Suspect scared away by his own gunfire during holdup

Kyriakides A group of people talking in the street didn't think much about someone they knew walking up to them. Until, that is, the newcomer demanded their property.

The group was gathered in the 500 block of Rosegill Road at about 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 when one of the victims laughed at the request, prompting, Sean M. Evans, 18, of 5112 Hallmark Drive, to strike him in the head with the butt of a gun. That victim and a female victim ran away, while the third victim struggled with Evans. During the struggle, the gun fired, but no one was hurt.

After the gunshot, Evans ran away, but was later arrested and charged with attempting to commit a non-capital offense, felonious assault, reckless handling of a firearm and use or display of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Sentence suspended for former substitute teacher

Having entered an Alford plea of guilt to one count of embezzlement in her trial earlier this year, Daniella H. Kyriakides, 55, was sentenced on Sept. 29 to three years in prison, all suspended, for embezzling $4,900 last year from Clover Hill High School's Keynote Band Booster Club. In imposing that sentence, Judge Jay T. Swett followed state guidelines.

Winters Kyriakides, a former substitute teacher in the county, continued to insist she did nothing wrong, despite her Alford plea. An Alford plea can be filed when a defendant doesn't admit guilt, but believes the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction.

Prosecutor Tom McKenna provided evidence that Kyriakides, a former treasurer and president of the booster club, kept two sets of checkbooks for the same club account. Evidence showed she would write a check for expenses from one of the accounts, void it, then write a check for "Cash/D. Kyriakides" from the other account. Though she wasn't able to account for all the cash spent, Kyriakides insists she didn't use any of the money for personal gain.

Kyriakides has no prior convictions. Her attorney, Renay Fariss, offered letters of support from booster club members and former students. Many of them voiced apprehension about the unwanted publicity prosecution would bring and concerns that the club could lose its tax-exempt status.

Kyriakides' replacement as treasurer for the club found discrepancies in the books and notified the principal, who called police. Kyriakides repaid the money soon after that.

Have they lost their marbles?

area have. They caused more than $17,000 in damages for more than 40 people who discovered that windows in their vehicles or homes had been broken or shattered on Sept.

27 and 28. The vandals used marbles to break

the windows.

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Apparently some vandals in the Midlothian

Police continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about these crimes to call police at 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 748-0660, or text the code tip699 with the tip and send to 274637 (CRIMES).

Business sued for sexual harassment

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing Daniel's Heating & Refrigeration based on a former employee's complaint of sexual harassment at the firm.

Robin Jenkins alleges that sexual harassment by owner Dennis Daniel caused her to quit her job with the company in February 2007.

Filed on Sept. 29 in U.S. District Court, the EEOC complaint states that beginning in January 2004, Daniel "subjected…female employees to discrimination based on their sex, by subjecting them to severe and pervasive comments and gestures that created a sexually hostile work environment."

According to Lynette A. Barnes, an EEOC lawyer, the suit was filed because Daniel would not address the sexual-harassment issue once it was brought to his attention and did nothing to end the violation of law found by the watchdog organization. The EEOC claims that a number of female employees resigned their jobs because of Daniel's behavior, though only Jenkins is named in the suit.

The lawsuit requests that Daniel compensate Jenkins and other women for past and future losses that resulted or will result from his alleged actions.

Robbery suspect taken into custody

A cashier received a rude awakening shortly before 8 a.m. on Sept. 23 when a customer attempted to rob the Shell Gas Station at 2320 Willis Road. According to police, the customer entered the station to pay for his purchase, but once the cash register was open, he pulled back his jacket to reveal what appeared to be the handle of a gun and demanded the cash from the drawer. The clerk showed the man that the drawer had very little cash in it, so the suspect took his purchase and left the station.

Clift M. Francois, 27, of Woodhaven, N.Y., returned to the area later that day. He was identified, taken into custody and charged with robbery.

Village Bank robbery suspect arrested

Police have arrested a man for allegedly robbing the Village Bank at 1120 Huguenot Road on the morning of Sept. 19.

According to police, a man entered the bank at about 8:30 a.m. and handed a teller a note that demanded money. No weapon was used. The man fled the bank on foot with the money.

William E. Winters Jr., 29, of the 600 block of Westover Hills Blvd., Richmond, was taken into custody without incident on Sept. 29 and charged with robbery. He was released on bail from the Chesterfield County Jail after a pretrial hearing on Sept. 30. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 21.

Shooting investigated

A report of shots fired outside a residence in the 3300 block of Light Street in the Village of Ettrick at 7:53 p.m. on Sept. 27 brought police to the scene.

Arriving officers found a man who'd been shot and offered first aid before he was transported to Southside Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The shooter is described as a black male, about 25-29 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighing 230 pounds. He wore a white T-shirt with black symbols on it, light jeans and black tennis shoes.

Police continue to investigate.

Dangerous delivery

Police are searching for two suspects who robbed a delivery man at 7729 Belasco Drive at about 8 p.m. on Sept. 26.

The suspects, one of whom was wielding a long, rifle-type gun, demanded the delivery man's cash. He threw his money on the ground and ran to his vehicle. One of the suspects followed him and assaulted him.

Both suspects fled the area on foot, taking with them an unknown amount of cash. They are both described as black males. One of them is about 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall with dark skin. He is bald and clean shaven, and was wearing a white T-shirt.

Anyone with information about this crime should call police at 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 748-0660, or text the code tip699 with the tip and send to 274637 (CRIMES).

Compiled by Gwen Sadler