Police briefs

By JIM LAWRENCE
FOR THE STAFFORD COUNTY SUN
Published: July 24, 2008

Local home vanndalized
GARRISONVILLE — A house in the 300 block of Waterside Terrace was vandalized between 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. on July 15, reported Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Bill Kennedy the next day.

The resident stated she had left the premises at about 1:30 p.m. and returned at 5:30 p.m.

Holes had been knocked into the wall in the living room; furniture throughout the house had been damaged and overturned.

The victim said she doesn’t know who might have vandalized her house.

Anyone with information regarding this vandalism is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at (540) 658-4400 for Crime Solvers at (540) 659-2020. 

Man arrested on drug charges
GARRISONVILLE — After getting pulled over for a bad brake light and having a license plate in a precarious position Benjamin Strickland, 19, of Puri Lane was found to be carrying illicit drugs on July 16, reported Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Bill Kennedy on July 17.

Police found marijuana, crack and powder cocaine, ecstasy, and various bags of cash in his car.

He was charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to distribute, one count of possession of schedule 1 or 2 narcotics and one count of driving with a revoked license.

Already on bond from the Stafford County Circuit Court for possession of drugs with intent to distribute, he was incarcerated in the Rappahannock Region Jail without bond.

Women arrested for shoplifting at Target
FALMOUTH — Two local women were arrested in separate shoplifting attempts at the Target store off Warrenton Road on July 16, reported Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Bill Kennedy on July 18.

When a deputy arrived at the scene, Lisa Massey, 32, of Spotsylvania sat in an office. Several Hewlett-Packard ink cartridge boxes were lying on the floor.

The store’s loss prevention officer stated that she had watched on the surveillance camera as Massey placed the boxes beneath other items from the store and attempted to leave the store without paying for them.

A bag she had been carrying was searched. Several plastic bags with white residue were inside. When asked if it would test positive for anything she replied it would “probably” test positively for cocaine.

As this occurred, Zandra Johnson, 43, for Fredericksburg, pulled into the parking lot in a red Dodge pickup. While in the store, she exhibited behavior similar to
Massey’s. She, too, was caught stealing items.

It was found that the two women were mutual acquaintances.

Printing cartridges were found behind the passenger’s seat in the red Dodge pickup truck, taken from a store in Maryland.

Record checks found that both women had numerous charges for shoplifting and neither possessed a valid driver’s license.

Charges of shoplifting with attempt to sell, driving after having been declared a habitual offender and possession of stolen property were lodged against Johnson.

Massey was charged with felony shoplifting, larceny with attempt to sell, possession of a schedule 1 or 2 narcotic and the misdemeanor charge of driving revoked.

Both were incarcerated in the Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.

House vandalized; copper pipes stolen
BEREA — The house at 681 Warrenton Road was broken into and vandalized during June 13-14, reported Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Bill Kennedy on Monday.

The victim reported July 18 that she had prepared the house for her brother to move into. When she entered the house on that day, she found the water and the electricity turned off.

She went into basement and found it flooded with four feet of water. Stafford Utilities was contacted and the water was turned off. A broken water pipe was suspected.

Further inspection found that both water and electrical pipes had been cut and taken from the premises. All stolen pipes were copper.

The damages to the premises was estimated at $1,600. A washer and dryer, both completely submersed, were destroyed.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to the call the sheriff’s office at (540) 658-4400 or Crime Solvers at (540) 659-2020.

Tools stolen from company trailer

STAFFORD — Tools valued at $8,700 were stolen from the Rappahannock Construction Company trailer at Austin Landing, a new subdivision off Bells Hill
Road, between July 18-20, reported Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Bill Kennedy on Tuesday.

The report was made early in the Monday morning by two employees who arrived to find the trailer’s lock missing.

Anyone with information regarding this offense is encouraged to call either the sheriff’s office at (540) 658-4400 or Crime Solvers at (540) 659-2020.

Gunshots heard at Garrison Woods
GARRISONVILLE — Gunshots were heard the Garrison Woods apartment complex at about midnight on Tuesday, reported Stafford County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Office Bill Kennedy later the same day.

A deputy was en route to the area to investigate a report of a suspicious person or people when the gunshots were heard. A total of three calls were received concerning the incident.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to the sheriff’s office at (540) 658-4400 or Crime Solvers at (540) 659-2020.

— Jim Lawrence