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Prince William County, VA

Schools
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found Inside Virginia High School Bathroom: Police Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found Inside Virginia High School Bathroom: Police
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found Inside Virginia High School Bathroom: Police An investigation has been launched after swastikas and vulgar language were found etched in a bathroom stall inside a Prince William County school.  The School Resource Officer assigned to Colgan High School on Dumfries Road in Manassas was alerted to hateful graffiti that was found shortly after students arrived for class on Friday, Nov. 15, prompting an investigation. According to the Prince William County Police Department, officers found swastikas and vulgar language etched onto the bathroom stall door, though there were no threats, and no additional vandalism was reported. School…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Driver Charged After Woman Hit, Killed By Car While Walking Dog In Virginia: Police Driver Charged After Woman Hit, Killed By Car While Walking Dog In Virginia: Police
Driver Charged After Woman Hit, Killed By Car While Walking Dog In Virginia: Police The speeding driver who struck and killed a woman walking her dog in Prince William County has been charged with involuntary manslaughter nearly a month later, according to the police. Neil Jostin Stagnarao Riega, 30, has been arrested and charged in connection to the fatal crash in Woodbridge that claimed the life of 57-year-old Maria Isabel Cardozo last month. Officers were called to the area of Mapledale Drive near Miles Court in Woodbridge at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, where there was a reported crash involving a pedestrian. According to the Prince William County Police Depa…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Elementary School Staffer Accused Of Assaulting Boy In Virginia Classroom: Police Elementary School Staffer Accused Of Assaulting Boy In Virginia Classroom: Police
Elementary School Staffer Accused Of Assaulting Boy In Virginia Classroom: Police An elementary school staff member in Prince William County was charged for allegedly striking a 3-year-old boy on the head, police say. Centreville resident Sophie Mihyun Choi, 44, was is facing charges following an investigation into an assault by a school staffer at Ellis Elementary School on Kim Graham Lane in Manassas. According to the Prince William County Police Department, in late October, Choi allegedly struck the child inside a classroom, leaving him with "a minor mark on his forehead."  The incident was reported to school officials, who then notified the police.  Offic…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Wanted Rape Suspect Surrenders in Virginia After Weeks-Long Manhunt: Police Wanted Rape Suspect Surrenders in Virginia After Weeks-Long Manhunt: Police
Wanted Rape Suspect Surrenders in Virginia After Weeks-Long Manhunt: Police A wanted rape suspect was taken into custody on Thursday following a weeks-long investigation in Prince William County. Kelvin Johnson Alvarado-Aguilar, 36, turned himself in as investigators sought to locate him in connection to an alleged sexual assault in Woodbridge in 2023, police say. In October, detectives from the Prince William County Police Department obtained charges in an ongoing investigation regarding a sexual assault that occurred last year. According to police, the investigation found that a woman was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance, later identified as Alvarado-A…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Hit-Run Hoax: Man Fakes Pedestrian Crash, Ends Up Facing Charges In Virginia: Police Hit-Run Hoax: Man Fakes Pedestrian Crash, Ends Up Facing Charges In Virginia: Police
Hit-Run Hoax: Man Fakes Pedestrian Crash, Ends Up Facing Charges In Virginia: Police A man tried to pull a fast one on members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office after alleging that he was struck by a hit-and-run driver, when, in fact, he was the one at fault.  Woodbridge resident Trent Hocog, 29, is facing charges following a strange situation that played out involving a pedestrian and SUV driver that ultimately resulted in a robbery, police say. Members of the Prince William County Police Department were called late in the afternoon on Friday, Nov. 8, where there was a reported pedestrian who was struck by a swerving driver who purportedly struck his arm in the …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Machete-Wielding Man Stabbed Victim In Face, Assaulted Woman In Virginia, Police Say Machete-Wielding Man Stabbed Victim In Face, Assaulted Woman In Virginia, Police Say
Machete-Wielding Man Stabbed Victim In Face, Assaulted Woman In Virginia, Police Say A suspect who stabbed a man in the face repeatedly with a "machete-style knife" and struck a woman during a domestic dispute in Prince William County is in custody months after a violent early-morning attack, police confirmed. Valentino Cruz Reyes, 49, who has no fixed address, was arrested this week in North Carolina following a months-long investigation into a domestic incident that was reported shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19 inside a home in the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue in Woodbridge. According to the Prince William Police Department, a 31-year-old woman and 44-year-old ma…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Staff Member Accused Of Pinching Teen Student On Bus At Virginia School: Police Staff Member Accused Of Pinching Teen Student On Bus At Virginia School: Police
