
Court Date: Pending | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond

Spotsylvania County

Early this morning, deputies responded to an attempted robbery at a 7-Eleven store on Plank Road. An unknown male suspect assaulted the store clerk but left without stealing anything after the clerk fought back. The clerk provided a detailed description, and K9 teams from the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office and Fredericksburg Police Department tracked the suspect, Kenneth Wayne Auston, to a location behind Advance Auto Parts on Salem Church Road. Auston, 48, was arrested for attempted robbery, public intoxication, assault on the clerk, obstruction of justice, and assault on law enforcement. He was also wanted for a felony probation violation. During the arrest, Auston assaulted deputies. The clerk sustained minor injuries and was treated on-site. Auston is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

Deputies responded to an attempted robbery at the 7-11 in the 4200 block of Plank Road just after 3am this morning after the store clerk reported that an unknown male suspect went behind the counter and assaulted her.  The clerk fought back causing the suspect to leave without obtaining anything.  The clerk was able to provide a detailed description of the suspect and K9 teams from the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office and Fredericksburg Police Department starting tracking the suspect through the shopping center and area businesses off Salem Church Road and were able to locate the suspect hiding behind Advance Auto Parts in the 2300 block of Salem Church Road.  Kenneth Wayne Auston, 48 years of age from Fredericksburg was arrested for Attempted robbery by force, public intoxication, assault and battery on the 7-11 clerk, obstruction of justice and assault and battery on law enforcement.  Mr. Auston was also wanted by Fredericksburg Police Department for Felony probation violation.  During the arrest, Mr. Auston assaulted deputies.  The clerk suffered minor injuries during the robbery attempt and was treated at the scene.  Mr. Auston was incarcerated under no bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.    

Stafford County

Ford T. Humphrey Public Safety Building, 8/1, 1:11 p.m. Employer at a Stafford County Business came to the Sheriff’s Office lobby to report an employee falsifying hours worked on a timesheet. The case is under investigation.

FOUND PROPERTY
Lakewood Apartments, 8/1, 4:21 p.m. Staff at the apartment complex found a suspected controlled substance wrapped in a Powerball lottery ticket. The ticket was not a winner.
Rowser Building 1739 Richmond Highway, 8/1, 6:06 a.m. Deputies recovered an unoccupied stolen car in the parking lot. The Honda sedan was determined to be stolen from Fairfax. A prime suspect is already incarcerated at the nearby Rappahannock Regional Jail.

FRAUD
Barclay Lane, 8/1, 10:17 p.m. Resident reported she used Paypal to purchase a vehicle through Facebook. The seller account was found to be fictitious.

Richards Ferry Road, 8/1, 12:05 p.m. Resident reported a gift card was used without her permission.

Le Way Drive, 8/1, 11:20 a.m. A business in Florida had their account hacked and the offender used the account to purchase two vehicles from the Auto Auction.

Holly Corner Road, 8/1, 10:06 a.m. Resident reported she attempted to purchase a golf cart through Facebook Marketplace. After a deposit of $500, the account was determined to be fraudulent.

LARCENY
Goose Pond Road, 8/1, 5:30 p.m. Resident reported an ex-boyfriend transferred money out of her bank account.

VANDALISM
Cynthia’s Place, 8/1, 11:12 a.m. Resident reported her car window was shattered overnight.

The investigation into the officer-involved shooting of Gabriel Rene Ramirez, 22, on August 1 at a Bromley Court home in Lake Ridge reveals that, following a report of suicidal threats and armed behavior, SWAT Team members shot the man who had been barricaded inside a home after he pointed a firearm at officers and nearby townhomes, with only one officer firing a single round, resulting in his death.

Press release:

Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation *INVESTIGATIVE DETAILS – As the investigation into the officer-involved shooting that occurred at a residence located in the 3000 block of Bromley Ct in [Lake Ridge] (22192) on August 1 progresses, preliminary details are being released to keep our community informed of the events leading up to the encounter.

