The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to report suspicious drone activity after reports of unidentified drones flying over parts of Stafford County, King George County, and Spotsylvania County. The nighttime sightings, reported on December 11, 2024, were made to Stafford’s emergency dispatch center.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ryan Wilbur stated that federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have been informed and are working with local authorities to investigate the incidents. However, descriptions of the drones or their operators have not been provided.
Neighboring jurisdictions have reported little or no drone-related activity. Major Elizabeth Scott of the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office told Potomac Local News that their 911 dispatch center had not received any reports of suspicious drones. Similarly, a report of a drone sighting near the Lake Anna Nuclear Power Plant in Louisa County, made on December 12, was determined to be unfounded. A deputy dispatched to investigate found nothing in the sky.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about suspicious drone activity to contact the FBI 1-800-225-5324 or online. Residents can also report incidents to the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Support Center by calling (844) 359-6982 or emailing [email protected].
A family of handmade snowmen, a tree luminary, and hand-sculpted ornaments: Corgi Clay Art Center’s classes this month are focusing on the holidays. Corgi Clay has classes available for a wide range of ages and abilities, from teens learning to spin clay for the first time to advanced sculptors learning detailed techniques. Owner Deb Balestreri said the center is “Stafford County’s first vibrant, creative community that offers ceramics and other art classes, firing services, artist residencies, teaching and exhibition opportunities, and memberships for potters.”
Balestreri, a University of Mary Washington alum, opened Corgi Clay in 2020 after serving as the Director of Visual Arts Education at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. The center is hosting a holiday marketplace through January, featuring unique artwork, apparel, pottery, and more.
Stafford offices, departments, facilities and the Circuit Court will be closed for the Christmas holiday from Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, December 25, 2024. Offices and the Circuit Court will be closed for New Year’s Day on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Prince William County police are investigating an attempted sexual assault that occurred on Tuesday, December 10, at Nokesville Community Park, 12560 Aden Road, near Manassas. A woman was walking along a trail near Hickerson Lane around 9 a.m. when she was approached by a masked man who attempted to assault her. The victim fought back, and the suspect fled after a struggle. Another park visitor assisted the victim in contacting the police.
She was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Detectives have released a composite sketch of the suspect, described as a white or light-skinned male, approximately 5’9″, with an average build, brown eyes, and dark bushy eyebrows. He was last seen wearing dark clothing, including a long-sleeve dry-wicking shirt, sweatpants, and a ski mask exposing only his eyes.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact them as the investigation continues.
Also, in Prince William County
On December 11 at 9:06 PM, officers responded to Linton Hall Road near Devlin Road in Gainesville to investigate a road rage incident. A 27-year-old man reported that another driver brandished a firearm during the encounter before the parties separated. No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported. Officers are working to identify a potential suspect.
On December 10 at 1:35 PM, officers investigated a road rage incident on Legend Glen Drive in Gainesville. A 41-year-old man stated that while stopped at a stop sign, another driver brandished a firearm before the parties separated. There were no shots fired, and no injuries were reported. Officers are following up on a potential suspect.
On December 11 at 8:17 AM, officers responded to Anderson Court and Arkendale Street in Woodbridge for a report of indecent exposure. A 23-year-old woman reported seeing an unknown man expose himself and make inappropriate gestures while she was driving. The suspect, described as a Black male in his early to mid-30s, was not located.
Later that morning, at 9:57 AM, the School Resource Officer at Patriot High School in Nokesville was notified of vandalism. Investigators discovered a swastika and other inappropriate images drawn on a classroom partition. The drawings did not contain any threats to students or staff, and no additional markings were reported.
Sheriff’s Office Names Suspect in Spotsylvania Shooting, Still at Large
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office has identified Jahvel Antonio Littleford, 18, of Spotsylvania as the suspect in a shooting that left a 22-year-old woman critically injured on December 4, 2024. Authorities have issued warrants for Littleford, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
Deputies responded to the 8100 block of Cherry Tree Drive around 7 p.m. on the night of the shooting and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was given immediate medical attention and transported to a nearby hospital, where she remains in critical but stable condition at last report.