Staff Member Accused Of Pinching Teen Student On Bus At Virginia School: Police A school staff member at a Prince William County was charged following an alleged inappropriate incident with an 18-year-old student, police say. Late last week, the SRO assigned to Freedom High School in Woodbridge launched an investigation into an assault by a staffer against a teen last month. According to the Prince William County Police Department, it was determined that an 18-year-old student was on a bus in the parking lot of the school when she encountered a school security officer, later identified as 41-year-old Dumfries resident Pedro Chirino.  It is alleged that during tha…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Charged With Sexual Battery In Virginia After Victim Comes Forward Six Years Later: Police Man Charged With Sexual Battery In Virginia After Victim Comes Forward Six Years Later: Police
Man Charged With Sexual Battery In Virginia After Victim Comes Forward Six Years Later: Police A 33-year-old man was arrested recently when allegations of sexual abuse involving a minor he knew back in 2018 came to light in Prince William County, police say. Manassas resident William Alexander Cruz Escobar is facing charges after detectives concluded an investigation involving he and a child who was known to him at the time. According to the Prince William County Police Department, earlier this week, Cruz Escobar was taken into custody following a probe into a sexual assault that was reported to have occurred in Manassas in February 2018. Investigators say that the victim,…

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by Zak Failla
News
Person Crushed To Death Working On Vehicle In Virginia Driveway, Police Say Person Crushed To Death Working On Vehicle In Virginia Driveway, Police Say
Person Crushed To Death Working On Vehicle In Virginia Driveway, Police Say A person was killed while working on a vehicle that slipped and crushed him in Prince William County, police say. Officers were called at around 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 to the 4900 block of Asdee Lane in Woodbridge to investigate a reported death. According to the Prince William County Police Department, a 30-year-old man was working on a vehicle in his driveway when it shifted and began to roll, pinning him underneath. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say that no foul play is suspected, and "more information will be released as necessary."  No information abo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Distracted Mercedes Van Driver Cited For Fatally Striking Pedestrian In Virginia: Police Distracted Mercedes Van Driver Cited For Fatally Striking Pedestrian In Virginia: Police
Distracted Mercedes Van Driver Cited For Fatally Striking Pedestrian In Virginia: Police A distracted driver is to blame for the death of a 90-year-old man who died this week after being struck by a Mercedes-Benz van in Prince William County, according to police. Manassas resident Russell Anthony Carolla was charged with careless driving in connection to the fatal strike of Gary Paul Wilson while he was walking in the shoulder of a local roadway on Monday afternoon. According to the Prince William County Police Department, Wilson was walking in the 10100 block of Lake Jackson Drive in Manassas at around 4:20 p.m. on Nov. 4 when he was struck by a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Here's A County-By-County Breakdown Of Who Northern Virginia Chose In Presidential Race Here's A County-By-County Breakdown Of Who Northern Virginia Chose In Presidential Race
Here's A County-By-County Breakdown Of Who Northern Virginia Chose In Presidential Race For the second straight presidential election, Virginia voters leaned toward the Democratic candidate, though this time President-elect Donald Trump came out on top.  On Tuesday, Vice President Kama Harris and Gov. Tim Walz received 51.56 percent (2,226,459 total votes) of the vote versus 46.36 percent (2,002,018 votes) for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance in Maryland, according to the Board of Elections. Four years ago, the numbers were similar, with President Joe Biden and Harris garnering 54.1 percent (2,413,568 votes) over Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence's 44 perc…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
Pedestrian Walking Along Shoulder In Virginia Fatally Struck By Mercedes Van, Police Say Pedestrian Walking Along Shoulder In Virginia Fatally Struck By Mercedes Van, Police Say
Pedestrian Walking Along Shoulder In Virginia Fatally Struck By Mercedes Van, Police Say A 90-year-old man died at an area hospital overnight after being struck by a Mercedes-Benz van in Prince William County, police say. Manassas resident Gary Paul Wilson has been identified by police as the pedestrian who was struck while walking in the shoulder of a local roadway on Monday afternoon. According to the Prince William County Police Department, Wilson was walking in the 10100 block of Lake Jackson Drive in Manassas at around 4:20 p.m. on Nov. 4 when he was struck by a 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van that was heading east on the roadway. Police noted that the area where Wilson w…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Here's Where Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care Is Opening New Location In Virginia Here's Where Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care Is Opening New Location In Virginia