At approximately 8:21PM, an out of state family member called to report concerns over suicidal statements made by a loved one, later identified as the deceased. The caller relayed that their loved one wanted to end their life and expressed concerns that the individual was possibly armed. Officers initially responded to the loved one’s home on Caledonia Cir in Woodbridge where he was not immediately located.

A short time later, officers located the individual at the home of an acquaintance nearby on Bromley Ct. where he was eventually found in the backyard of the residence in an agitated state armed with a handgun. Members of the department’s Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) Team and Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Team were deployed, and the incident remained contained to the backyard of the home. Over the course of several hours, members of the Crisis Negotiation Unit, in addition to an on-site Community Services clinician, attempted numerous times for the individual’s safe surrender.

Teams also attempted to relay messages from loved ones which were unsuccessful in resolving the situation. Due to the individual’s behavior, an Emergency Custody Order was obtained. At approximately 5:30AM, the individual pointed the firearm in the direction of officers and occupied townhomes in the vicinity before being shot in the upper body by a member of the SWAT Team. The individual was pronounced dead on scene. Preliminarily, only one officer discharged their weapon and only one round was fired during the encounter.

The involved officer has 4.5 years of service, assigned to uniform patrol operations and as a part-time member of the SWAT Team. The investigation into the incident continues to be led by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). Additional details will be released as more information becomes available. The involved officer in the shooting was placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Anyone who may have information that can aid in the investigation is asked to contact the police.

Identified:

The deceased was identified as Gabriel Rene RAMIREZ, 22, of Woodbridge

Prince William County Deputy Chief Jarad Phelps has retired after over 28 years of service. Phelps has been appointed as the Chief of Police for the Jacksonville Police Department in North Carolina.

“Jarad has served the Prince William County community with the utmost distinction for nearly three decades,” said Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham. “I sincerely congratulate him on his second chapter and future success, and I know he will serve the community of Jacksonville with the same compassion and professionalism he has shown here.”

Phelps began his career with the Prince William County Police Department in 1996 as a patrol officer in the Operations Division. Over his career, he held various positions, including lieutenant and captain. As captain, he served as an evening shift commander, the Special Operations Bureau commander, and the Criminal Justice Academy Director. In 2017, he was promoted to major and later to deputy chief in 2019. He briefly served as acting chief in 2020 during a period marked by civil unrest and the coronavirus pandemic.

Phelps was in command when the department declared its first riot in 50 years. On May 30, 2020, a peaceful protest in response to the death of George Floyd turned violent. Protestors threw objects at drivers and police, leading to a riot in which several people were injured and businesses damaged.

Multiple police agencies responded, resulting in five arrests and injuries to four Prince William police officers. One officer required hospital treatment for a significant head injury. Phelps addressed county officials the following day, facing criticism from Democrats on the Board of County Supervisors for the use of tear gas to control the riot.

Phelps holds a master’s degree from George Mason University and an undergraduate degree from James Madison University. He has attended the FBI National Academy and other leadership and senior management schools.

Deputy Chief Jarad Phelps’ retirement is effective August 1, 2024.

The Prince William County Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 31 in Lake Ridge, resulting in the death of a 22-year-old man after officers responded to a report of a suicidal individual, and the incident is now under review by the regional Critical Incident Response Team.

Prince William police:

Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation – On July 31 at 8:21PM, officers initially responded to a residence located in the 3400 block of Caledonia Cir in [Lake Ridge] (22192) for a report of a suicidal individual. A short time later, officers located the individual at an acquaintance’s residence in the nearby 3000 block of Bromley Ct. where he was found to be armed. The incident was contained, and over the course of the evening, officers attempted numerous times for the individual’s safe surrender. This morning, August 1, around 5:30 a.m., officers engaged the individual who was shot and killed. No officers or other community members were injured during the incident which remains contained. There is no active threat to the surrounding community. The deceased has been preliminarily identified as a 22-year-old man of Woodbridge. The Prince William County Police Department, at the request of Chief Peter Newsham, has requested the regional Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to oversee the investigation as an independent body. More information will be released when available. The investigation continues.

