It is only appropriate that on National Trails Day we begin the trail project here in Colonial Heights.  The committee has been working for the last several years to develop a plan and implementation program for this special project. The final design is almost completed and is now being reviewed by regulatory agencies prior to grant approvals.

Any one interested in working on the project can call 804 520-9275 for more information. 

What is National Trails Day® and Why Celebrate NTD?
National Trails Day® is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan's President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day® in 1993.

Trails do not just appear for our enjoyment, it takes many hours of planning, labor, and negotiating to develop them. National Trails Day®, the only nationwide celebration of trails, brings awareness to trails and thanks many people and partners for their support and hard work, including volunteers, land agencies, and outdoor minded businesses. It is also a day to introduce people to the many joys and benefits of trails.

Why Celebrate Trails?
America's 200,000 miles of trails allow us access to the natural world for recreation, education, exploration, solitude, inspiration, and much more. Trails take us to good physical and mental health by providing us with a chance to breathe fresh air, get our hearts pumping, and escape from our stresses.

The Outdoor Industry Association's annual Outdoor Recreation Participation Study for the United States 2006 reports that 72.1% of all Americans 16 and older (or 162 million people) participate in at least one of the 22 outdoor activities they track, which include: 76.7 million hiking; 13.5 million backpacking; 40.4 million trail running; and 10 million cross country skiing.

How do Trails Make You Healthy?
Trails give you the opportunity to get your heart pumping, lungs expanding, and muscles working at various levels of difficulty; improving your physical as well as mental well-being. With obesity rates skyrocketing, exercise is increasingly important, and trails provide a wide variety of opportunities for being physically active.

How Successful is National Trails Day®?
Since 1993, National Trails Day® has grown to inspire many thousands of people to enjoy trails on the same day nationwide. All 50 states have had events, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Guam and the Virgin Islands. National Trails Day® is now a permanent fixture on the calendars of trail clubs, businesses, and government agencies. With more than 1,100 registered events in 2007, greater awareness of trails was brought to thousands of people through dedications, hikes, bike and horse rides, paddle trips, trail maintenance, and many other activities. Event hosts
included local hiking clubs, federal agencies, municipal parks, retailers, land trusts, and many other businesses and organizations. 

The suspect was spotted by a police officer on Riverview Avenue.  The suspect ran towards the Appomattox River.  The Appomattox River area was searched by boat and on foot.  During the search, the suspect was found hiding in a hole near the river and was taken into custody.  The Colonial Heights Sheriff’s Office and two K-9 units from the Federal Reserve Bank Police assisted in the search.  The handgun used in the crime and other evidence was later located and collected by police. 

The suspect is identified as: 

Working on a tip, police identified the three suspects in this burglary. Antwan Jackson (B/M, 20 yoa, 6200 block Glenway Dr. Richmond, Va.) and a 17 year old juvenile have been arrested for this crime. Jackson and the juvenile have been charged with Breaking and Entering, Grand Larceny, and Possession of Burglary Tools. Additional firearms related charges are pending. Jackson is incarcerated in the Pamunkey Regional Jail with no bond. The juvenile was placed into juvenile detention. At the time of his arrest, Jackson was in possession of three weapons taken from Dances. Two additional weapons were recovered in the tri-cities from individuals not related to the burglary. 

Warrants are on file for Stephens. Stephens is known to frequent the Gilpin Court area in Richmond. Stephens should be considered armed. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Daniel “Bleek” Stephens is asked to call Chesterfield County/Colonial Heights Crime Solvers at 748-0660 or Colonial Heights Police at 520-9300.

VIN etched windows help the police detect and identify stolen vehicles. Etched glass also serves as a deterrent to thieves.  Once glass is etched with the vehicle’s VIN, the glass cannot be used or sold by thieves. 

This free event is open to all vehicle owners. Etching only takes a few minutes.  In order to have your VIN etched, a registered owner must accompany the vehicle.  Additionally, the vehicle registration card must be presented prior to etching. 

For questions regarding this event, contact Officer Sophie Benkendorf at (804) 520-9318 or email benkendorfs@colonial-heights.com.

