July, 2007 | I'm Surrounded By Idiots

What a bunch of geniuses

From Fredericksburg.com: Bizarre chase follows shoplifting report:

Police say a shoplifting suspect ran across Interstate 95 at rush hour yesterday in an effort to elude arrest.

A loss prevention manager at Kohl’s in Central Park notified officers at about 5:30 p.m. that she saw two white males conceal items under their clothes.

When police arrived, one of the suspects was driving a Chevy pickup in the parking lot and was stopped there.

Authorities say the bed of the pickup was loaded with stolen merchandise.

Police approached the second suspect as he left the store and authorities say the man threw merchandise into bushes in front of the store and bolted on foot.

He ran behind Best Buy with an officer chasing behind him, police say.

Authorities say the suspect then jumped over a barrier fence, ran onto I-95, crossed traffic lanes and ran south on the highway median.

A police K9 arrived and finally tracked the suspect near the Bob Evans restaurant on State Route 3.

The driver of the pickup, George Moore, 38, of Spotsylvania was arrested and charged with receiving stolen propery [sic].

The other suspect, Jason Salisbury, 28, of Spotsylvania was arrested and charged with felony shoplifting, obstruction of justice, and use of a controlled access highway as a pedestrian.

Both men were placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. Salisbury is being held on no bond, while Moore was being held on a $1,500 bond.

I guess they don’t require IQ tests to be a criminal nowadays.

He must have really pissed off that officer: “Use of a controlled access highway as a pedestrian.”

Search operations at The Four Winds Club, Caroline County

This happened Saturday morning (July 21, 2007) but I was waiting on a update on the woman’s status before posting:

At approximately 0245 (2:45 a.m.), a call was received from a visitor of The Four Winds Club, located at 2350 Skinkers Neck Drive, Rappahannock Academy, reporting that a woman had gone missing approximately three hours ago and was last seen along the Rappahannock River.

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office coordinated and helped to conduct search operations of the campground while personnel from the Port Royal Volunteer Fire Department conducted search operations in the Rappahannock River using a boat and a body heat detection device. Personnel from the Bowling Green Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Ladysmith Volunteer Fire Department rescue/dive team also responded.

The Virginia State Police dispatched resources including a State Police tracking dog and a helicopter (N36VA) from their Aviation Unit which used forward looking infrared to conduct a search of the forest and open areas.

At day break, fire and rescue volunteers went door-to-door asking residents if they had seen the missing woman without success before they were relieved at approximately 0900 (9:00 a.m.). The woman was eventually located and was unharmed.

Caroline Board of Supervisors Meeting Summary – July 24, 2007

Nothing really interesting but here’s the main points:

Bill Griffin, Supervisor of Maintenance, announced that repairs/upgrades for Bowling Green Primary School, Bowling Green Elementary School, and Ladysmith Primary School will not be completed this summer due to a lack of response to the requests for proposal (RFP). The upgrades may be able to be done during Christmas break during December or will have to wait until next summer to be completed.
The board approved up to $516,291 in bonds for the Dawn Wastewater Project.
A rezoning application for the new 19-lot subdivision east of 301, south of Chase Street in Bowling Green was approved.

Next meeting: August 14th, 2007, 6:00 p.m., Community Services Center – Auditorium.

Hot pursuit in Caroline County.

From Fredericksburg.com [photo credit: Lippa for Sheriff]: Woman faces charges in two localities:

A Fredericksburg woman was charged yesterday with hit-and-run and eluding police in episodes in two localities.

Beth A. Egnar, 43, was charged with DUI and eluding police in Caroline County and was served a warrant for a felony hit-and-run in Fredericksburg Sunday night.

[…]

Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa said his office got a call about 11 p.m. Sunday to be on the lookout for Egnar. A man had called 911 and told Fredericksburg police that he was following a woman who struck his vehicle and drove off.

Fredericksburg spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said Egnar was driving a 2003 Subaru wagon when she allegedly hit a Dodge pickup truck on State Route 2.

Lippa said his department put out two sets of road spikes on Route 2 before they were finally able to stop the car, which was southbound.

Lippa said the car stopped for police at an intersection just north of Bowies Pond with all four tires flattened and surrounded by six to seven police cars.

Good thing Lippa bought those spike strips (at no cost to the county by using drug seizure money).

It’s five o’clock somewhere.

From Fredericksburg.com [photo credit: Ibid]: Frawley’s blood alcohol was 0.21:

The blood alcohol content of former University of Mary Washington President William Frawley was 2 1/2 times the legal limit when he flipped his university car in Fairfax County on April 10, according to court documents.