Updated 1 p.m. — Police have arrested the suspect they said jumped into a man’s car while he was standing outside, stole it, and then ran him over, killing him.

Press release:

Felony Murder| Felony Hit & Run *ARREST – On July 26, investigators were notified that the accused sought in connection to the fatal hit & run crash that occurred in the parking lot of the Oasis at Montclair Apartment complex located in the 16400 block of Stedham Cl. in Dumfries (22025) on July 20, was arrested by Virginia Beach City police. The investigation revealed the accused was attempting to steal the victim’s vehicle when the victim was struck causing fatal injuries. At this time, there is no known connection between the victim and the accused. No other suspects are being sought in the investigation.

Arrested on July 26: [No photo available]

Keith Anthony MCBRIDE, 41, of the 7600 block of Helmsdale Pl in Manassas

Charged with felony murder, felony hit & run, and grand larceny auto

Court Date: Pending | Status: In-Custody

In a recent episode of Potomac Local Live, I talked with Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega about various pressing issues affecting the county. Our conversation focused on crime trends, community safety initiatives, and policy responses to local challenges such as panhandling.

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Prince William County

In March 2024, detectives launched an investigation into multiple sexual assaults in Woodbridge, Prince William County, involving a female victim under 18 and her acquaintance, Keith Richard Wilson, who allegedly assaulted her on several occasions, including in a commuter parking lot. Wilson, who had a supervisory role over the victim in the Civil Air Patrol, was charged with two counts of indecent liberties and turned himself in on July 22; his court date is pending, and he was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

Sexual Assault Investigation – On April 5 at 2:51PM, detectives began an investigation into sexual assaults that were reported to have occurred in the Woodbridge area of Prince Wiliam County in March 2024. The investigation revealed the female victim, who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offenses, was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance, identified as the accused, on more than one occasion. One incident occurred in a vehicle at the Occoquan Commuter Lot located near Gordon Blvd. and Old Bridge Rd., while a separate incident occurred in a parking lot located in the 5100 block of Dale Blvd. The victim later reported the incidents to a family member who contacted the police. The victim and accused were both members of the Civil Air Patrol at the time of the offenses where the accused had a supervisory role over the victim. Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Keith Richard WILSON, who turned himself in to police on July 22.

Arrested on July 22:
Keith Richard WILSON, 48, of 2919 Madeira Ct. in Woodbridge
Charged with 2 counts of indecent liberties by a person in a supervisory relationship Court Date: Pending | Bond: $25,000 Unsecured

On July 22, police were called to the Longview Condominiums in Woodbridge after a Good Samaritan found a 6-year-old girl unsupervised and poorly clothed. Following the investigation, the mother, Lidia Violeta Perez, returned home and was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor; she has been released on a court summons with a pending court date.

Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – On July 22 at 5:42AM, officers responded to the Longview Condominium complex located in the 13600 block of Lynn St. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a found child. The investigation revealed a Good Samaritan located the victim, a 6-year-old girl, outside unsupervised wearing insufficient clothing. While investigating the incident, the mother of the child, identified as the accused, returned home. The child was unharmed and turned over to known parties. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Lidia Violeta PEREZ, was charged.

Charged on July 22: [No Photo Available]
Lidia Violeta PEREZ, 30, of the 13600 block of Lynn St. in Woodbridge
Charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Court Date: Pending | Status: Released on a Court Summons

In Prince William County, a catch-and-release style revolving justice system keeps more criminals on the street in the name of fairness.

A shooting at Manassas Mall on July 9, 2024, left two people injured, including one of five suspects in the case, underscores a more significant problem with the justice system in a much more progressive Prince William County.

At odds are those who want to reform the judicial process to make it more fair for criminals and those who wish to prosecute crime to get them off the streets for a determinate period. Caught in the middle are county residents.

