News – Page 15 – Watchful Eye

Former Culpeper Sheriff Sentenced to 10 years in Buy-a-Badge Scheme

22Mar

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

News, Trending

Former Culpeper Sheriff Sentenced to 10 years in Buy-a-Badge Scheme

Scott Jenkins, a former Sheriff of Culpeper County, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a buy-a-badge scheme where individuals paid him to be appointed auxiliary deputy sheriff in his department. According to evidence presented by federal prosecutors, Jenkins accepted over $75,000 in bribes from multiple individuals, including businessmen from Northern Virginia, who received official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials, despite lacking proper training, vetting, or any legitimate duties within the Sheriff's Office. Jenkins was charged along with three co-conspirators: Rick Rahim, Frederic Gumbinner, and James Metcalf. All three previously pled guilty for their roles in the scheme. One of the co-conspirators, Rick Rahim, a 60-year-old from...

Ambulance driver killed in crash in King & Queen

22Mar

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

News

Ambulance driver killed in crash in King & Queen

Jacob Bozeman, a 20-year-old advanced EMT, was killed in an ambulance accident on Thursday. Bozeman was driving an American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance on Rt. 360 in King and Queen County Thursday morning when a 2000 Peterbilt dump truck pulled onto Rt. 360 from Fleets Mill Road, Virginia State Police reported. The dump truck, intending to head westbound, stopped in the median to wait on traffic leaving approximately 40 inches of the truck sticking out into the travel lane, VSP added. Bozeman ran into the back rear panel of the truck and the ambulance overturned into the median. Walmart Business: Low prices, Scan & Go, Free shipping, Free delivery, 2% back in rewards Although Bozeman was wearing his seatbelt, according to VSP, he died at the scene. His co-...

Target opening distribution center in New Kent

19Mar

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

Business, News

Target opening distribution center in New Kent

Target is set to start construction on a distribution center in New Kent at the end of the month, according to an announcement from the County. The 1.4 million sq. ft. facility will be located just off I-64’s Exit 211 at Forge Logistics in the southwest quadrant of the New Kent City Center. Target will build on property it purchased earlier this month. Coinciding with that acquisition, earlier in March, Target also rolled out strategic plans to drive more than $154 billion in sales growth by 2030. Part of that strategy includes investing in the supply chain network to reach more consumers and get products to them faster. “Updates and expansions across the company's supply chain network will move inventory with more speed, accuracy and efficiency,” the company stated. The distri...

Woodbridge man charged with armed robbery in Caroline, possible suspect in other counties

16Mar

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

Crime, News

Woodbridge man charged with armed robbery in Caroline, possible suspect in other counties

On March 12, a Caroline County police officer, deputy Watkins, went to Sheetz in Ladysmith to inform employees that another Sheetz in King George had been robbed. According to Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, only 5 minutes after Watkins left the store, the suspect came in. According to CCSO, he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a mask. He approached the clerk with a gun, demanded money, and after the clerk complied, he ran toward Rt. 1. CCSO said its investigators concluded that he got into a white SUV along Center Drive. The Flock camera system provided a breakthrough in the case by reportedly placed the same vehicle near the robbery in King George. As authorities in King George and Caroline were exchanging information, CCSO said officers were made aware of similar robberies...

‘Robbie’ wanted for list of charges from Powhatan hit & run

14Mar

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News, Trending

‘Robbie’ wanted for list of charges from Powhatan hit & run

Virginia State Police is on the hunt for Robin Lynwood Wood, Jr. who has reportedly been on the run for nearly 4 months. Also known as “Robbie," Wood is wanted for charges stemming from a serious crash in Powhatan on November 17, 2024. Wood was reportedly driving an SUV, doing 77 mph in a 55-mph zone. A Powhatan deputy attempted to stop him for speeding. VSP said Wood attempted to elude the officer and was traveling at a high rate of speed. In the midst of this getaway, he crashed into the woods and hit numerous trees. Wood was carrying three adult passengers and all sustained significant injuries that required them to be transported to Chippenham Hospital, according to VSP. But Wood left them and ran. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. Wood's last known addre...

