Thursday, September 3WATCHFUL EYE

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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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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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Virginia attracts $1 billion Microporous facility promising 2,000 jobs
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Business, News

Virginia attracts $1 billion Microporous facility promising 2,000 jobs

Microporous, a Tennessee-based supplier of battery separators, announced it’s investing $1.3 billion to establish a manufacturing facility in Pittsylvania County that will create 2,015 new jobs. “Microporous is dedicated to developing the local workforce, investing in the community to improve opportunities for the local economy, and creating a better tomorrow for everyone,” said CEO John Reeves. The new facility is slated to be developed in two phases, with about 500,000 square feet in each phase, at the Southern Virginia Megasite. According to a joint press release from Microporous and Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office, Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for this deal. And government leaders are celebrating it is a major milestone for Virginia’s position in the man...
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One of two hit-and-run drivers in fatal Fauquier crash arrested
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One of two hit-and-run drivers in fatal Fauquier crash arrested

An arrest has been made in the case of Garland J. Heddings, a 73-year-old pedestrian killed in Fauquier County after reportedly getting hit on Elk Run Rd. by southbound and northbound hit-and-run drivers. Virginia State Police, which had called on the public to assist in the investigation, announced Dennis D. Dunning, 54, of Catlett, is one of the suspected drivers. VSP said Dunning was located at his residence on Burwell Road in Fauquier and taken into custody on Wednesday, Nov. 13, without incident. Dunning is charged with felony hit-and-run, involuntary manslaughter, and operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock. He’s being held at Fauquier Adult Detention Center without bond. Dunning’s arraignment for this morning was continued, court records show. Currently, his ne...
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Stafford awarded custody of 80 chickens seized in cockfighting case
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Stafford awarded custody of 80 chickens seized in cockfighting case

Stafford County Sheriff’s Office announced animal control was granted custody of all 80 chickens seized from an illegal cockfighting ring at a residence on Norman Rd. The alleged cockfighting operation was discovered on November 7 when SCSO went to execute a search warrant at the Norman Rd. property for a stolen property report, the Sheriff’s Office explained. The cockfighting issue had already been reported to the Special Problems Unit, and when officers executed the stolen property warrant, they saw the large number of chickens on the property and obtained a second warrant related to the cockfighting allegations, SCSO explained. In addition to 80 game fowl chickens, SCSO reported finding controlled substances, equipment, and weapons directly related to cockfighting. (Photo: S...
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Sheriff warns scammers across VA are showing up to people’s homes to collect
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Sheriff warns scammers across VA are showing up to people’s homes to collect

It appears there are a bunch of scams “plaguing” the Commonwealth of Virginia, and scammers are now showing up at people’s homes to collect, warned Mathews County Sheriff April Edwards. In a public service announcement, Edwards said the scam has found its way to Mathews, a rural county at the tip of the Middle Peninsula. In one instance, a Mathews family was contacted by someone claiming his son had been arrested in another state and was injured from getting into a car accident, the sheriff explained. The caller requested $9,800 in cash to pay the public defender’s office for defense. “The family went to the bank, withdrew $9,800 in cash, and these fools actually had the nerve to show up to the house to collect the $9,800,” Sheriff Edwards said. “Do I need to explain to you jus...
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Patrick County, VA man accused of trying to set his father on fire
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Patrick County, VA man accused of trying to set his father on fire

A 28-year-old Stuart man in Patrick County was arrested after allegedly attempting to set his father on fire. It was after 1 p.m. yesterday, Wednesday, Nov. 6, when a 911 call came in reporting a disturbance at 3243 Clark House Farm Road in Stuart. According to Lieutenant Steve Austin, when deputies, arrived Eric William Walker was outside of the residence subject to the call. The preliminary investigation revealed that Walker and his father got into argument that escalated into a physical altercation, police say. Walker allegedly went outside got a bottle of “suspected lighter fluid” and poured it on his father. Walker then attempted to ignite it, according to the police account. The father was able to escape and ran to a neighbor’s house. The Sheriff’s Office said Walker ...
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