Revolving Justice System and Its Implications

In a July 10 letter to her constituents, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, whose district borders the Manassas mall, highlighted two cases where individuals previously accused of felony offenses were released from custody and re-offended. In the mall shooting, she highlighted that 18-year-old Daevon Russell, one of the individuals involved in the gun battle that left a shooter and a bystander wounded, had been previously arrested after an August 2023 shooting for reckless handling of a gun causing permanent bodily severe injury, a felony.

Court records show Russell went to a classmate’s house and shot the cousin of the classmate, who was also inside the home, without provocation. Russell ran from the home, leaving the victim there to bleed. The victim went into cardiac arrest several times on the life flight to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where doctors were able to stop the bleeding and save his life.

Controversial Decisions and Judicial Diversion

When the case went to court, Judge Petula C. Metzer, on a recommendation from county Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth, released Russell with nothing more than a promise to appear and the stipulations that he “not consume intoxicants and have no contact with the victim.” Ashworth claimed her office argued for no bond at a previous hearing, but she could not produce the bond document to prove her claim.

There was no stipulation in Metzler’s order to not possess or carry a firearm. Russell is now accused of going to the mall armed and getting into an altercation in the food court that escalated to shots fired between the two groups.

In a separate case in her letter, Vega highlighted Arial Moya Claros, who has 11 previous charges involving alcohol and family violence over the last two years, before his arrest on July 7, 2024, for felony abduction by force and misdemeanor domestic violence assault and a second driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge.

Six months earlier, in a January 2024 case, Claros’ landlord sought a restraining order against him after the landlord claimed Claros “took the eviction process personal” and claimed Moya Claros was caught on camera attempting to damage the landlord’s vehicles. A verbal confrontation ensued, and the police responded. The landlord also claimed in his petition for a restraining order that Claros followed his pre-teen daughter home, and she had to hide and call her parents because she was scared.

Claros’ case was adjudicated in a family court diversion program in the two earlier domestic violence instances. Had he been convicted in either of the other domestic violence cases, he would be facing a Class Six felony charge for the Domestic Violence assault, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in jail.

Now, he faces only a misdemeanor assault charge because there were no convictions in the earlier cases, for which carries a much lighter potential sentence. Despite his history of violence and the escalation of violence with this same victim, Claros was released within hours of his arrest on a simple promise to appear.

Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth points to Virginia law that judges only consider convictions, not pre-trial adjudications, when making bail decisions. This requirement by the code to only consider convictions and Ashworth’s focus on diversionary programs sidesteps the more intense consequences convictions provide for re-offenders.

Citing a long-standing prohibition on making statements about open cases, Ashworth said that her office “takes domestic violence cases very seriously and would never agree to a bond if [her office] believed the accused was a danger to anyone or there was a risk the accused [would abscond].” She also said that her office makes good faith recommendations to the judges regarding bail and diversion, but “the Judges unfortunately do not issue reasons for the decisions that they make.”

Diversion Programs vs. Public Safety

Diversion is a broad term referring to alternatives to prosecution that minimize an offender’s exposure to the criminal system by offering an alternative to prosecution and incarceration. These programs bank on an offender’s desire to stay out of jail, to get them on a path to not re-offend.

Diversion programs can help first-time offenders, but experts warn that overusing them for repeat offenders could weaken domestic violence prosecutions. This overuse might unintentionally support the ongoing cycle of violence that victims experience.

Elisa Castillo, director of domestic violence services at Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) in Prince William County, said, “Diversion programs have their place, but some people, for whatever reason, don’t take the chances they are given seriously and jail has to be part of the equation.”

With Ashworth’s election in 2019, county prosecutors shifted focus from a reputation of being tough on crime to a more diversionary justice system that incarcerates fewer criminals and focuses prosecutorial efforts on programs to rehabilitate criminals before they go to jail. The result is a record-low incarceration population in the county lockup and a heavier workload on the probation office.

Prince William County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Terry Fearnley said the jail population hovers around 540 and represents only the worst of the worst offenders. That number is about half of the jail’s average under former county prosecutor Paul Ebert, who retired after 50 years. Under Ebert, the jail averaged 1,000 inmates.

