3 PWC police officers shot, one fatally

MoonHowler
Officer Ashley Guidon

insidenova.com:

One of three Prince William County police officers shot responding to a domestic violence call Saturday night in Woodbridge has died. It was Officer Ashley Guindon’s first day on the job.

A woman who lives at the house in the 13000 block of Lashmere Court off Ridgefield Boulevard was also shot and killed during the incident, which began at 5:37 p.m. as a domestic shooting call. A suspect is in custody. The two other injured officers are being treated at an area trauma center.

Officer Guindon, 29, had formerly been a police officer and had just returned to law enforcement after taking some time off, Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart said Saturday night. She was sworn in yesterday.

“This is just absolutely tragic,” Stewart said. “It just reinforces how dangerous it is to be a police officer. There was a domestic dispute and those are the most dangerous calls you can go on as an officer.”

“This is just a very sad day in the county and for the community,” Stewart said.

On Facebook Friday, Prince William police posted a photo of Officer Guindon and another officer sworn in that day, wishing them “safety, success and long careers” with the police force.

Stewart said police believe the woman killed inside the home was  dead when officers arrived.

Neighbors said the family who lives there has a 10-year-old son who was home at the time. He was physically unharmed and being cared for at the police station late Saturday.

What a tragic, sickening flow of events.  A young woman is sworn in as a police officer and the next day she is killed answering a call.  I am sure Officer Guindon got up, ready to start a new job, with all the excitement any of us starting a new job would have.  I am sure Officer Guindon expected to come home this evening–except she won’t.  Two other officers started their day like any other day.  They too expected to return home at the end of the day.  They are hospitalized.
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Chief Hudson to retire

MoonHowler

 

Chief Hudson
Chief Hudson

News flash!  The BOCS will be notified today that it is the intention of Chief Hudson to retire from Prince William County this spring.  What a shame!

Chief Hudson stepped into hard-to-fill shoes and has done an superior job.  He will be missed.

One has to wonder why anyone would want to work in Prince William County with the infusion of toxic political rancor  I sincerely hope that isn’t the case with Chief Hudson.  I hope we will continue to attract and retain really qualified people like the Chief.

Congratulations, Chief Hudson.  Enjoy  your retirement!  Thank you for your service to our county.

About those sanctuary charges….PWC is not a “sanctuary county”

MoonHowler

howl more whine less

Funniest thing. Two local bloggers go berserk making all sorts of charges about Prince William County becoming a sanctuary city. they obviously need to spend more time howling and less time whining and making up crap.

Those of us who have been around a while and who were involved with immigration issue remember all too well what happened.  We knew it wasn’t true.  Our police department has always cooperated with I.C.E.

That didn’t stop the local bloggers. One them  absolutely knew better. He wanted to send the immigrants back with love.  In fact, he led the charge to send them out and drive them out.  (I would sure hate to see “hate”.) The other one just wanted to take a few more pokes at Melissa Peacor and Chief Hudson. There might have even been a little gouge or two directed at Corey Stewart, just to poke the bear.

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PWC Cops assaulted 6 different times over Thanksgiving weekend

MoonHowler

When so much media attention is being paid to perceived innocent victims of cop abuse, it’s important to remember that law enforcement officers go out daily not knowing what kind of behavior they are going to encounter. Will their encounters be annoying, harmful or deadly? Over Thanksgiving weekend, Prince William County police officers were assaulted 6 different times. They were kicked, hit, shoved covered in broken glass, and generally abused. According to insidenova.com:

Prince William County police officers were assaulted in six separate incidents over Thanksgiving weekend.

The first case happened on Thanksgiving at 3:54 p.m., when officers were called to a home in the 12200 block of Charles Lacy Drive in Manassas to investigate a domestic assault. The victim, a 59-year-old Manassas woman, told police she was assaulted following an argument. The suspect resisted when officers tried to arrest him, kicking one officer in the face, said Prince William police spokesman Jonathan Perok. Minor injuries were reported.

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County Employee, Ray Utz, Arrested

Elena

hello ladies utz

For those of us who heard the stories, who knew of the myriad of complaints that had been filed against Ray Utz, the common mantra today has been this…..”Wow, I am shocked but not surprised”

There use to be several women in the Planning dept several years ago, but. one by one they left until there were none.  I believe there is now one woman, and she is a secretary. Too many people in leadership positions were aware of these complaints, and yet, nothing was done. All were deemed “unfounded” and so the women left and Ray Utz stayed.

Here is the story from Inside Nova:

Raymond Utz, the second-in-command of the Prince William County Planning Department, has been arrested after police say he exposed himself to women while driving.

Utz, 49, was the county’s assistant planning director since January. Before that, he served 11 years as the county’s chief of long range planning. County spokesman Jason Grant said Utz is no longer employed by Prince William County, but would not comment on whether he was fired or resigned.