Officers executed the search warrant and arrested the following persons:

Robert Whitley Casey
White male
22 years old
213 1-C Archer Avenue, Colonial Heights

Charges:
Possession of Sawed-off Shotgun
Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute
Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
Possession of Firearm while in Possession of Controlled Substance

Brian Ray Wyatt
Black male
37 years old
219 2-D Archer Avenue, Colonial Heights

During the execution of the search warrant, drugs including marijuana and cocaine were recovered along with scales and packaging supplies. Cash, weapons and ammunition were also seized. The weapons included a 12 gauge shotgun, sawed-off shotgun, 9 mm handgun, and a rifle.

Both suspects were incarcerated in Riverside Regional Jail. Wyatt’s bond was set at $2,500.00. Casey was provided with no bond.

On March 17, 2008 Colonial Heights Police responded to Expressions Jewelry, located at 1914 Boulevard, for the report of an attempted robbery. Employees at the business reported that two armed males entered the business and demanded cash. Both suspects were wearing masks. One suspect displayed a handgun while the second displayed a sawed-off shotgun. The employee confronted by the suspects was able to flee and lock herself into a storage area. The suspects ran from the business and were observed getting into a silver Cadillac. A witness provided police with a partial license plate number and direction of travel of the suspect vehicle. 

An off-duty Colonial Heights officer observed the suspect vehicle on Ellerslie Avenue immediately after the attempted robbery. On-duty officers stopped the suspect vehicle on Temple Avenue adjacent to Southpark Mall. The driver of the suspect vehicle fled the traffic stop on foot and was captured near the Southpark Mall food court entrance after a brief foot chase. The passenger of the suspect vehicle was arrested at the scene of the traffic stop. Police recovered a handgun and sawed-off shotgun at the time of the arrests. 

The following persons were arrested: 

Lawrence Lamont Edwards, Jr.  Black Male, 19 years of age (Driver)
2300 block Navajo Court, Petersburg, Va. 

JUVENILE, Age 16 (Passenger)
2300 block Navajo Court, Petersburg, Va.

 The following criminal charges have been placed: 

Mayor John T. Wood and Members of Colonial Heights City Council selected Eileen D. Drake, Recreation Specialist, in the Department of Recreation and Parks, as the 2007 Employee of the Year.  Ms. Drake originally began her employment with the City in July of 1996 as a Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor in the Office on Youth.  She transferred to the Senior Center in the Department of Recreation and Parks in January of 2006. 

Mayor John T. Wood was quoted during the ceremony:  “Eileen has been a great asset to the City over her nearly 12 years of service.  Eileen always has a very upbeat personality and a smile on her face.  She has done an excellent job in developing fitness and wellness programs at the Senior Center.  She has worked independently to create these programs from scratch to fit the needs of our senior citizens.  Over the past two years, she has done her part to improve the lives of many City residents.  That is what public service is all about – improving the lives of our citizens.”

The Mayor continued:  “When Eileen was nominated to be an Employee of the Month in October, her Senior Center activities were certainly the cornerstone of the nomination.  Last Summer, Eileen also worked with Staff in the Office on Youth developing a Summer Program for teens.  The program was called High Octane Teens (HOT) and the activities included exercise, trips, fishing and painting classes.” 

“Eileen also worked very hard with the Colonial Heights Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department to bring TRIAD to the senior citizens of the City.   This year’s TRIAD topics included Identity Theft/Fraud & Scams and a Public Safety Fair held at the Colonial Heights Community Building.  Ms. Drake makes a difference every day in the lives of our senior citizens and continues to show her dedication to the Recreation & Parks Department, the City staff organization and to everyone she comes in contact with.”

“Most importantly, Eileen Drake was chosen as Employee of the Year because she “re-invented” herself as a public servant.  Her efforts with our youth were certainly notable during her service with the Office on Youth.  However, she transferred to the opposite end of the age spectrum, re-inventing her approach and re-energizing her enthusiasm for helping people.  She has been very successful in her job with all of her customers.”

“On behalf of City Council, the City Manager and all of the City Employees, I congratulate Eileen D. Drake on her accomplishments and on the honor of being the 2007 Employee of the Year.”  The Employee of the Year banquet was held on Monday, February 11, 2008 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Colonial Heights.  Ms. Drake can be contacted daily at the Colonial Heights Senior Center at 157 Roanoke Avenue, telephone:  520-9220.  City Manager Richard A. Anzolut is also available for further comment at 520-9265.

