News – Page 31 – Watchful Eye

Murder suspect in fatal Prince George’s MD shooting arrested in Northern VA

23May

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News, Trending

Murder suspect in fatal Prince George’s MD shooting arrested in Northern VA

A 22-year-old Stafford man who was wanted for murder charges in Maryland was arrested yesterday in a joint operation between Stafford County Sheriff's Office and Prince George's County Police Department's Fugitive Unit. On Sunday, May 19, at around 1:45 a.m., PGPD said its officers responded to a shopping center parking lot in the 6400 block of Marlboro Pike where there was a car meet. The officers found 26-year-old John Phipps of Waldorf, MD in a vehicle suffering from gunshots. He was pronounced dead a short time later, PGPD stated. Another unnamed man was also shot, but his injuries were not considered life threatening, the department added. With assistance from the community and Prince George’s County Crime Solvers, the Homicide Unit identified the suspect as 22-year-old Ra...

Red Onion prisoner hit with murder charge for cell mate’s death

22May

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

Crime, News

Red Onion prisoner hit with murder charge for cell mate’s death

A grand jury in Wise County charged 36-year-old Julian Leon Mitchell with aggravated murder for the death of his cell mate. On August 23, 2023, corrections staff found Jowell Legendre unresponsive in his cell at Red Onion State Prison, VADOC stated. The staff performed life-saving measures and Legendre was transported to Dickenson Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Mitchell shared the cell with Jowell, and according to VADOC, he told security staff Legendre fell from the top bunk. After an investigation, VADOC presented the evidence to Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney, and an indictment was filed last week, on May 15, VADOC reported. Mitchell’s criminal history includes 2012 convictions for using a firearm in commission of a felony and aggravated malicious woun...

Leesburg PD makes arrests in 2 robbery-assault cases that occurred in 24 hours

22May

By watchfuleyeNo Comments

Crime, News

Leesburg PD makes arrests in 2 robbery-assault cases that occurred in 24 hours

Leesburg Police Department announced arrests in two daytime robbery- assault cases that occurred within about 24 hours. Last Friday, at about 5:22 p.m., LPD said officers reported to the Sheetz at 915 Edwards Ferry Road NE, where “an area man” reported that a known male assaulted him, took his cell phone, and ran off. LPD said officers canvassed the area and found the suspect in the unit block of Plaza Street NE but when he saw police, he ran. That suspect, Fidel Ordonez Molina, an 18-year-old from Leesburg, was caught after a short foot chase, LPD reported. Molina was charged with robbery, assault, and preventing law enforcement from making an arrest. He’s being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond. The victim’s injuries were treated at the scene, ...

21May

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News, What & Where

Win elk tour & stay in State Park cabin in ‘Virginia Elk Experience Sweepstakes’

Since 2012, Virginia has been working to rebuild the state’s elk population. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources there is now a thriving herd of over 250 elk, most in close proximity to the restoration site in Buchanan County. DWR is currently running the Virginia Elk Experience Sweepstakes offering two winners the chance for a guided elk tour and a 2-night cabin stay at a state park in southwest Virginia. Those interested in entering the sweepstakes can visit the DWR website and purchase a single entry for $15, 7 entries for $75 or 15 entries for $125. As long as you’re at least 18 years old, you can submit as many entries as you like. DWR is offering two prizes packages. The larger package, includes items, such as two electric bikes, hot rod rentals, Gosky...

More details uncovered on alleged child predator with homes in Virginia & Florida

21May

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News, Popular

More details uncovered on alleged child predator with homes in Virginia & Florida

Virginia State Police has released additional information about 38-year-old Jason Fragale amid an continued effort to get the public to provide any information they may have. Last month, VSP and Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement issued a joint statement noting that Fragale has been linked to Leesburg, VA and Kissimmee, FL. He is facing 10 felony warrants in Loudoun County, VA. Half are for possession of child porn and half are for reproduction of child porn. According to the statement, a cyber tip was submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators then tracked the IP address to Fragale's Leesburg residence. He also has residence in Kissimmee. And he has ties to a cheerleading company called “The Crimson All-Star Cheerleading Club” that’s regis...