Utz was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 19, after two reported incidents of indecent exposure, one in Woodbridge and the other in Lake Ridge.

Just before noon, police were called after a 38-year-old woman reported that a man in a black Honda CRV lowered his passenger side window while both drivers were stopped on Gideon Drive and Smoketown Road.

“At that point, the victim noticed that the driver was exposing himself and making an obscene sexual display,” Prince William police spokesman Jonathan Perok said.

The victim was able to provide officers with the Honda’s license plate number, which was registered to Utz.

 

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Corey–1, Insidenova–Zip: Look who’s keeping score

MoonHowler

badge

Good for Chairman Corey Stewart.  He has continued to point out the need for additional law enforcement officers, despite the fact that he has been vilified and mocked on some other blogs that frankly, would brand him regardless of what he advocated in his role as county chairman.  Now one of the local online news agencies wants to pile on, ignoring facts.

insidenova.com:

In recently arguing his case for more police officers (and perhaps higher taxes) in next year’s fiscal county budget, Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart also managed to perpetuate an unfortunate stereotype.

“It’s not just in Woodbridge or Dale City, it’s not just in places where people would think these things would occur,” Stewart said of what he perceives as a spike in crime. “They are happening in the western end of the county.”

Really, Mr. Stewart? We expect rape, robbery and murder on the east end but not the west end?

He might as well have called it “Hoodbridge,” that embarrassing nickname that started who knows where, but it seems to have stuck.

Stewart called a press conference earlier this month to make his case that crime is on the rise, and mentioned two recent high-profile incidents – the execution-style shooting death of 21-year-old Glenda Coca-Romero at Platanillos Grocery in Woodbridge and a gang fight at Potomac Mills mall.

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Chairman calls for more police (this is the Corey I like to see)

MoonHowler

cops

Chairman Corey Stewart held a press conference earlier in the week to announce a needed crackdown on crime because of a recent spate of serious, more violent crimes in the area.   Chairman Stewart addressed crime, rather than more divisive factors in his press conference.

potomaclocal.com:

Stewart today called a press conference in his office in Woodbridge and called for answers from the county’s police department on what’s causing what he called an “uptick” in local crime. No law enforcement members were present at the meeting when Stewart announced he wants Police Chief Stephan Hudson look for trends, or possible commonalities on what’s behind a recent rash of violent crime. Recent incidents like a rape, sexual assault, and a bank robbery in Nokesville were also cited as part of a rise in crime.

“It’s too early to know if there is an underlying cause, or if this is a beginning of a trend, but crime did go up substantially in 2012 and I think it’s going to go up again when the final numbers are ready for calendar 2013, as well,” said Stewart.

He’s basing his concerns on anecdotal information given to him, he told reporters.

This is the Corey I like to see! He didn’t single out any demographic groups to target. He aimed at the problem–CRIME. Addressing this problem now, rather than waiting until it gets its foothold in the door is a good thing. Public safety should always get top billing here in Prince William County. It’s just how that top billing is presented that has been a problem in the past. Chairman Stewart is going about this the right way this time. He is going directly to the Chief for his data and solutions.

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Corey, you could have fooled me!

MoonHowler
No Latino voters for Core-man
No Latino voters for Core-man

I got another beg letter from Corey.  He wanted money.  I am not sure why he thinks I am his friend.  Part of his  email contained the following:

The media is at it again. Just two days ago, a columnist from the Richmond Times Dispatch labeled me “an immigrant basher”.

It is no doubt this statement arises from my leadership of the nation’s toughest crackdown on criminal illegal immigration

In Prince William County, if you are arrested for a crime and it is determined that you are here illegally, then our law enforcement officers hand you over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I need your help in this fight to combat the never ending liberal media attacking our conservative values.  A donation of $25, $50, $100 would go a long way to help me spread my message of conservative governance.

Every person who is being arrested is checked, regardless of age, sex, race, etc. If upholding the Rule of Law makes me “an immigrant basher” than let them name call, I am willing to deal with such petty insults for the safety of Prince William County’s 425,000+ residents. Since we enacted our illegal immigration policy, there has been a 47.8% drop in violent crime and we have handed over more than 6,000 criminal illegal aliens to ICE.

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Prince William County Police Officer killed on Route 28

MoonHowler

All of Prince William County mourns the loss of Officer Chris Yung who was killed ina  traffic accident this afternoon.  The details from  WTOP.com are as follows:

 

WASHINGTON – A Prince William County police officer has been killed in a car-motorcycle crash in Bristow.

Officer Chris Yung, 35, who had been on the force for seven years, was responding to a separate crash on his department motorcycle at the time of the 2 p.m crash Monday.

Based on preliminary information, a minivan made a left turn into a shopping center and crossed in front of Yung, who was traveling the opposite direction, on Nokesville Road, near Piper Lane, Prince William County police say.

