NEWS BRIEFS
McHale withdraws from Bermuda supervisor race

Jack McHale, an Independent candidate for supervisor in the Bermuda District, has withdrawn from the race. McHale served as supervisor for the district for more than a decade prior to being defeated by current Supervisor Dickie King in 2003.

"It was a tremendous privilege to serve my community during my 12 years on the board. I looked forward to once again working with my fellow citizens of Bermuda District and Chesterfield County. However, I know the personal and financial costs of a campaign. Over the years, demands of a political campaign, especially funding, have increased tenfold. My wife Barbara and I have decided to leave campaigning to others, but remain committed to our community. We wish to especially thank those who supported me and worked in this campaign."

McHale's withdrawal leaves a three-way race in Bermuda among Democrat Ree Hart, Republican Dorothy Jaeckle and Independent Roy Wallace. King is not seeking reelection.

Fitness center sued for basketball injury

American Family Fitness Center is being sued by a 19-year-old for an injury he suffered almost four years ago while playing basketball at the company's Village at Swift Creek location. Brandon Lamont Hughes lives in Stafford, Va., but was visiting his grandmother in Midlothian at the time of the accident.

Filed in Chesterfield Circuit Court, the suit seeks $1.45 million in actual and punitive damages plus court costs and attorney's fees. While playing basketball, Hughes says he ran into a steel bench sitting behind the basket on the court, suffering "a serious injury to his right ankle." Hughes has undergone several operations and had pins inserted in his ankle, according to the suit.

Hughes' attorney is alleging negligence, saying the bench shouldn't have been near the playing court. The bench had previously been moved from the spot when someone else was injured, but had been moved back. A jury trial is requested.

Defense counsel Robert J. Kloeti of Florence Gordon Brown, PC did not return calls for comment on this story.

Mall case moved to Chesterfield

A lawsuit against the county's Economic Development Authority (EDA) over the purchase price of Cloverleaf Mall has been moved to Chesterfield Circuit Court. The suit was initially filed in Richmond.

The Millmar Partnership is suing the EDA, questioning the formula used to arrive at a purchase price for the 46 acres underneath the mall. Chesterfield purchased the 83-acre Cloverleaf Mall site at Midlothian Turnpike and Chippenham Parkway in the fall of 2004 for $9.2 million, but the sale did not include the land under the main mall, the former sites of Hecht's and JCPenney and their parking lots. Negotiations to buy that land led to the Millmar lawsuit.

During a hearing on July 27 in Richmond Circuit Court, Millmar's attorney argued the suit should remain in the city because that's where the original mall lease and later amendments were entered.

Suspect arrested for CVS robbery

Steven Velazquez Sr., 46, of the 13000 block of Thornbridge Lane in Midlothian, has been arrested for allegedly robbing the CVS store at 11114 Hull Street Rd.

According to police, a white male entered the store at about 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, displayed a handgun and demanded Oxycodone. The suspect fled from the scene in a vehicle with an unknown amount of prescription drugs. Police observed the suspect fleeing from the scene and followed him to his residence where he was arrested.

No one was injured during the robbery. Velazquez is charged with robbery and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and is being held without bond in the Chesterfield County Jail pending an upcoming hearing.

Fire injures three

A mother and her two children were hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation when their home in the 9100 block of Germont Avenue caught fire on Aug. 1. The fire department believes the blaze started in the rear of the home, but the cause has not been determined.

Motorcyclist injured

A motorcyclist sustained life-threatening injuries during a two-vehicle crash that occurred in the 17100 block of Harrowgate Road about 8:32 p.m. on July 26.

Police said a 2006 Urban motorcycle was traveling east on Harrowgate Road when it veered into the path of a 2003 Dodge Dakota traveling west. The motorcyclist was transported to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center for treatment.

Harrowgate Road was closed for at least two hours after the crash.