The analysis from the Department of Forensic Science in Richmond, filed in Fairfax General District Court, shows that Frawley’s blood alcohol level was 0.21 when the accident occurred on Georgetown Pike.

[…]

According to police, Frawley was driving a 2006 Toyota Avalon on Georgetown Pike near Great Falls National Park when he ran off the road and flipped the car, owned by the UMW Foundation, onto its roof around lunchtime April 10.

Fairfax County police Officer D.J. Montgomery pulled nine unidentified bottles from Frawley’s car, eight of them containing liquid, according to evidence now in the court file.

Not only is he a drunk, but he’s a morning drunk too. I guess he hadn’t had time to drink his six bottles of cough syrup yet that day. Due to the fact that his blood alcohol level was above 0.20 he’ll be getting a mandatory minimum of ten days in jail after he is convicted (§ 18.2-270).

Justice in Caroline? Nope, just nolle prosequis. Part 2 AKA Latney fiddles while Caroline burns…

See previous article.

I previously quoted this week’s edition of The Caroline Progress regarding the various nolle prosequis [Latin for “not to wish to prosecute”] by Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Latney, Jr., Esq., well it gets even better when you check out the background of the people that Mr. Latney, Esq., wishes not to prosecute (nolle prosequi by Latney in italics, felonies in bold [note: this is just Caroline County, Virginia unless otherwise noted {photo credit: Caroline County Sheriff’s Office and Delaware Criminal Justice Information System – Online Wanted Person Review}]):

Eric Childs:
- July 10, 2007:
  - Pleaded guilty – Distribution of cocaine.
  - Pleaded guilty – Distribution of cocaine.
  - Nolle prosequi – Distribution of cocaine.
  - Nolle prosequi – Distribution of cocaine.
- March 26, 2006:
  - Guilty – Possession/distribution of controlled paraphernalia.
- February 8, 2006:
  - Guilty in absentia – Drunk in public.
- May 27, 2005:
  - Guilty – Petit larceny.
- May 31, 1998:
  - Guilty in absentia – Drunk in public.
Paul Ferguson:
- August 24, 2007:
  - Pending – Failure to appear on felony charge.
  - Pending – Possession of cocaine.
  - Pending – Driving on suspended.
- July 10, 2007:
  - Nolle prosequi – Credit card fraud.
- April 6, 2007:
  - Guilty – Failure to appear on felony charge.
  - Guilty – Driving on suspended.
  - Guilty – Seat belt violation.
- February 2, 2007:
  - Guilty in absentia – Driving under revoked/suspended license.
  - Guilty in absentia – Failure to appear on driving suspended.
  - Guilty in absentia – Safety beat violation.
- July 19, 2006:
  - Guilty in absentia – Expired state inspection.
  - Guilty in absentia – Seat belt violation.
  - Guilty in absentia – No operation license in possession.
- June 25, 2003:
  - Prepaid – 62/45 speeding.
- July 3, 2002:
  - Prepaid – 74/55 speeding.
Saleem Stevens:
- July 10, 2007:
  - Nolle Prosequi – Possession of a controlled substance.
- June 24, 2005:
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of Schedule I/II drugs.
  - Nolle prosequi – Distribution of Schedule I/II drugs.
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of a controlled substance.
  - Nolle prosequi – Conspiracy to violate drug act.
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of substance with firearm.
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of cocaine.
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of ecstacy [sic].
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of heroin.
  - Nolle prosequi – Possession of marijuana.
Edward Pinkney:
- July 13, 2007:
  - Guilty – Trespass after forbidden.
  - Nolle prosequi – Grand larceny.
- January 5, 1994:
  - Sentence/Probation revoked – Show cause.
- May 26, 1993:
  - Guilty – Possession of cocaine.
Donald Grabenstein:
- July 13, 2007:
  - Nolle prosequi – Assault and battery.
- January 19, 2005, District Court for Baltimore County, Maryland:
  - Guilty – Assault, second degree.
  - Guilty – Disorderly conduct.
- June 29, 2004, District Court for Baltimore City, Maryland:
  - Guilty – Controlled dangerous substance: Possession – not marihuana [sic].
Ernest Deviers:
- July 13, 2007:
  - Nolle prosequi – Assault and battery.
- October 19, 2005 in Stafford County, Virginia:
  - Guilty – Criminal non-support.
- December 6, 2001 in Stafford County, Virginia:
  - Guilty in absentia – Bad check $34.16.
- July 31, 2001 in Fredericksburg, Virginia:
  - Guilty – Failure to appear for trial.
  - Guilty – Bad check $89.88.
- February 27, 1998 in Stafford County, Virginia:
  - Guilty – Habitual offender violation.
- September 30, 1997 in Stafford County, Virginia:
  - Guilty in absentia – Invalid boat registration.
  - Guilty in absentia – Operation boat without proper.
- April 19, 1993 in Stafford County, Virginia:
  - Driving while suspended after driving while intoxicated.
- Has warrants out for him in two states:
  - Delaware:
    - Capias / Failure to appear – capias return/civil contempt of court.
    - Warrant failure to appear / failure to stop at a stop sign – warrant failure to appear / driving while suspended or revoked.
    - Capias failure to pay / driving while suspended or revoked.
  - Maryland:
    - Failure to appear – Driving while intoxicated, under the influence of alcohol or drugs or drugs & alcohol or controlled dangerous substance.
    - Failure to appear – Person driving motor vehicle on suspended out of state license.