Here's Where Inova-GoHealth Urgent Care Is Opening New Location In Virginia A new urgent care facility has opened up in Virginia as Inova continues to expand its footprint in the region. Officials announced this week that Inova-GoHealth will open its second location in Prince William County, this time at a prominent location in Gainesville. This week, the center opened near the Virginia Gateway Shopping Center in the 7600 block of Linton Hall Road, near the Giant Food location. The center is located near the Virginia Gateway Shopping Center at 7637 Linton Hall Road, next to Giant Food. Contributed via Berg & Associates The new spot will "provide&n…

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by Zak Failla
News
Skeletal Remains Found In Tent Along Virginia Roadway: Police Skeletal Remains Found In Tent Along Virginia Roadway: Police
Skeletal Remains Found In Tent Along Virginia Roadway: Police A death investigation has been launched in Prince William County after a grisly discovery was made in Woodbridge on Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, investigators were called to the 14700 block of Telegraph Road, where they found the skeletal remains of an adult found inside a tent inside a wooded area.  A spokesperson from the Prince William County Police Department said that the remains have been transported to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy to confirm the identity of the body and determine the exact cause and manner of death. "At this time, the…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Three Arrested For Fatal Abduction Of Virginia Man Found In Own Vehicle: Police Three Arrested For Fatal Abduction Of Virginia Man Found In Own Vehicle: Police
Three Arrested For Fatal Abduction Of Virginia Man Found In Own Vehicle: Police The 43-year-old man found handcuffed and shot to death in the backseat of his own vehicle in Virginia was abducted after a drug deal gone bad, police say. New details have been released by the Prince William County Police Department following the "suspicious" death of Woodbridge resident Jason Thomas Blake, whose body was found in a secluded area in Triangle over the weekend. Three people have been arrested in the past two days in connection to the grisly murder after a friend found Blake's body in the 18500 block of Triangle Street on Sunday, Oct. 27. Those charged:  Jerrome Thomas…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Man Wanted For Sodomizing Teen Surrenders Months Later In Virginia: Police Man Wanted For Sodomizing Teen Surrenders Months Later In Virginia: Police
Man Wanted For Sodomizing Teen Surrenders Months Later In Virginia: Police A 58-year-old man wanted for sexually assaulting a child under the age of 15 in Prince William County is behind bars months later, police say. Nokesville native Arturo Gomez Torbio was arrested on Tuesday following a months-long investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a child over the summer. In June, an investigation was launched by the Prince William County Police Department into claims of sexual assault between May 1 and June 5 involving a juvenile victim, leading to detectives obtaining a warrant for Gomez Torbio's arrest. Arturo Gomez Toribio. Prince William County Poli…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
These Are Virginia's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released Several middle schools in Virginia earned top marks and are among the best in the state, according to a new Niche report. Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in the Falls Church Public Schools System topped the list, followed by Lylburn Downing, Dorothy Hamm, and Rocky Run middle schools. Earlier this year, Niche also ranked the top public high schools in Virginia, a list that was topped by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. To determine the "best public schools in America," Niche's ranking was "based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from US Depar…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
Father Who Died Suddenly In Virginia Mourned By Loved Ones Father Who Died Suddenly In Virginia Mourned By Loved Ones
Father Who Died Suddenly In Virginia Mourned By Loved Ones Adrian Aurel Utupan is being remembered by his loved ones as beloved church-going man who brought "love, laughter, and kindness" before his unexpected death in Virginia.  The 64-year-old was killed after reportedly suffering a medical emergency and crashing into a tree near a busy Prince William County intersection, police said last week. Investigators said that early on Thursday, Oct. 24, Utupan was driving in the area of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road, when he lost control of his Chevrolet Blazer in the southbound lanes of the parkway, crossed over the grassy median…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Disorderly Man Charged With Hate Crime During Disturbance At Virginia Hospital: Sheriff Disorderly Man Charged With Hate Crime During Disturbance At Virginia Hospital: Sheriff