Yung was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Washington Post also carried limited details of this tragic accident.  This site will update as information is released.

Meanwhile, our thoughts and prayers go out to friends, colleagues  and family of Officer Yung.   I know it is a very sad day for the PWC Police Department.  I don’t suppose anything prepares you for losing one of your own.  That’s a call no officer wants to hear!

 

PWC Police step up to the plate, reassure community

MoonHowler

pwc cruiser

News and Messenger:   (Amanda Stewart)

When students arrived at many area schools Monday and Tuesday, they may have noticed extra police officers at school.

Prince William County police officials planned to have extra officers at area schools throughout the week in response to Friday’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

“An increased presence of police will be in and around the county schools this week,” Prince William County police said in a statement posted on the department’s Facebook page. “Please do not be alarmed. The pain of last Friday’s events has reached across our nation. We simply want to reassure our children that they are safe in school and our community.”

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Saluting Chief Charlie Deane

MoonHowler

Prince William County Police Chief Charlie Deane will retire September 1.  While it saddens us that he is leaving, we wish him much happiness in his retirement.   Chief Deane has served Prince William County’s police department 42 years,  since 1970, when he came here as a detective, from the State Police Department.  24 of those years have been as Police Chief.    He  is one of the longest serving officers in the State of Virginia and  he has  achieved national respect and recognition.

The Prince William County Police Department has gone from a fledgling police department  that began July 1, 1970 in a growing suburban county to a force with 580 sworn officers with a support staff of over 300 civilians.    Not only is Chief Deane well liked and respected locally, his professional reputation extends throughout the country.  His shoes will be hard to fill.

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Christmas in August: Saddles and Leashes

MoonHowler

What a great idea! 

 

 

Buy a calendar & support K-9 and Horse Mounted Patrol units! Cost $24 (incl. mailing in US). Checks payable to: PWCCPAAA. Mail to: Paula Adams, 10508 Fairweather Court, Manassas, VA 20112. Show your support today!
****************************************************************************************************
Too bad the firefighters of Prince William County don’t have their own calendar also.  I venture to say that PWC has some of the finest looking fire fighters in the State of Virginia, if not the entire east coast.  How about it, fire fighters?
If they are shy, perhaps the calendar could just be First Responders of PWC. 

Public Servants Solve Decade-long East Coast Rapist Case

MoonHowler

The Prince William County Police along with police from other jurisdictions solved the East Coast Rapist case  last week which had been an open case since 1997.  The alleged rapist is originally from Berryville, VA, where his mother still lives.  He raped women in Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut and Rhode Island before being apprehended.  His latest victims were 3 Dale City teens who were walking home after trick or treating over in Dale City in 2009. 

A police effort recently put up a series of roadway graphics along the interstates on the east coast in hopes on finding this criminal.   Thousands of tips came in and one paid off.  Aaron Thomas, 39  was arrested late last week.  PWC police connected the dots that he was probably a truck driver.  They also cashed in on capturing his DNA from a carelessly discarded cigarette while he was appearing in court over something unrelated. 

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Don’t Tread on Freedom of Speech!

Elena

I can tell you, on many occasion I saw this very quiet peaceful protester on 234 throughout the past several years. All he did, was stand in the grass, next to his signs. I don’t recall it saying anything incendiary, but he was definitely against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He never shouted, he never waved his arms crazily,he just stood there, like a man on his own private mission to make his voice heard.

I was very surprised to read in the paper, the thuggish behavior of a young person in “uniform”. This “teenager” exited his van, kicked Mr. Hersch’s poster and then got back into his van.

He said that about 12:30 p.m. a green van with an advertisement on the side that read “1-800-Marines” drove up to the intersection and a teenaged passenger got out and kicked down one of his signs.

That’s when the act of civil disobedience or disorderly conduct came into play.

Hersch said he stepped out in front of the van to prevent the driver — who he said was in uniform — from driving away.

 

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Gang Members Indicted for Murder of Mickey Hernandez

MoonHowler

From News and Messenger:

A grand jury in Prince William Circuit Court has indicted a Fairfax teen on a murder charge for the November stabbing death of 15-year-old Miguel “Mickey” Hernandez in Manassas.

Boris Alfred Juarez Ascencio, 18, of Blake Lane in Fairfax, is charged with first-degree murder for the Nov. 19 stabbing.

According to court documents, Juarez, who was 17 at the time of the incident, has been certified to stand trial as an adult.

In court documents, witnesses said that Juarez stabbed Hernandez several times as he walked home from school on Bartow Street.

Another teen, 18-year-old Mauricio Martinez of Manassas, has also been charged in Hernandez’s death.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing, Martinez and Juarez were both members of the criminal street gang of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

Witnesses said Martinez identified Hernandez as a member of a rival gang and then Juarez stabbed him, according to police and prosecutors.

Police and Hernandez’s family members have said he was not affiliated with a gang.

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