Sources:

Richmond Times-Dispatch needs a new editor plus an update on "Store owner knew the risks".

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Frawley drank cold medicine:

Ousted University of Mary Washington President William J. Frawley told police he had consumed six bottles of cough medicine before he was arrested for driving under the influence, according to a police report.

[…]

Police also noted the presence of one bottle of cough medicine. The police report did not indicate whether the cough medicine was prescription or over-the-counter.

Once again, a newspaper writes a statement from someone as a statement of fact. They also fail to say what police report “noted the presence of one bottle of cough medicine”. The criminal complaint does not mention it . It states the officer smelled the “strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his [Frawley’s] person and he was unsteady on his feet.”

And as previously noted, even if he was in fact under the influence of cough syrup he would still be guilty of driving under the influence, from Code of Virginia § 18.2-266 [emphasis mine]:

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor vehicle, engine or train […] while such person is under the influence of any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug of whatsoever nature, or any combination of such drugs, to a degree which impairs his ability to drive or operate any motor vehicle, engine or train safely.

UPDATE: July 24, 2007, 0200 (2:00 AM): The Richmond Times-Dispatch claims that the cough medicine bottle was noted in a separate police report (not the criminal complaint).

Again, from the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Chesterfield shop owner is buried [emphasis mine]:

Chesterfield County shop owner Farooq Anwar was buried yesterday, less than 48 hours after he was fatally shot during an apparent robbery at his store.

[…]

Anwar, a native of Pakistan, was killed about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday during an apparent robbery of the Fast & Friendly Convenience Store at 6249 Jefferson Davis Highway, which he had owned or operated since 1990.

He died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the state medical examiner’s office. He was initially identified by authorities as Anwar Farooq, but yesterday, the medical examiner’s office and police confirmed his name as Farooq Anwar.

[…]

Anwar, 52, left behind a wife, Lubna, and two children. Their son and daughter attend the University of Virginia.

Chesterfield police are pursuing the case, but the investigation has yielded few substantial leads, officials said. Investigators have declined to say whether anything was taken from the store, or whether surveillance cameras inside recorded any useful images.

You have some nerve even writing about this man, Mr. Mark Bowes. As I noted about your article, “Store owner knew the risks” this man was trying to provide for his family and help put his children through school and you attempt to blame him for his own death.

From the more respectful people at WTVR 6 in Richmond:

Chesterfield police are investigating the case. They’re asking anyone with information about the murder to call them at [(804)] 748-1251, or Crime Solvers at [(804)] 748-0660.

Who the hell is this guy’s editor?

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Store owner knew the risks:

Anwar Farooq was no stranger to the dangers of running a convenience store in a rough neighborhood, especially at night.

Nearly 16 years ago, Farooq killed one robber who shot at him and wounded another during an attempted holdup of the store he ran on Jefferson Davis Highway. Farooq also was shot during an exchange of gunfire, but a bulletproof vest saved his life.

A little more than a year later, Farooq fired at another would-be robber after the gunman tried holding up his store. The gunman pointed a pistol inches from his head, but Farooq managed to get the jump on him.

But on Wednesday night, he wasn’t so fortunate.

Farooq, 52, was fatally shot during an apparent robbery at the Fast and Friendly convenience store at 6249 Jefferson Davis Highway, which police say he’s owned or operated since 1990.

A customer discovered Farooq on the floor and unresponsive about 11:30 p.m., and she immediately called 911. He was pronounced dead soon after rescue personnel arrived.