Disorderly Man Charged With Hate Crime During Disturbance At Virginia Hospital: Sheriff A wanted man who made a scene at Stafford Hospital is facing charges for allegedly making threats and shouting racial epitaphs at security, officials say. Fredericksburg resident Daniel Castillo, 34, a fugitive already wanted in Prince William County was arrested on Sunday night after assaulting a patient and going on a tirade.  The incident was reported shortly before 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the hospital on Hospital Center Boulevard, where there were reports of multiple disturbances involving Castillo. According to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, a responding deputy made contac…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Driver Making Late Night McDonald's Run Charged For Sixth DUI In Virginia: Sheriff Driver Making Late Night McDonald's Run Charged For Sixth DUI In Virginia: Sheriff
Driver Making Late Night McDonald's Run Charged For Sixth DUI In Virginia: Sheriff Not one... Not two... Not three.... Not four... Not five... A man with a pending DUI conviction is facing fresh charges for what would be his sixth intoxicated driving offense within the past decade after drinking and getting behind the wheel and taking a trip to McDonald's in Virginia. Members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office were not "lovin' it.'  Shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Friday night, Woodbridge resident Robert Sanders was apprehended following a strange scene that played out at the traffic light in the area of Garrisonville ROad and Eustace Road.  According to the…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Suspect Arrested After Woman Killed In Virginia Murder-For Hire Conspiracy, Police Say Suspect Arrested After Woman Killed In Virginia Murder-For Hire Conspiracy, Police Say
Suspect Arrested After Woman Killed In Virginia Murder-For Hire Conspiracy, Police Say One person is in custody and another is wanted in connection to a murder-for-hire conspiracy that left a 23-year-old woman from North Carolina dead in Prince William County, police say. Drew Courtney Buchanan, 27 has been arrested in connection to the murder of Burlington resident Egypt Zapporah Carter in February, authorities announced on Monday. Denzel Scott Wade, 30, who is believed to have been present at the time of the fatal shooting, is also now wanted in connection to the fatal shooting. Both men are from Woodbridge. According to the Prince William County Police Department, shortl…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Sexual Assault Probe Leads To Serious Charges For Man Accused Of Rape In Virginia: Police Sexual Assault Probe Leads To Serious Charges For Man Accused Of Rape In Virginia: Police
Sexual Assault Probe Leads To Serious Charges For Man Accused Of Rape In Virginia: Police An investigation into an alleged sexual assault landed a man behind bars in Prince William County, authorities announced on Thursday. Woodbridge Jhalil Malik Hardin, 24, was arrested on Oct. 24 following a months-long probe into an alleged incident involving a 26-year-old woman in July. Police say on Wednesday, July 24, Hardin sexually assaulted his victim, and grabbed her neck while doing so. When the woman attempted to leave, it is alleged that he refused to let her and prevented her from getting out of the residence. The assault was reported in the 15200 block of Colony Place in Woodbri…

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by Zak Failla
Traffic
Driver Killed After Crossing Over Median, Crashing Into Tree In Virginia: Police Driver Killed After Crossing Over Median, Crashing Into Tree In Virginia: Police
Driver Killed After Crossing Over Median, Crashing Into Tree In Virginia: Police A driver died after suffering a medical emergency and crashing into a tree near a busy Prince William County intersection, police say. Adrian Aurel Utupan, 64, has been identified by investigators as the driver who was killed in a crash early on Thursday morning in Woodbridge.  According to the Prince William County Police Department, shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 24, officers were called to the area of Prince William Parkway near Minnieville Road, where there was a single-vehicle crash reported. Police say that Utupan was driving a 2024 Chevrolet Blazer south on the parkway w…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Trooper Injured, Vehicle Struck During Pursuit From Stafford To Prince William Counties: MSP Trooper Injured, Vehicle Struck During Pursuit From Stafford To Prince William Counties: MSP
Trooper Injured, Vehicle Struck During Pursuit From Stafford To Prince William Counties: MSP One Virginia State Police trooper was injured and a second was struck during a pursuit that played out early Wednesday morning on I-95 in Stafford and Prince William counties. Troopers attempted to stop Texas resident Austin Leonard, 43, shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 23 in the northbound lanes of the interstate, though the Fort Worth native had other ideas. Leonard proceeded to speed away, leading to a police pursuit from Stafford into Prince William County, when he struck a trooper's vehicle, causing minor damage. This Outlander then made its way to a truck rest area, made a U-turn an…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Suspected Burglar Found Asleep Inside Virginia Home, Police Say Suspected Burglar Found Asleep Inside Virginia Home, Police Say
Suspected Burglar Found Asleep Inside Virginia Home, Police Say Some homeowners in Prince William County found an unexpected surprise inside their home on Monday afternoon, police say. Officers were called to a home in the 8000 block of Community Drive in Manassas at around 1:20 p.m. on Oct. 21, to investigate a reportedly burglary involving a man with no fixed address. Yonis Josue Villatoro Torres, 37, was found sleeping inside of the home by the homeowners, prompting the 911 call, though no items were stolen, according to the Prince William County Police Department. He was detained without incident, and further investigation found that he was in poss…