Big Stone Gap cop killer gets 2nd 100-year sentence

14Mar

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Crime, News, Popular, Trending

Big Stone Gap cop killer gets 2nd 100-year sentence

Michael Donivan White, the South Carolina man who pulled the trigger and killed Michael Chandler, a Big Stone Gap police officer, just got sentenced to another 100 years in prison. A fatal call Chandler was killed on November 13, 2021. Around 4 a.m. that morning, he responded to a welfare check at a place known locally as “the red house.” Virginia State Police said it was well known to law enforcement for civil disturbances, warrants, welfare checks, overdoses, assaults, and drug activity. When Chandler arrived, he parked on the street, walked up to a car in the driveway, and knocked on the window with his flashlight. White, who was in the passenger seat, told his girlfriend, Misty Ward, to pull off because there were drugs in the car, and he wasn’t going back to jail. Wa...

12Mar

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News, Trending

Powhatan man wanted for hit & run

Virginia State Police identified the suspect in the May 26, 2024 hit and run in Powhatan and is asking for the public’s help to find him. The suspect, Dustin A. Bailey, is a 36-year-old Powhatan resident. According to VSP, he previously worked on Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield and in the City of Richmond. (Photo: VSP) On the day of that incident, at approximately 10:04 a.m., a 2019 Kia Forte was stopped at a red light on Rt. 60 (Anderson Highway) at the intersection with Luck Stone Rd. and was rear-ended by a 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche that reportedly fled the scene. The Forte drive suffered minor injuries according to VSP. Bailey, the suspected, Avalanche is wanted for hit and run and driving without a license. WATCH: Live Footage of Sept. 2024 Hit & Run in Pow...

Extended closure of Warrenton Rd. in Stafford continues

6Mar

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News, Traffic

Extended closure of Warrenton Rd. in Stafford continues

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office announced Rt.17 (Warrenton Rd.) was closed shortly before 11:30 a.m. this morning due to an accident that resulted in downed power lines. The incident in the area of Lichfield Blvd & McWhirt Loop closed north and southbound lanes. As of 3 pm, the closure was still in effect, and VDOT warned drivers to continue expecting major delays in the England Run and Hartwood areas. (Photo: Stafford County Sheriff's Office) Detour info Traffic is being detoured with Rt. 17 northbound traffic being directed to S. Gateway Dr. to Plantation Drive to Lichfield Boulevard. Rt. 17 southbound traffic takes Popular Road to Truslow to Plantation. Utility crews are on the scene. Save time, money & hassle w/ Walmart Business Low...

Tractor-trailer kills pedestrian on I-664 in Suffolk

5Mar

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News, Traffic

Tractor-trailer kills pedestrian on I-664 in Suffolk

The Commonwealth’s Attorney in Suffolk will determine whether or not to file charges against Demarquese Larnell Hayes, the truck driver involved in the fatal crash on I-664 South in Suffolk on Tuesday, March 4. According to Virginia State Police, it appears 39-year-old Corey L. B. Knight was driving a 2023 Volkswagen GTI, pulled over on the right shoulder of I-664 at College Drive, and got out. Hayes came along in a 2023 Freightliner tractor-trailer and drifted onto the shoulder striking Knight and the Volkswagen, killing Knight immediately, said VSP. State Police were dispatched to the scene around 1:15 a.m. and said Knight had turned on the vehicle's lights. There is no evidence of drug or alcohol intoxication, or speed was a factor, said VSP. The investigation is still...

Comments accepted: Proposed VA to PA transmission line & substation

28Feb

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

Business, News, Trending

Comments accepted: Proposed VA to PA transmission line & substation

Maryland Department of Natural Resources will host an informational meeting on March 13 to gather public feedback on the Mid Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL), a transmission line that’s slated to stretch from Frederick County, VA to Greene County, PA. According to NextEra Energy, the transmission company responsible for the project, MARL is part of broader effort to strengthen the backbone of the region’s energy grid. The proposed transmission line is expected to stretch about 105 miles and includes adding a new 500/138-kV substation in Frederick County, VA. But the exact route hasn’t been chosen yet, the company says. That’s why Maryland DNR is hosting the meeting. There’s a possibility that the line could run through western MD, the department said. And Maryland wants to understand ...