The Sheriff’s Office has stated the incident does not appear to be random and urges anyone with information to call 800-928-5822 or 540-582-5822. Littleford is wanted for malicious wounding, use of a firearm in a felony, and vandalism.
Manassas police search for runaway
*Missing Juvenile* (1/2)
We are asking the public’s assistance in locating Consuelo Marisol Toruno Carcamo. She is a 15 year old Hispanic female, black hair, brown eyes, 5’3″ tall, and slender build. She was last seen in class at Osbourn High School. pic.twitter.com/VxqhPDrr8W
Intoxicated Stafford Teen Arrested for Assault and Alcohol Violations
A 19-year-old Stafford man was arrested Wednesday, December 11, 2024, after a concerned citizen reported an assault in the Lake Carroll community near Fredericksburg. Deputies responded to Lake Shore Drive about 6:30 p.m., where the caller had observed a man assaulting a juvenile female.
Deputy S.C. Steinway located the pair and recognized them from a prior incident. Both showed signs of intoxication, though the male denied drinking. A search revealed he had four bottles of Fireball whiskey.
Ricardo Castro Ramirez is charged with assault and battery, public intoxication, unlawful possession of alcohol, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is held on a $1,000 secured bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. The juvenile was returned to her home, where her mother assured deputies she would face strict consequences, said police.
The sheriff’s office would not provide the victim’s age.
Also, in Stafford County:
Truslow Road, 12/11, 2:17 a.m.
Sergeant J.T. Forman and Deputy I.E. Baldi responded to an automatic crash notification. Upon arrival, they found a Toyota and its driver, who admitted to taking a turn “too fast.” During the interaction, deputies observed signs of intoxication. The driver admitted to consuming two beers before driving and revealed a bottle of alcohol hidden in the bottom of his pant leg. He was charged with driving under the influence and held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
Quarry Road, 12/11, 5:43 p.m.
Deputy J.J. Holetzky responded to a single-vehicle auto accident involving a minivan that had crashed off the roadway. The driver showed signs of intoxication and admitted to consuming a tall beer before heading to a job interview at a winery. Although the outcome of her interview is unknown, she may be late to her first day. The driver was charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content above .2 and reckless driving. She was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
7-Eleven, 2998 Richmond Highway, 12/11, 9:37 p.m.
Deputy K.F. Bierfeldt responded to a report of an unknown problem. A caller reported a man slumped over the steering wheel of a Ford. Upon contact, the driver showed strong signs of intoxication and initially admitted to consuming “six to seven” alcoholic drinks, later changing his story to “six to seven waters.” The driver was found to have a suspended license and no insurance. He was charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content between .15 and .2, driving with a suspended license, and driving without insurance. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
Fraud — Overlook Court, 12/11, 7:13 p.m.
Deputy K.P. Hall responded to a fraud report. The victim explained she had received a popup ad on her computer from someone claiming to represent McAfee Antivirus. She called the provided number, allowing the suspect to remotely access her computer and banking information.
Larceny — Target, 1090 Stafford Market Place, 12/11, 12:42 p.m.Deputy J.S. Torres responded to a shoplifting in progress. Staff reported a female suspect stuffing her bag with merchandise. After stopping at Starbucks, the suspect attempted to leave but was intercepted by Deputy Torres. Over $220 worth of items were recovered. The suspect was charged with shoplifting and released on personal recognizance.
After serving in the Navy for 10 years and working in corporate America building data centers, Dan Umpa has launched USA Ninja Challenge Stafford, an indoor obstacle course training program that combines basic skill sets from gymnastics, climbing, cross training, and track and field.
Umpa, who graduated from the Naval Academy, originally planned to open a gym. He had spent ten years working in the corporate world, building data centers, and knew this type of career didn't fit his needs for more time with his family or his active lifestyle.