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Police & Fire
School Employee Reports Indecent Exposure Incident Outside Virginia Middle School: Police School Employee Reports Indecent Exposure Incident Outside Virginia Middle School: Police
School Employee Reports Indecent Exposure Incident Outside Virginia Middle School: Police A Prince William County Schools employee got an eyeful while heading into work on Monday morning when a man exposed himself in an area parking lot, police say. Officers were called at around 5:40 a.m. on Oct. 21 to Rippon Middle School on Blackburn Road in Woodbridge to investigate a reported indecent exposure incident. According to the Prince William County Police Department, the employee was in the parking lot when an unknown man approached his vehicle, exposed himself and left the area before officers arrived at the school. The suspect was only described as being a Hispanic man who was …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Aggressive Dog Shot, Killed After Getting Loose, Targeting Family In Virginia, Police Say Aggressive Dog Shot, Killed After Getting Loose, Targeting Family In Virginia, Police Say
Aggressive Dog Shot, Killed After Getting Loose, Targeting Family In Virginia, Police Say A 56-year-old man was forced to shoot a dog that got loose and went after him while he was walking his own pet in Prince William County over the weekend, police say. Officers were called on Saturday, Oct. 19 to a neighborhood in Manassas when the man and other family members were walking their dogs and were accosted by a pit bull that broke free from a nearby home. The incident was reported at around 10:45 a.m. in the 10700 block of Balls Ford Road. According to the Prince William County Police Department, during the encounter, the man fatally shot the fast-charging dog, while a second dog…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Barking Dog Rescued From Rubble Days After Virginia Home Explosion Barking Dog Rescued From Rubble Days After Virginia Home Explosion
Barking Dog Rescued From Rubble Days After Virginia Home Explosion They say cats have nine lives, but a dog in Virginia has at least two after being found in the rubble of the Haymarket home explosion nearly a week later. On Monday morning, Prince William Professional Firefighter crews were called to the site of the home explosion in the 5900 block of Colby Hunt Court, when there was a report of a dog barking from inside the remnants of the residence. The rescue came six days after the home exploded at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15 when a contractor working in the area and accidentally struck a gas line, completely destroying the home, which …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Woman Hit, Killed By Car While Walking Dog In Virginia: Police Woman Hit, Killed By Car While Walking Dog In Virginia: Police
Woman Hit, Killed By Car While Walking Dog In Virginia: Police Police have identified the 57-year-old woman killed in Prince William County after being struck by a vehicle while walking her dog. Officers were called to the area of Mapledale Drive near Miles Court in Woodbridge at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, where there was a reported crash involving a pedestrian. According to the Prince William County Police Department, Maria Isabel Cardozo was walking her dog in the neighborhood when a 30-year-old driver left the roadway and drove onto the sidewalk, striking her. Cardozo was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was uninjured, and the do…

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News
Truck Driver Thrown From Tractor-Trailer On I-95 In Virginia Found Dead In Road: State Police Truck Driver Thrown From Tractor-Trailer On I-95 In Virginia Found Dead In Road: State Police
Truck Driver Thrown From Tractor-Trailer On I-95 In Virginia Found Dead In Road: State Police The driver of a tractor-trailer died after losing control and veering off I-95 in Prince William County and crashing, state police say. Troopers were called to a stretch of the northbound lanes of the interstate shortly before 4:30 a.m. on Thursday morning to investigate a reported crash near the 155-mile marker. The initial call to state police was regarding a pedestrian down in the roadway; however, upon arrival, troopers determined the person found in the traffic lane was the driver of a tractor-trailer that overturned a short distance away. Investigators say that the tractor-trailer we…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Spitting Mad Suspect Attempted To Disarm Officer In Virginia, Police Say Spitting Mad Suspect Attempted To Disarm Officer In Virginia, Police Say
Spitting Mad Suspect Attempted To Disarm Officer In Virginia, Police Say A Dumfries man who tried to get the jump on a Prince William County police officer and disarm him during a long day of crime has been arrested and charged.  The long day for officers began at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, when Yonatan Nega Marufe, 34, was in custody and taken to the Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge for an evaluation. Police say that while in custody, Marufe kicked one officer and spat on another before he could be detained without further incident. Marufe was not done yet. Later, it is alleged that the suspect became combative ag…

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by Zak Failla