Wednesday, July 1WATCHFUL EYE

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Investigation underway for Alexandria’s massive warehouse fire
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Investigation underway for Alexandria’s massive warehouse fire

Over 100 firefighters battled a major blaze that started Tuesday at a strip warehouse located at 4407 Wheeler Ave. in Alexandria. At 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, a fire alarm was reported, but according to a statement from the City, the blaze quickly escalated into a major fire with intense flames ripping through the roof of the building. Wheeler Ave. was shut down in both directions between the 4000-4400 blocks. Alexandria Fire Dept. was assisted by surrounding jurisdictions in intensive firefighting operations that continued through the night into Wednesday. NBC Washington DC reported that the fire department said the fire was so large that they only battled it from outside of the warehouse. According to the City, the extended firefight was due, in large part, to hotspots ...
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Man who fled Caroline police found & arrested
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Man who fled Caroline police found & arrested

A man wanted in Caroline County after reportedly running away during a traffic stop has been arrested. According to Caroline Sheriff’s Office, on December 27, just before 7 p.m. Deputy S. Mullane tried to stop a box truck on Ladysmith Rd. in front of Sheetz because the officer had reason to believe the vehicle was stolen. The driver, now believed to be 32-year-old Kevin Anthony Gibbons, pulled over. But according to CCSO, he jumped out, abandoning the box truck, and ran across a construction area toward Green Rd. Deputy Mullan went a chase but lost sight of the man due to “the dark and heavy rains,” the Sheriff’s Office reported. Other CCSO deputies and Virginia State Police searched throughout the night by foot and with K-9s, but by early morning they still hadn’t located him. ...
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Stafford prostitution investigation leads to 3 investigations, 5 arrests
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Stafford prostitution investigation leads to 3 investigations, 5 arrests

An undercover prostitution investigation in Stafford unfolded into the three investigations that led to the arrest of five people, most of them wanted. And, it all occurred in one night. According to Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, the series of events began with First Sergeant Detective R.J. Grella, head of the Special Investigations Unit, on the prowl for prostitution. He connected with a suspect online. They agreed to meet at the Staybridge Suites located at 2996 Richmond Highway. It was about 7:11 p.m. when Grella arrived at the hotel along with some Stafford patrol deputies. The female suspect Grella met was found to have controlled substances in the room, SCSO reported. Amid that investigation, the officers learned that there was another potential prostitution incident in ...
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Pastor extradited from SC to Warsaw, VA to face 30 felonies against minors
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Pastor extradited from SC to Warsaw, VA to face 30 felonies against minors

After a 15-month investigation, Albert Benjamin Wharton was extradited from Pickens County, SC to Richmond County, VA to face 30 felonies for crimes against children. According to Richmond County Sheriff Steve Smith, the investigation involved Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit, and it resulted in charges for 22 counts of indecent liberties with a child under age 13 while in a custodial position and 8 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The alleged crimes occurred between 1981 and 1997 at the Berachah Christian Academy in Warsaw, said the Sheriff. According to Victory Baptist Church, that academy was one of its ministries and “provided the community with the choice of a Christian education in grades K-12.” “Dr. Ben Wharton” was the...
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Missing NYC 3-Year-Old found, Vehicle Involved in Her Snatching found in Virginia Beach
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Missing NYC 3-Year-Old found, Vehicle Involved in Her Snatching found in Virginia Beach

The 3-year-old who was taken from Staten Island and believed to possibly be in the Virginia has been found, but the person accused of kidnapping her has not.   On Monday, Virginia State Police issued an alert on behalf of the New York City Police Department advising that Kadence France was missing, was possibly in Virginia, and there was a credible threat of health and safety. The child was last seen on Saturday, December 16, with 26-year-old Randalae Rhodes, the alert added. After two days missing, NYPD confirmed that France was returned to a police precinct in the city by a family member Monday. France’s father, who reportedly didn’t want to provide his name, explained to PIX11 News that Rhodes is France’s mother, but he has custody. On the day the girl was taken, he was sc...
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Virginia shutting 4 prisons & taking control of privately-run Lawrenceville
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Virginia shutting 4 prisons & taking control of privately-run Lawrenceville

