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Serial Sexual Predator From Virginia Targeting Sleeping Women Arrested 16 Years Later: Feds Serial Sexual Predator From Virginia Targeting Sleeping Women Arrested 16 Years Later: Feds
Serial Sexual Predator From Virginia Targeting Sleeping Women Arrested 16 Years Later: Feds A serial sexual predator from Arlington who preyed on women for years more than a decade ago. has been arrested, federal authorities announced on Wednesday. DNA evidence doomed Ernesto Mercado, 54, who has been charged in connection to at least five sexual offenses that were reported in the Georgetown area of DC between 2008 and 2012. "As yesterday's arrest demonstrates, advancements in technology and collaboration among law enforcement partners can lead to breakthroughs in cases that have previously gone unsolved,” acting FBI Special Agent in Charge David Geist said. According to court do…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Motorcyclist Picks Wrong Place, Time To Ride Recklessly In Virginia: Sheriff Motorcyclist Picks Wrong Place, Time To Ride Recklessly In Virginia: Sheriff
Motorcyclist Picks Wrong Place, Time To Ride Recklessly In Virginia: Sheriff A reckless motorcyclist already wanted in Prince William County chose the wrong place and wrong time to recklessly drive a motorcycle straight into the hands of deputies in Stafford. Robert Ouzts, 22, chose to work against police, not with them during the annual National Night Out event on Tuesday afternoon, landing him a spot behind bars after attempting to avoid his arrest on a host of charges. According to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, at around 3:45 p.m. on Oct. 1, deputies were conducting traffic control as the celebration was set to begin in Stafford Market Place when a motorc…

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by Zak Failla
News
Florida Man Charged In Double Domestic-Related Murder Involving Virginia Man: Sheriff Florida Man Charged In Double Domestic-Related Murder Involving Virginia Man: Sheriff
Florida Man Charged In Double Domestic-Related Murder Involving Virginia Man: Sheriff The man responsible for the double murder of a mother of four and the father of one of her children during a domestic dispute has been apprehended in Florida, authorities in Frederick County announced. David Phillip Turner, 33, a Miami resident, was arrested over the weekend following the investigation into the August murder of Crimea Malita Baker and Arlington resident Sean Antoine Lange in New Market. He was identified by officials as Baker's ex-husband and the father of three children. Posted by Frederick County Sheriff's Office, MD - Integrity Driven • Community Built on Monday, Sep…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Hyattsville Shooter Accused Of Killing District Resident Arrested In Maryland: Police Hyattsville Shooter Accused Of Killing District Resident Arrested In Maryland: Police
Hyattsville Shooter Accused Of Killing District Resident Arrested In Maryland: Police An 18-year-old suspect from Maryland linked to the the fatal shooting of a 26-year old District man has been apprehended, authorities announced on Monday night. Hyattsville resident Dartrell Bryant was identified by the Prince George's County Police Department's Homicide Unit and charged in connection to the fatal shooting of Jawaun Jackson in September. Officers were called at around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, to investigate reports of shots fired, and upon arrival, they found Jackson in a Hyattsville roadway. According to a spokesperson from the Prince George's County Police Depart…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Animal Sex Abuse Material Found After VA Man Claims Sextortion, Authorities Say Animal Sex Abuse Material Found After VA Man Claims Sextortion, Authorities Say
Animal Sex Abuse Material Found After VA Man Claims Sextortion, Authorities Say A Virginia man is facing charges after being busted with unsavory imagery that included children and animals, police say. Scott Ryan Matthews, 31, of Mechanicsville, who originally reported being a victim of sextortion, was arrested this week for possession of child porn and sexual abuse materials related to animals. According to the Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Matthews' initial claim came on Tuesday, Sept. 24, and the investigation led to the uncovering of the illicit items. Matthews was taken to the Pamunkey Regional Jail, at which point he was charged on a warrant with 10 coun…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Police Probing Repeated Threats Of Violence Targeting Virginia Schools (UPDATED) Police Probing Repeated Threats Of Violence Targeting Virginia Schools (UPDATED)
Police Probing Repeated Threats Of Violence Targeting Virginia Schools (Updated) Police in Virginia are cautioning about a recent rash of hoax threats that have been made targeting Alexandria City Public Schools on social media. An alert was issued by the Alexandria Police Department cautioning about recent posts that were made online involving a fire alarm being pulled, followed by a planned shooting; though no specific school was mentioned. According to the agency, they have been investigating and assessing the threats in collaboration with the Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center, which is a Fusion Center of the US Department of Homeland Security. Official…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police ID DC Man Found With Fatal Gunshot Wounds Along Maryland Roadway Police ID DC Man Found With Fatal Gunshot Wounds Along Maryland Roadway
Police ID DC Man Found With Fatal Gunshot Wounds Along Maryland Roadway A 26-year-old District man was pronounced dead after being found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds across state lines in Prince George's County, police say. Officers were called at around 8:45 p.m. on Thursday night to investigate reports of shots fired, and upon arrival, they found DC resident Jawaun Jackson in a Hyattsville roadway. According to a spokesperson from the Prince George's County Police Department, they responded to the 2900 block of 52nd Avenue, where they found Jackson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators now say t…

