CRIME WATCH
Violent sex offender is arrested at county library

Self

A call about a suspicious vehicle and person at the Clover Hill Library recently led to the arrest of a 39-year-old Cumberland man who is a known violent sex offender.

The Virginia State Police arrested Ray A. Self on Aug. 7 after he was found loitering in the library's parking lot and viewing questionable Web sites on one of the facility's public computers. County police were called and later discovered Self was not in compliance with the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.

He was charged with one felony count of failing to register a change of address and two felony counts of failing to register a change of employment.

Self was convicted on a child pornography charge in Chesterfield Circuit Court in January 2001. Hopewell General District Court convicted Self of not registering as a sex offender in May 2005.

In other crime reports:

Haddington Court. A 1992 Ford with the key in the ignition was stolen from the Newberry Townhouse Apartments in the 2900 block around 2 p.m. on Aug. 11, but was later returned just a few parking spaces from where it had been parked.

Highberry Woods. Seven vehicles in the Woodlake subdivision were entered during the early morning hours of Aug.11. Money and other items were stolen.

Hull Street Road. The suspect was observed masturbating while sitting on a patio in the 14800 block at 7 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Iron Bridge Road. A 2002 BMW was stolen while the owner was inside a store in the 6000 block at 6:20 a.m. on Aug. 9. The car keys were left on the seat of the unlocked vehicle.

Jefferson Davis Highway. Someone pried open the front door to a trailer in the Roadrunner Trailer Court in the 13900 block on the afternoon of Aug. 12 and turned on the water inside. The residence sustained water damage.

• The suspect admitted to trying to enter the Richmond Food Mart in the 6500 block about 1 a.m. on Aug. 11 after the police responded to the store's alarm.

• The victim had pulled down the tailgate to her vehicle in the 15700 block on Aug. 6 at 8:30 p.m. when the suspect ran up and grabbed her purse. A struggle ensued, but the suspect prevailed, running off toward the entrance of the Port Walthall Shopping Center.

Midlothian Turnpike. The victim's 1991 Ford was stolen after she left the vehicle running while she used a payphone in the 13300 block around 2 a.m. on Aug. 11. The vehicle was later recovered on Reams Road.

• The suspect entered the Jiffy Lube in the 11100 block at 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 8 through the back door and ordered the employee at the counter to lie down on the floor while he took the money from the register. The suspect put the money in his pocket and ran out of the door.

Orchard Grove. A Smith & Wesson .38-caliber gun was stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the 5400 block of the Woodlake subdivision earlier this month.

Wilfong Drive. Someone vandalized the interior of Riverstone General Contractors in the 12500 block on Aug. 11-13 by breaking ceiling tiles and kicking the walls. Entrance to the building was gained by the rollup doors.