The jail population is not a bellwether of a healthy justice system but can indicate problems. According to Steve Austin, the county’s director of criminal justice services, referrals from the courts to his pretrial release program have risen nearly 19% during Ashworth’s tenure. Yet, recidivism rates, or the number of accused who commit additional crimes, in his programs have increased by two percentage points in the same period.

Ashworth has said that she does not maintain recidivism statistics, so we are unable to compare how many times people not involved in pre-trial supervision re-offend on her watch. In a statement to Potomac Local, Austin said he could not pinpoint why the recidivism rate in his program has increased despite increased staffing and budgeting.

Community Impact and Political Reactions

Supervisor Vega, reserve Prince William sheriff’s deputy, has been critical of Ashworth’s soft-on-crime policies for some time. She highlighted the two cases because they are “but two examples of the catch and release justice system she sees under Ashworth’s watch.” Vega said she has a unique vantage point of the justice system, previously as a patrol cop and now in her reserve capacity working in the courthouse. “I hear complaints from law enforcement officers telling me that they are dismayed how quickly people they arrest for serious crimes are back on the streets within hours of their arrest and back re-offending, and I hear from constituents that are worried about how unsafe our community has become.

Ashworth is a founding member of the Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice (VPPJ), a left-leaning political activist group. VPPJ has been a leading proponent of justice reforms in Virginia that make crime less detrimental for criminals in the name of equal justice.

VPPJ has called for the state legislature to end mandatory minimum sentences and cash bail. A 2021 letter to the General Assembly argued that these reforms would make it more fair for poorer Virginians. Ashworth does not think making the accused put up collateral to leave jail will help criminals return to court, “Requiring a cash bond punishes people for being poor, and it makes bail bond companies rich,” she said.
With the largest prosecutorial team in the commonwealth, Ashworth has made headlines for prosecuting significantly fewer cases and instead focusing on diversionary efforts as an alternative to prosecution. On average, Ashworth’s predecessor, Paul Ebert, prosecuted 350 felony cases monthly. Ashworth comparatively averages to indict 75 125 felonies per month despite a massive influx in funding and personnel.

Her opponents have blamed the lack of prosecutions as the reason for the county’s alarming 70 percent increase in violent crime between 2019 and 2023. In an unsuccessful bid to unseat Ashworth in 2023, Matt Lowery held a press conference highlighting the rise in violent crime last year. “Ms. Ashworth has charted a course virtually identical to the ultra-liberal prosecutors all around us, and Prince William County residents have paid the price with their property, with their health, and even sometimes with their lives,” Lowery said.

In a 2019 interview with Potomac Local News, Ashworth stated that the fair handling of domestic violence cases was one of her top three issues when running for office. “I will assign a senior attorney to exclusively handle domestic violence so we can pay more attention to the serious domestic violence cases and sort out the minor ‘push-and-shove’ cases,” Ashworth said.

According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic abuse almost always escalates to something bigger without intervention. This escalation appears to be present in the Moya Claros case, where he is now accused of abducting his victim by force- a felony- in his current case.
Russell’s trial on the December charges is set for August 5, 2024. He remains at the Prince William Adult Detention Center with no bond after his arrest for the Manassas Mall incident. He’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the mall charges on September 19, 2024.

Moya Claros’ case is set for another adjudication hearing on November 19, 2024. He remains free on a promise to appear.

*This story has been corrected.

The Prince William County Police Department has announced the Fourth Annual Community Fair. The event will occur on Saturday, September 7, from noon to 4 p.m. at Sean Connaughton Plaza, located at the McCoart Government Complex, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge.

The fair aims to celebrate diversity and embrace unity within the community. Various public safety departments and agencies will participate, including the police, animal services, fire and rescue, the sheriff’s office, and the Department of Public Safety Communications.

Attendees can expect fun displays and activities, live music, food trucks, and more. The event engages the community with local public safety services and provides an enjoyable experience for all ages.

The announcement highlights the importance of community involvement and the role of public safety in fostering a connected and informed community. Residents are encouraged to contact the Prince William County Police Department for more information.