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VDOT testing parking space availability app in Northern VA, could expand to Fredericksburg
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VDOT testing parking space availability app in Northern VA, could expand to Fredericksburg

VDOT is testing the ParkZen app at select parking lots in Northern Virginia and those who participate are eligible for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. ParkZen is an app that shows the availability of parking spaces in real time. VDOT began testing the app last month. The hope is making it easier to find parking in commuter lots will encourage more people to park and carpool or take public transit. "Commuters have told us that not knowing whether parking is available at commuter lots is a deterrent to using transit, carpools, vanpools, and slugging,” said Amy McElwain, program manager for VDOT’s Office of Strategic Innovations. “We know that taking the guesswork out of parking makes it easier for commuters to get out of their single-occupant vehicles. However, the challenge ha...
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Jury acquits one of two brothers charged for murdering Westmoreland, VA teacher
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Jury acquits one of two brothers charged for murdering Westmoreland, VA teacher

One of the two brothers accused of murdering a teacher in Westmoreland County, VA was acquitted Dec 5. Demetri Raymond Gardiner, 30, of Leonardtown, MD faced charges of 2nd degree murder, arson of an occupied dwelling, and 3 counts of animal cruelty causing death. Those charges stemmed from the murder of Taylor Wood, his brother’s 29-year-old girlfriend, and the burning of her house with her body and three dogs inside. Need to Catch Up? See… 2 men held in MD accused of murdering Westmoreland, VA school teacher Brothers returned to Virginia to face murder charges in Westmoreland According to testimony from forensic expert Dr. Jennifer Bowers, of the VA Medical Examiner’s Office, Wood’s death was caused by stab wounds to her neck area. Bowers testified that her finding...
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Police claim to have recording of Ridgeway woman discussing murder-for-hire plot
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Police claim to have recording of Ridgeway woman discussing murder-for-hire plot

A 44-year-old Ridgeway woman is being held at Henry County Adult Detention Center with no bond after being arrested for a murder-for-hire plot. A confidential informant, who was working with law enforcement, met with Gennevieve McGhee at her residence on Chestnut Knob Rd. on Nov. 26., Henry County Sheriff’s Office reported. That informant used “a recording device” during the encounter, and McGhee allegedly outlined “detailed plans” for a robbery and murder, including the payment arrangements and detailed instructions of how she wanted it carried out, HCSO said. The recording device captured video and audio, and "McGhee was positively identified as the individual speaking with the source," HCSO also stated. McGhee was taken into custody by Henry County deputies on Nov. 27 and i...
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2 Fredericksburg suspects accused of murder for body found in Caroline
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2 Fredericksburg suspects accused of murder for body found in Caroline

Last week, Caroline County Sheriff’s Office announced there was an investigation underway after a Stafford man’s body was discovered by a gravel road in a rural part of the county on the morning of Nov. 18. The man had no known connections to the area where he was found. And preliminary investigations indicate that the victim was abducted, transported, and shot in the area of Caroline where he was found, the Sheriff’s Office said. Days later, CCSO arrested two Fredericksburg suspects, 30-year-old Laurel Ainsleigh Thrift and 47-year-old James William Jackson. Explaining how the pair were caught, CCSO said during the investigation, investigators went and interviewed people in Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg. That provided critical leads that led CCSO to request assistance...
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Montross man in Gloucester turn-over crash had no license & list of charges
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Montross man in Gloucester turn-over crash had no license & list of charges

The Montross man charged for the overturned log truck crash that shut down Rt. 33 in Gloucester on Nov. 21 didn’t even have a driver’s license, according to Virginia State Police. At around 1:30 p.m. on that Thursday afternoon, 56-year-old Arthur W. Cardell was driving a 1998 International truck from Robinson's D & B Logging in the 12000 block of History Land Hwy in Warsaw, according to the report from VSP. Cardell was traveling southbound on Rt. 17 and when he turned onto Rt. 33 westbound, the truck turned over and logs spilled onto both sides of the highway. Both the eastbound and westbound lanes were closed. VDOT reported that multiple wreckers were called to the scene as well as VDOT crews from the Middlesex and Gloucester headquarters. Cardell was transported to the ho...
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Body recovered after report of person jumping from Harry Nice bridge
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Body recovered after report of person jumping from Harry Nice bridge