VSP launches investigation into Fauquier tractor-trailer crash that shut down I-66 West

18May

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News, Traffic

VSP launches investigation into Fauquier tractor-trailer crash that shut down I-66 West

The hours-long road closure on Interstate 66 West in Fauquier on Friday was caused by an overturned tractor-trailer that resulted in the westbound lanes being closed at the 24.8 mile marker. Virginia State Police said a 2010 International crashed at 8:10 a.m. The truck was headed westbound and a vehicle, that’s currently unidentified, made an unsafe lane change, VSP said. The vehicle’s maneuver caused the tractor-trailer, which was hauling 50,000 pounds of peas, to run off the left side of the highway, hit a guardrail, and turn over in the median, VSP reported. The truck driver, a 54-year-old Suffolk man who wasn’t named, was wearing a seatbelt and didn’t suffer any injuries. (Photo: VSP) But traffic was detoured off I-66 at Exit 27, and the cleanup effort took hours. VSP...

+Year-long lane closures on Eltham Bridge in West Point starting next week

17May

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News, Traffic

+Year-long lane closures on Eltham Bridge in West Point starting next week

If you travel between West Point and New Kent, be advised that work will begin on Eltham Bridge next week and is expected to continue through August 2025. VDOT said there will a $5.6 million effort that consists of three different projects. That work includes applying a concrete sealant to the deck, installing a new gutter system on the movable portion of Eltham Bridge, and installing new utility hangers to attach water and sewer pipes under the bridge. Work begins May 20 On Monday, May 20, work will begin. Those on Rt. 30/33 should expect work crews, equipment, and barrels along the route. Starting at 8 a.m., there will be a lane closure for eastbound traffic that will remain in place until noon on Friday, May 24. That closure will return at noon on Tuesday, May 28 runni...

VADOC: Gun, drugs & police chase amid Indian Creek CC interdiction operation

17May

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News, Trending

VADOC: Gun, drugs & police chase amid Indian Creek CC interdiction operation

Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) announced there were three arrests and nine denied visits amid an “intensive interdiction operation” at Indian Creek Correctional Center in Chesapeake. Yesterday, VADOC revealed that, on March 30, they partnered with Virginia State Police and Chesapeake Police Department for an intensive operation to screen visitors for drugs and other contraband. Items found during the searches, include drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, syringes, and three handguns, VADOC stated. In addition to those who were turned away, those arrested include a Virginia Beach woman, 32-year-old Brittney Salley, who reportedly turned up at the facility although she hadn’t shown up in court and had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear, VADOC noted. Salley wa...

DEA report: Xylazine in Virginia & other ‘dangerous’ shifts in drug trends

16May

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News, Trending

DEA report: Xylazine in Virginia & other ‘dangerous’ shifts in drug trends

The drug game is changing. Products are becoming more potent. Users often aren’t getting what they think they’re getting. And the fatal consequences are mounting, according to the 2024 drug threat assessment from the DEA. The report “highlights the dangerous shift from plant-based drugs to synthetic drugs” like fentanyl and methamphetamine, which are responsible for nearly all of the fatal drug overdoses and poisonings in the U.S. Drug suppliers Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have control over each segment of the drug trade and have effectively eliminated any competition in US markets, the DEA report states. It adds that cartel members have established a presence in every state. Virginia is one of the states where the cartel footprint is growing. (Photo: DEA) Fenta...

Guns and +$3 million in drugs seized from Bedford, VA pop-ups

16May

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News, Popular

Guns and +$3 million in drugs seized from Bedford, VA pop-ups

This week, Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller made a public commitment to always keep the selling of drugs, including marijuana, as a top priority. That commitment comes after guns and millions of dollars worth of drugs were reportedly seized from two “illegal” pop-ups in the County. According to Sheriff Miller, on May 4, the James River Regional Task Force served a warrant in the 2800 block of Chestnut Fork Rd. and seized: 2 Firearms 77.5 lbs. of marijuana (Estimated street value of $316,260**) 101 lbs. of THC wax (Estimated street value of $1.8 million) 8.6 lbs. of psilocybin mushrooms (Estimated street value of $156,000) 1.5 pounds of THC oil (Estimated street value of $28,741) 35 grams of cocaine (Estimated street value of $3,640) along with numerous edibles an...