[…]

Farooq’s first brush with death came late on the evening of Oct. 9, 1991, when a trio of armed robbers entered the store, which was then called U-Tote’M, at the same time as Wednesday’s apparent holdup. They confronted Farooq, who at the time kept a 9 mm pistol behind the counter, according to a story in The Times-Dispatch.

One man lingered by the cash register while the other two walked to the rear to get wine and beer. Sensing danger, Farooq put his hand on his gun beside the register.

As he walked toward the counter, one man pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and began shooting at Farooq. Farooq grabbed his gun and returned fire while ducking behind the counter.

Farooq fired six shots, two of which hit the gunman in the chest. The robber got out of the store but collapsed and died a short distance away. A shot hit the gunman’s brother, whom police found wounded in the parking lot. A third man got away.

During the gunbattle, Farooq was shot in the lower stomach area of the bulletbroof vest he was wearing. Two slugs were found in the wall above his head. He was not injured.

The man who got away was eventually caught and sentenced to 18 years in prison. The wounded man was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Fifteen months after Farooq’s first gunbattle, another would-be robber entered his store and pointed a blue-steel, .38-caliber revolver inches from his head. He walked slowly to the cash register, where he kept his pistol.

Farooq grabbed his gun and began firing. “I didn’t have time to aim,” Farooq told The Times-Dispatch in December 1992. “I just pointed and shot.”

The man bolted, never firing a shot.

“Too bad you missed,” one customer told Farooq hours after the attempted holdup. “I would have put him to sleep forever.”

What the hell kind of headline is this, “Store owner knew the risks”? You have some nerve using that headline Mr. Mark Bowes or whoever the hell wrote it. If you die in a car accident, can I write an article with the headline saying you “knew the risks” and point out any prior car accidents you were in? This man was trying to support his family and make a better life for himself and you dare to write something like that? Some people don’t have degrees in “journalism” or “communication” and get to sit on their asses all day at a desk writing bullshit articles and headlines like you.

From the more respectful people at WTVR 6 in Richmond:

Chesterfield police are investigating the case. They’re asking anyone with information about the murder to call them at 748-1251, or Crime Solvers at 748-0660.

And this guy was president of an university?

See Previous Article.

From Fredericksburg.com: Report: Frawley drank cough syrup:

Former University of Mary Washington President William Frawley told a police officer he had consumed six bottles of cough medicine on the day of his April 11 arrest in Fredericksburg, court documents show.

The officer also smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, the police report states.

Frawley, 53, was charged in the city with driving under the influence and refusing a Breathalyzer test. He had been charged the previous day in Fairfax County with driving while intoxicated after flipping a vehicle owned by the UMW Foundation.

UMW’s board of visitors fired him “for cause” at the end of April. His trial in Fredericksburg General District Court had been scheduled for yesterday but was pushed back until Sept. 18.

He’s scheduled to appear in Fairfax General District Court on Sept. 21.

Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Charles Sharp said prosecutors requested the delay because they’re still awaiting Frawley’s blood test results subpoenaed from Mary Washington Hospital.

You have to laugh when a newspaper gets a headline that incorrect. It should be something around the lines of “Frawley claims he drank cough syrup” and not a statement of fact that he did in fact drink cough syrup. And even if he was in fact under the influence of cough syrup he would still be guilty of driving under the influence, from Code of Virginia § 18.2-266 [emphasis mine]:

It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor vehicle, engine or train […] while such person is under the influence of any narcotic drug or any other self-administered intoxicant or drug of whatsoever nature, or any combination of such drugs, to a degree which impairs his ability to drive or operate any motor vehicle, engine or train safely.

Criminal Complaint:

UPDATE 8:48 PM: They have now changed the headline after I left a comment.

Why isn’t he in jail?

From The Politico: Shays screams at Capitol Police officer, later apologies:

On Thursday afternoon, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) got into a loud, angry dispute with a U.S. Capitol Police officer at the security checkpoint inside the entrance of the West Side of the Capitol. On Friday, Shays, a veteran lawmaker, offered a public apology for the incident and said that he wants to meet with the officer personally to reiterate how sorry he is.

Shays reportedly grabbed the officer during the dispute over whether the officer should allow a group of tourists to enter the building, said several sources. Tourists are not allowed to use the West Front entrance, but Shays was trying to bring the group through that entrance anyway. The officer refused to allow them in, and Shays then “yelled and screamed” at the officer, including using profanity, the sources said.

The officer had more tolerance than I would have.

Hat tip: Matt “threat to democracy” Drudge