On Wednesday, a man reportedly jumped from the Rt. 301 bridge that crosses the Potomac River and connects King George County, VA and Charles County, MD. Charles County and King George were both dispatched after a call came in at approximately 11:45 a.m. reporting “person jumping,” noted William Smith, public information officer for Charles County Volunteer Fire & EMS. A range boat from Dahlgren was already in the area and went to work assisting Newburg Boat Fire #14 and Colonial Beach Fire Boat #1 in the search. According to Smith, the marine crews found a male subject on the surface of the river, and he was deceased when they discovered his body. Smith said it was Colonial Beach Boat #1 that retrieved the body. The man, whose identity hasn’t been released, was brought to the ...
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CBP officers in Norfolk intercept fentanyl destined for Africa
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Crime, News

CBP officers in Norfolk intercept fentanyl destined for Africa

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Norfolk found over 4 ounces of fentanyl in a shipment destined for Africa, the Department reported. The drugs were found in a container with three older-model Toyota sedans listed on the manifest. CBP said the officers were conducting a routine inspection for export vehicles when they found a white powdery substance comingled with personal effects. The substance was tested using a handheld device and confirmed to be fentanyl, said CBP. In total, the drugs discovered amounted to just over 117 grams. “This may be a small amount of fentanyl, but it doesn’t take much of this very dangerous synthetic opioid to seriously injure or kill an unsuspecting CBP officer, seaport longshoreman, vessel seaman, or truck driver who may be accidentally ...
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Caesar’s Virginia casino resort opening in December
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Caesar’s Virginia casino resort opening in December

Caesars Virginia casino resort in Danville will open its doors to guests on December 12 at noon. Caesars Virginia says the property will include over 90,000 square feet of gaming space, including nearly 1,500 of the “newest” slots, 79 live-action table games, 48 electronic table games, a WSOP poker room and Caesars Sportsbook. There will also be a 320-room hotel tower and 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space that will also serves as 2,500-seat live entertainment venue. Other amenities include a full-service spa and pool. (Photo: Caesar's Virginia) (Photo: Caesar's Virginia) Ceasar Virginia says there will be bars, lounges, and a wide variety of dining options, noting that Ramsay’s Kitchen, the restaurant concept of chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay ...
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Man sentenced to 8 years for Leesburg road rage incident
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Man sentenced to 8 years for Leesburg road rage incident

Ricardo Osiel Avilez Blanco, a 28-year-old Leesburg man extradited back to Virginia for a road rage case, was convicted of attempted malicious wounding and sentenced to 8 years. The incident occurred in October 2023. According to information presented by the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Avilez Blanco was driving a white Chevrolet Camaro and started tailgating a man and his son. In the midst of congested traffic, Avilez Blanco did several “burnouts” around the victim’s vehicle and “aggressively followed” the victim into the parking lot of Heritage High School. First, Avilez Blanco pressed the Camaro’s front bumper against the rear bumper of the victim’s vehicle and proceeded to do another burnout, the Commonwealth noted. The victim and Avilez Blanco got out of thei...
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Stafford man accused of serial armed robbery at 7-Eleven stores facing charges in 3 localities
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Stafford man accused of serial armed robbery at 7-Eleven stores facing charges in 3 localities

A man described by Stafford Sheriff Office as a “serial armed robber” was caught, arrested, and hit with charges from three jurisdictions. Suspect in Spotsylvania On November 12th, at approximately 11:30p.m., a call came in to Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office reporting a robbery at the 7-Eleven in the 10350 block of Patriot Highway. A store employee reported a black male came in, displayed a handgun, and demanded money, Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office stated. The employee provided the money, and the suspect fled. Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office revealed that while deputies were on the scene investigating that robbery, another 911 call came in at 12:30 a.m. from a 7-Eleven at 5900 Harrison Road. An employee in that store also reported getting robbed by a black man with a handgun. Again, t...
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