Citing staffing shortages, safety, and maintenance costs, VADOC announced four Virginia prison facilities will be officially closing, effective July 1, 2024. The facilities include Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville and Stafford Community Corrections Alternative Program (CCAP). At the other two facilities, Sussex II State Prison in Waverly and Haynesville Unit #17 in Richmond County, the staff have already been temporarily reassigned to neighboring facilities, Sussex I State Prison and Haynesville Correctional Center, VADOC said. The department said it has begun working with staff to identify job placement opportunities within the agency to ensure the opportunity for continuous employment and career advancement. And VADOC said it will work diligently to ensure that everyon...
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Plans for $2 bn Alexandria Entertainment District unveiled
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Plans for $2 bn Alexandria Entertainment District unveiled

Plans are in the works to develop a 9 million sq. ft. entertainment district at Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The project is a public-private partnership between the City of Alexandria, the Commonwealth of Virginia, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and JBG SMITH. According the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP), the entertainment district will include hotels, retail, residential, restaurants, conference, and community gathering spaces. Other standout elements include: The global headquarters for Monumental Sports & Entertainment and its more than 650 employees An arena for the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards A state-of-the art Monumental Sports Network media studio The Wizards practice facility An expanded e-sports facility A perf...
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Nurse wanted in Spotsylvania for sex offense against minor was working in Hanover
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Nurse wanted in Spotsylvania for sex offense against minor was working in Hanover

A 55-year-old nurse practitioner has been charged and arrested for inappropriately touching patients during their medical consultations. Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office explained that the initial charges against Keith Allen Henry, listed as a Lewisberg, NC resident, were related to a 7-year-old patient. The child alerted her mother about the incident, which reportedly occurred on Nov. 7 at a medical clinic. SCSO said detectives in the Child Victim Unit conducted “a lengthy investigation” and charged Henry with felony aggravated sexual battery of a child under 13. An arrest warrant was issued but Henry couldn’t be found locally so federal assistance was requested, and he was arrested in Hanover on Nov. 28 with the assistance of Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the United St...
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Arlington home explosion: suspect had contacted FBI for years
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Arlington home explosion: suspect had contacted FBI for years

Remains recovered from the duplex in the 800 block of N. Burlington Street are believed to belong to 56-year-old James Yoo, who is believed to be the suspect involved in the events leading up to the home explosion. According to Arlington P.D., police were dispatched to the residence for a report of possible shots fired at around 4:45 p.m. on Dec. 4. The preliminary investigation found that a male had fired a flare-style gun from inside out into the neighborhood over 30 times, Arlington Police Chief Andy Penn stated. After attempts to engage with suspect were unsuccessful, police obtained a search warrant “to allow our officers to secure any weapons to ensure there would be no ongoing threat to the community,” Penn continued. Police attempted to execute the warrant through vario...
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Plane crash near airport in Fauquier kills Bealeton pilot
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Plane crash near airport in Fauquier kills Bealeton pilot

State and federal authorities are investigating a plane crash that occurred Sunday shortly before 4 p.m. in Fauquier County, claiming the life of a 62-year-old Bealeton, VA man. Virginia State Police reported Simmie Adams was flying a single-engine 1975 Beechcraft plane when it crashed near the intersection of Midland Rd. and Ebenezer Church Rd, which is near the Warrenton-Fauquier Regional Airport. VSP said Adams was attempting the land the plane when the crash occurred, and according to DC News Now Adams was attempting to land at the airport. Ralph Hicks of the NTSB told NBC4 Washington, the wreckage was “just south of the runway.” “Turns out at the moment of his approach, the weather was below minimums,” said David Huss, director of Warrenton-Fauquier Regional...
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