Stafford County Public Schools (Stafford Schools) is pleased to announce the 14th annual Band Together to Fight Hunger, organized by Stafford County’s five high school marching bands, raised $27,593 and collected 3,778 pounds of food this year, equating to 58,333 meals for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. The culminating event featured individual performances by each marching band from Brooke Point, Colonial Forge, Mountain View, North Stafford, and Stafford High Schools. Nearly 400 student musicians performed in a combined finale, led by North Stafford High School Assistant Principal Brandon Neal, showcasing unity and talent while supporting local families in need.
Contributions at a Glance:
Total Funds Raised: $27,593 (equivalent to 55,185 meals)
Food Collected: 3,778 pounds (equivalent to 3,148 meals)
Total Impact: 58,333 meals
Significant donations were made by businesses and community organizations, including Chick-fil-A, Manhattan Pizza, Outback Steakhouse, and the Student Organization for Change at the University of Mary Washington. Volunteers from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Boy Scout Troop #2220, Girl Scout Troop #15, and other groups played a critical role in the event’s success.
Community Support Drives Success
This year’s contributions reflect the ongoing community need, as many families continue to face food insecurity due to rising costs and economic challenges. The Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank will distribute the donations to local pantries and feeding programs. Since its inception, Band Together to Fight Hunger has generated over 400,000 meals for local families.
For more information about Band Together to Fight Hunger or to support the effort, contact Debbie Pickeral at [email protected]. For more information about Stafford County Public Schools visit www.staffordschools.net.
A special Stafford County Board of Supervisors meeting, initially scheduled for Friday, December 6, 2024, has been canceled. Stafford County spokesman Andrew Spence stated that the cancellation was due to a procedural issue with the meeting notice.
“Chairman [Meg] Bohmke canceled the meeting originally scheduled for Friday, December 6, 2024, due to a procedural issue with the meeting notice. At this time, there is no information about it being rescheduled,” Spence said.
The cancellation comes after Potomac Local News observed that the county failed to post a meeting agenda on its website.
The Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) has confirmed Stafford County Garrisonville District Supervisor Pamela Yeung’s appointment to its Board of Trustees.
The appointment comes after Stafford resident Mary Becelia was controversially removed by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors earlier this year. (An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported Yueng replaced Becelia).
CRRL issued the following press release:
Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 9, 2024 — Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Board of Trustees’ membership has been updated.
Dr. Pamela Yeung has joined the Board and represents Stafford County. Dr. Yeung started serving on the Stafford County Board of Supervisors representing the Garrisonville District in 2022. Dr. Yeung was elected by her fellow Board members as Vice Chairman for 2022 and Chairman for 2023. She serves on the following standing committees: By-laws; Legislative. Dr. Yeung acts as the Board’s appointee to the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance and the Rappahannock Youth Services and Group Home Commission.
According to sources, the meeting was expected to address the fallout from Mary Becelia’s removal from the CRRL Board earlier this year. In July, the Stafford Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Becelia’s removal, which sparked controversy and conflicting accounts. Aquia District Supervisor Monica Gary recently apologized for her role in the decision, admitting in a Facebook post that the removal was “unjust and illegal.”
Gary, who motioned for Becelia’s removal, cited misunderstandings, poor judgment, and deliberate actions by the board. She emphasized that misconduct is the only legal basis for removing a trustee, and Becelia’s actions did not meet that threshold. Becelia stated she declined to step down from a hiring committee tasked with finding a replacement for the library’s executive director, leading to her removal.
No new date for the meeting has been announced.
Supervisor Pamela Yeung, now serving as Stafford County’s representative on the CRRL Board of Trustees, brings experience from her tenure on the Stafford Board of Supervisors, where she served as Vice Chairman in 2022 and Chairman in 2023.
Becelia’s seat remains open. The Central Rappahannock Regional Library did not respond to a request to comment on this story.
