NEWS BRIEFS
Two arrested for murder

Fleming

The Chesterfield Police Department has arrested two county men for the murder of 25- year-old Esteban León Lopez, who was shot and killed on Dec. 22 in front of his apartment in the 4900 block of Burnt Oak Drive.

Charles R. Fleming III, 19, and an unidentified juvenile were arrested last week for the homicide. Both have been charged with murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and robbery.

Fleming is being held in the Chesterfield County Jail pending a pretrial hearing in general district court. The juvenile will appear in Chesterfield County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Jan. 23.

Police continue their investigation into this homicide and area robberies. Anyone with information about these crimes is urged to contact the police department at 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 748-0660.

Murder rates down

Murder rates in Chesterfield are down for the fourth straight year. In 2006, Chesterfield reported six homicides compared to eight in 2005.

School board fires art teacher

Stephen Murmer, an art teacher at Monancan High School, was fired last week after the Chesterfield School Board took issue with the artwork he creates off the job.

School board members determined Murmer can't be a role model for students because he paints with his buttocks and genitals.

The issue surfaced last month when a student found a video of Murmer demonstrating his painting technique online. He was suspended with pay in December until the school board decided the fate of his job last week.

Murmer has already contacted the ACLU about the matter and is considering legal action against the school system.

Inmate faces terrorism charge

A prison inmate facing a terrorism charge in Chesterfield appeared in circuit court last week. Calvin Perry, 49, allegedly sent an envelope containing a white powder and a threatening letter to the Virginia State Police Headquarters in August 2005.

Perry is currently serving time in the state's Keene Mountain Correctional Center, and is scheduled to face trial for the terrorism charge on May 1.

Barricade situation ends in arrest

Police arrested a man after he barricaded himself inside his home in the 10100 block of West Providence Road for about 12 hours on Jan. 8.

Police initially responded to the home at about 9:30 p.m. the previous night after receiving a call that Robert C. Barker, 41, was threatening to kill himself following a domestic dispute. One shot was fired after officers arrived on scene, but no one was injured.

Police continued to attempt negotiations with Barker throughout the night. He was taken into custody by police the next morning without further incident.

Barker is charged with reckless handling of a firearm.