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News
Man Wanted For Child Sex Abuse In Maryland Busted Boarding Flight At Dulles Airport In VA: CBP Man Wanted For Child Sex Abuse In Maryland Busted Boarding Flight At Dulles Airport In VA: CBP
Man Wanted For Child Sex Abuse In Maryland Busted Boarding Flight At Dulles Airport In VA: CBP A Maryland man was close to making his great escape, but the suspect wanted in connection to child sexual abuse claim was stopped before he could board an international flight at Dulles Airpot this week, officials say. Milton Ovidio Martinez Hernandez was arrested this week by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers as the Honduran native - wanted in Maryland for felony child sex abuse charges - attempted to get on a flight to Panama. According to investigators, Martinez Hernandez, who was wanted in Montgomery County for multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor and child fond…

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by Zak Failla
News
Overwhelmed Caregiver Charged With Child Neglect After Infant Scalded By Water In VA: Police Overwhelmed Caregiver Charged With Child Neglect After Infant Scalded By Water In VA: Police
Overwhelmed Caregiver Charged With Child Neglect After Infant Scalded By Water In VA: Police A caretaker that had her hands full and left a baby unattended who suffered severe injuries in Prince William County is facing criminal charges, police say. Faustina Hawah Seidu, 51, was arrested and charged with felony child neglect following an investigation into an incident that left a 10-month-old infant with burn wounds from scalding water. According to a spokesperson from the Prince William County Police Department, this week, detectives concluded the investigation into a child neglect incident that was reported over the summer in the Orchard Mills Apartment complex in the 3200 block …

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by Zak Failla
News
Correctional Officer Who Conspired With Inmate At Fairfax Detention Center Gets Prison Time Correctional Officer Who Conspired With Inmate At Fairfax Detention Center Gets Prison Time
Correctional Officer Who Conspired With Inmate At Fairfax Detention Center Gets Prison Time The former Fairfax County Sheriff's deputy who conspired with inmates to distribute contraband at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center will be spending years on the other side of the steel bars. Robert Theodore Sanford, Jr., 37, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison after accepting bribes at the facility and for sexually trafficking a woman out of an apartment he rented, "for his own financial gain and sexual gratification," federal authorities announced this week. Between May 2021 and June 2023, Sanford was a correctional officer at the Adult Detention Center, and during…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Masked Man Leads Deputies On Midnight Pursuit Topping 100 MPH Before Crash In Virginia: Sheriff Masked Man Leads Deputies On Midnight Pursuit Topping 100 MPH Before Crash In Virginia: Sheriff
Masked Man Leads Deputies On Midnight Pursuit Topping 100 MPH Before Crash In Virginia: Sheriff A speeding 19-year-old driver did his best to get away from a deputy from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, but he was not quick enough and landed himself behind bars overnight. King George resident Tavon Allen is facing multiple charges after taking a midnight joyride as he attempted to avoid his arrest by speeding away from deputies. A deputy on patrol shortly after midnight in the area of Kings Highway and Sherwood Forest Farm Road spotted Allen's Nissan Sentra traveling 86 mph in a 55 mph zone, prompting a stop, though the driver had other intentions. According to a spokespers…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Sleepy Man No Stranger To DUI Offenses Busted For Number Seven Outside VA Hotel: Sheriff Sleepy Man No Stranger To DUI Offenses Busted For Number Seven Outside VA Hotel: Sheriff
Sleepy Man No Stranger To DUI Offenses Busted For Number Seven Outside VA Hotel: Sheriff An ill-fated trip from Georgia to Virginia took a man from the comforts of a Fredericksburg Holiday Inn to the cold confines of the Rappahannock Regional Jail, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. No stranger to law enforcement, 35-year-old Hassan Naeem is facing yet another DUI offense in the past 10 years after getting behind the wheel and subsequently taking a leisurely nap with a Mike's Hard Lemonade before he was stirred by responding deputies. First responders were called at around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15 to the hotel at 20 Sanford Drive in Fredericksburg, whe…

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by Zak Failla