ASSAULT:
Quarles Road, 12/7, 2:44 a.m. Deputy P.J. Leon responded to an assault. The victim advised his intoxicated roommate struck him in an unprovoked attack. After making contact with both parties, the suspect was arrested for assault and battery. He would have a new roommate at Rappahannock Regional Jail where he was held pending his ability to participate in a bond hearing.
DUI:
2200 block of Richmond Highway, 12/7, 1:32 p.m. Deputy R. Tully responded to a drunk driver complaint. The caller advised a Mercedes was unable to stay in its own lane while traveling Northbound on Richmond Highway. Thanks to the caller’s quick and accurate updates, Deputy
Tully quickly located the suspect vehicle and he too observed the undesirable driving behaviors. Deputy Tully conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who advised he just got a fresh cut from the barber. Despite looking dapper, Deputy Tully was more concerned with the signs of intoxication he observed. The driver, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a firearm and not wearing a seatbelt. He was charged with driving under the influence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, the traffic lane violation, and to top it off, not wearing a seatbelt. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,500 secured bond.
FRAUD:
Ford T. Humphrey Public Safety Building, 1225 Courthouse Road, 12/6, 3:37 p.m. Deputy E.T. Osborn responded to the lobby for a fraud. The victim advised while conversing with someone online they mentioned a too good to be true subscription where people can earn money after a Bitcoin deposit. After the deposit, the victim’s account was frozen by “customer service,” who advised she would need to pay another deposit to have access to her account.
LARCENY:
Wawa, 105 Garrisonville Road, 12/7, 3:48 p.m. Deputy J.J. Holetzky responded to a larceny. The victim advised while making a quick stop at the business, he accidentally left a bag behind. The bag contained a large sum of cash. When the victim realized he did not have his bag and returned to retrieve his riches, the bag could not be located.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION:
Stafford Hospital, 101 Hospital Center Boulevard, 12/7, 10:29 p.m. Deputy C.R. Newman responded to a disturbance. Staff advised a male entered the hospital demanding to use the bathroom. Whence inside, the suspect began making a large commotion while arguing with
himself. Considering the signs of being under the influence of drugs, staff contacted the Sheriff’s Office. When deputies made contact with the suspect they knew very well from multiple priors,  they quickly observed he was “definitely on something.” He was taken into custody and during a search incident to arrest, in a predicted turn of events, suspected controlled substances were located. He was charged with possession of controlled substances, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct on hospital grounds. He was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.
Home 2 Suites, 3051 Richmond Highway, 12/7, 11:50 p.m. Deputy R.T. Phillippsen responded to
a disturbance. Staff advised a clearly intoxicated female was refusing to leave the lobby. As Deputy
Philippsen entered the atrium before the lobby, he was struck by the strong perfume of an alcoholic
beverage. The source of the fragrance not found at your local Macy’s was discovered to be the
suspect, who explained despite having “consumed beer” that she was “not drunk by any stretch of
the imagination.” She was placed into handcuffs shortly after which were not imaginary. She was
held at Rappahannock Regional Jail until sober.
Stafford County Parks, Recreation and Tourism is hosting its annual Candy Cane Hunt on Government Island on December 14. The family-friendly event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and registration is required in order to receive the activities bag, which contains the scavenger hunt information.
Giant candy canes will be hidden in the woods throughout the island. Participants can use a scavenger hunt map provided by Stafford Tourism to mark off their finds.
Stafford’s Community Engagement Program Manager Shannon Eubanks said the event began in 2018, when staff created the event as a way to promote health and wellness in one of Stafford’s parks in a fun hiking activity. There are seven sessions throughout the day, and each one lasts one hour. Stafford County employees will be on-site to assist the activities.
Government Island is located at 191 Coal Landing Road. The 17-acre park is a historic 18th and 19th-century quarry site provided Aquia sandstone for the construction of the U.S. Capitol and the White House and other historic buildings in Washington, D.C.
Stafford offices, departments, facilities and the Circuit Court will be closed for the Christmas holiday from Monday, December 23, through Wednesday, December 25, 2024. Offices and the Circuit Court will be closed for New Year’s Day on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
