Teen arrested in Falling Creek school-bus fight

Sprowal

A 15-year-old boy who is not a Chesterfield County Public Schools student was arrested last week after he was allegedly involved in a fight on a county school bus.

According to school officials, the boy got onto the bus at Falling Creek Middle School. The alleged fighting took place sometime after 3 p.m. as the bus was traveling on Meadowdale Boulevard, nearing the end of its route. The fight is said to have occurred between the 15 year old and a male Falling Creek student. The Falling Creek student was hit in the head and sustained a minor eye injury, which was treated on the scene. No weapons were involved in the incident.

The teen walked away from the bus after the incident, but police took him into custody just after 5 p.m. In addition to a charge of assault and battery, the boy has been charged with trespassing since he was not supposed to be on the bus.

Two arrested quickly in bank robbery

 

Police arrested a man and a woman just moments after the two allegedly robbed the First Capital Bank at 2810 Buford Road at 10 a.m. on Nov. 26.

Poindexter

According to police, the man presented a bank teller with a note demanding money. The man fled the bank with the cash and got into a waiting white Honda driven by the woman. Responding officers stopped the fleeing vehicle and took both suspects into custody without incident.

No one was injured during the robbery or attempted escape.

Malcolm Sprowal, 38, and Angela Poindexter, 29, both of the 6600 block of Fernwood Street in Richmond, were charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Sprowal's trial date in General District Court is set for Jan. 12. Poindexter's case was continued until the same date.

SAFE annual report now available online

 

The SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environment) annual report for 2007-08 is available online at www.chesterfieldsafe.org.

The organization, a coalition of members of Chesterfield County government, schools and the community, have been addressing alcohol and drug issues among the county's youth population since 1993.

In this year's report, SAFE notes a 44 percent decrease in inhalant abuse among eighth-grade students over the past two years. The report indicates that sales of alcohol to underage buyers involved in compliance checks also declined.

Man arrested for revealing too much

 

Richard K. Asbell, 48, of the 14100 block of Riverdowns North Trail, was charged with indecent exposure and sexual display on Oct. 20 for exposing himself and masturbating inside his car while parked at the ACAC Fitness Center, located at 11621 Robious Road.

Man served with outstanding warrants

 

Police arrested a county man while serving him with five outstanding warrants at his home on Nov. 26.

Theodore G. Fore II, 26, of the 17800 block of Willowynde Road, was charged with defrauding hotels and motels (in excess of $200), obstructing justice, obtaining money by false pretenses, obtaining utility service (in excess of $200) without payment and possession of controlled substances.

Internet prostitution case nets six-month sentence

 

A Chesterfield man who profited from his Internet escort-service business, Dream Dates for You, was sentenced on Dec. 1 to 20 years in prison, with all but 6 months suspended.

William H. Snyder, 51, of the 7300 block of Newbys Crossing Drive, pleaded guilty in September to charges of money laundering and receiving funds from the earnings of a prostitute. At his sentencing hearing, he blamed his behavior on bipolar disorder, diabetes and depression he claimed resulted from two divorces in a short period of time. And though he admitted on the witness stand that he took as much as 25 percent of each prostitute's earnings, he said he didn't operate it as a business, but as "more of a social function" to meet women.

In imposing the sentence, Circuit Court Judge Frederick G. Rockwell III didn't believe Snyder's denial of running a business.

Don't trip over the 300-pound safe

 

When burglars hit the KB Toys store at Chesterfield Towne Center, they didn't just take the money and run - they took the whole safe. All 300 pounds of it.

Police responded to the business just before noon on Nov. 30 after an employee discovered the store's safe, which contained an undisclosed amount of money, was missing. Though there were no signs of forced entry, police believe the suspect or suspects broke into the toy store through a back door sometime during the overnight hours of Nov. 29-30.

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). Tipsters may also visit www.crimesolvers.net to report information anonymously online.

Former county resident is denied his day in court

 

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear the case of a former Chesterfield County resident who claims the county's planning commission violated his first-amendment rights.

At a 2005 planning commission meeting, Robert C. Steinburg, who currently makes his home in North Carolina, strayed from the topic under discussion, criticizing individual commission members about their treatment of speakers who opposed or expressed concerns about building homes on top of abandoned coal mines. Steinburg was removed from the meeting and arrested for disorderly conduct. Those charges were later dropped.

Steinburg filed a lawsuit against the county in 2006, claiming his right of free speech had been violated. The case was dismissed by the U.S. District Court in February 2007, and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision last May. The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case came down on Dec. 1.

After Steinburg's original lawsuit was filed, the planning commission and the county's board of supervisors decided to allow personal criticism by speakers even though the ban on critical speech at such meetings was declared constitutional by the Court of Appeals. The county recently instituted 15-minute periods for public comment at the beginning and end of all public meetings. During these sessions, speakers may address issues that aren't on the agenda.

Steinburg believes he spent about $75,000 on the case.

Woman arrested for soliciting prostitution

 

A number of prostitution arrests have been made recently for soliciting online. The latest to be charged is Lisa E. Williams, 40, of the 4600 block of West Creek Road. Williams was arrested after arranging a meeting with an undercover officer on Nov. 20.