As a result of community involvement, four persons were arrested and each was charged with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute in Excess of 5 Pounds, and Possession of a Schedule I Drug. The following persons were arrested: 

1. Drew, Terrance, B/M, 29 years old
   700 block Mt. Airy Street, Petersburg, Va. 
    

2. Christian, Donald, B/M, 27 years old
   100 block Clearfield Circle, Colonial Heights, Va. 
    

3. Dean, Gregory, Jr. B/M, 26 years old
   1100 block Augusta Avenue, Petersburg, Va. 
    

4. Walker, Carlen, B/M, 21 years old
   200 block Elm Street, Petersburg, Va.

On June 27, 2007 Colonial Heights Police received a report of a carjacking and abduction that occurred in the 200 block of Lakeview Park Road. The victim reported that while in the apartment complex parking lot, he was approached by three armed black males. The males robbed the victim at gunpoint, and then ordered the victim to drive them to Richmond in his 1990’s Honda SUV.

The victim reported that once in Richmond, he retrieved a handgun kept between his front seats, and exchanged gunfire with the three suspects. There were no reported injuries to the victim or suspects. The victim fled from the suspects in his vehicle and flagged down a Richmond Police officer on Broad Street.

After several months of investigation, the following suspects have been arrested for Abduction (18.2-47) & Car Jacking (18.2-58.1):

The Colonial Heights Police Department is currently working to identify the third suspect involved in this incident.  If anyone has information pertaining to this crime, please contact the Colonial Heights/Chesterfield County Crime Solvers at 748-0660.

Colonel Jeffrey W. Faries
Chief of Police
Colonial Heights Police Department
100 A Highland Avenue
Colonial Heights, Va. 23834
(804) 520-9311

On August 31, 2007, Colonial Heights Police responded to an armed robbery at Vallero, located at 3523 Boulevard.  Approximately one hour after the robbery an officer conducted a traffic stop that lead to the arrests of three persons for the robbery.  As a result of the traffic stop, additional crimes have been solved. The following additional crimes have been cleared: 

7/19/07                    Shooting Into Occupied Building at Colonial Court Apartments 

On 7-19-07 at approximately 2:35 AM suspects shot 5 times into an apartment occupied by several residents.   

7/3/2007                  Armed Robbery 3240 Boulevard (7-11)          

On 7-3-2007 at approximately 3:15 AM two black males entered the 7-11 located at 3240 Boulevard.  Both suspects had their faces covered with what appeared to be t-shirts.  One of the suspects was armed with a black revolver.  This suspect fired 3 times into the ceiling upon entering the business and demanded money from the cashier. Both suspects fled the building towards a residential area. 

8/27/07                Armed Robbery 3635 Boulevard (Papa John’s Pizza)          

On 8-27-07 at approximately 11:45 PM two black males entered the business thru an open rear door.  The suspects forced all employees to lay on the floor at gunpoint.  The manager was taken at gunpoint; forced to open the register and attempted to open the safe.  Both suspects were seen leaving the area in a small grey vehicle.

 8/31/07                   Armed Robbery 3409 Boulevard (Chanello’s Pizza) 

On 8-31-07 at approximately 12:35 AM a black male entered the business thru the front door armed with a revolver, demanding money.  The manager was called to the front of the store, where he observed the suspect pointing a gun at his employee.  The suspect was last seen running eastbound along the side of the building.  

8/31/07                Attempted Armed Robbery 3523 Boulevard (Vallero Gas Station) 

On 8-31-07 at approximately 7:39 PM two black males entered the business thru the front door armed with a revolver demanding money from the register. The employee panicked and starting yelling for the police. Both suspects ran from the business and were last seen running southbound behind the business. 

In addition to crimes in Colonial Heights, the investigation solved two robberies in Hopewell and one in Richmond. The investigation is on-going and additional criminal charges are expected. 

The following persons have been arrested by Colonial Heights Police: 

Brandon Allen Randall

19 years old 
8000 Block Lincoln Street
Savage, MD

Keith D. McDuffie

20 years old
3272 Meadowdale
Richmond, Va.

Two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were also arrested. Due to their status, names and photographs are not available for release. 

The adults are incarcerated in Riverside Regional Jail. The juveniles are incarcerated in the Chesterfield County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Colonel Jeffrey W. Faries
Chief of Police
Colonial Heights Police Department
100 A Highland Avenue
Colonial Heights, Va. 23834
(804) 520-9311

J. E. Boisseau, CFI
Deputy Fire Marshal
City of Colonial Heights Fire & EMS
100 B Highland Avenue
Colonial Heights, VA 23834