We first told you about this incident near Conway Elementary School yesterday. Here’s what prompted the incident — Stafford deputies said a caller told a 911 operator his brother was holding a gun to his head on Monday, March 25, 2024. Deputies rushed to the area of Conway Road in the Leeland Run subdivision near Conway Elementary School to find no hostages.
The Stafford sheriff’s office reports:
Out of an abundance of caution, they were detained until deputies could unravel what was really going on. One of the detainees was identified as Deshaun Winfield, 32, of Stafford. The other detainee was identified as his brother, and the original caller, Cory Winfield, 39, of King George.
A safety sweep of the residence was conducted and yielded negative results for any signs of a hostage situation. Deputies attempted to converse with Cory considering he made the report; however, he refused to talk with deputies. Cory also had several signs of intoxication and was found with suspected controlled substances. His brother, Deshaun was just as confused as deputies, stating there was a misunderstanding between him and his brother over Easter and God. He had no knowledge of a hostage situation. Like his brother, he too had several signs of intoxication and was found with suspected controlled substances. He was also discovered to be in possession of a firearm.
Cory was charged with public intoxication, and possession of controlled substances. Deshaun was charged with public intoxication, possession of controlled substances, and possession of a firearm while in possession of controlled substances. Cory was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $1,500 secured bond while Deshaun was held until sober. This is still an active investigation and additional charges may be obtained.
Police in Prince William County said a man pulled a knife and demanded a beer at a Woodbridge restaurant:
Armed Robbery – On March 25 at 10:47PM, officers responded to the Klebers Restaurant located at 13634 Richmond Hwy in Woodridge (22191) to investigate a robbery. The investigation revealed a patron, later identified as the accused, brandished a firearm and demanded a beer from the bartender. Police were contacted and the accused was detained on scene without incident where he was determined to be intoxicated. No injuries were reported.
Following the investigation, the accused,
identified as Dennis Anebar SALAS FLORES, was arrested.Arrested on March 25: Dennis Anebar SALAS FLORES, 22, of no fixed address. Charged with robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, concealed carry, and public intoxication Court Date: Pending | Bond: Held WITHOUT Bond
And Prince William police said 12-year-olds broke into a vape shop:
Commercial Burglary – On March 22 at 1:32AM, officers responded to the Crystal Smoke Shop located at 2680 Opitz Blvd in Woodbridge (22192) to investigate an alarm activation. Upon arriving at the business, two individuals immediately fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, both individuals, identified as the two accused, were detained without further incident. Both accused were identified as 12-year-old male juveniles and were found in possession of vape products taken from the store. The investigation revealed the suspects threw a rock, shattering the front glass door before entering the business. Following the investigation, both juveniles were arrested.
Arrested on March 22: [Juveniles]
A 12-year-old male juvenile of Dumfries, and a 12-year-old male juvenile of Woodbridge Both charged with burglary Court Dates: Pending | Status: Held at the Juvenile Detention Center
Meanwhile, in Manassas, police used a helicopter to search for a burglar.
On March 25, 2024, at approximately 12:15 p.m. the Manassas City Police Department responded to a call for a Burglary in Progress on the 8600 block of Stonewall Road while no residents were home. While the initial officer was waiting for additional officers to arrive on scene they observed a suspect fleeing into the woods behind the residence. Resources including a helicopter and K9 were requested to assist with the search for the suspect. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact 703-257-8000.
Fredericksburg police said someone stole a tub of grease from a restaurant and ransacked a hotel room.
Cowboy Jack’s, 2312 Plank Road, 3/22, The manager reported a tub of kitchen grease was stolen from behind the restaurant.
Hyatt Place, 1241 Emancipation Highway, 3/21, A person reported his room was ransacked and multiple items were stolen.
Residents living near a proposed Route 28 bypass near Manassas express a loss of trust in the county government's decision-making process. Initially, the county voted against the $300 million, four-lane, four-mile road extension of Godwin Drive, only to reverse its stance shortly after that.
Business groups like the Prince William Chamber of Commerce support the bypass, saying its key to unclogging traffic congestion on Route 28, one of the region's busiest roads.
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Voodoo Brothers will replace the once-popular Okra’s Cajun Creole restaurant in Downtown Manassas.
The new owners, Luke Tamer and Antonio Escamilla plan to bring “Bourbon Street” to Center Street, adding crawfish boils and an outdoor bar, the told the city government, included the restaurant announcement in its newsletter.
Tamer and Escamilla initially worked together at the popular Okra’s, a nod to the “Voodoo Brothers” name. Okra’s closed in 2021 after 23 years in business.
Tamer told the city government that the restaurant aims to “bring back a taste of New Orleans, fond memories of Okra’s, and something that is also uniquely ours at the same time.” The duo hired a chef with roots in New Orleans and southern cuisine.
No word yet on when the new eatery will open.
The photo above is one of Okra’s from 2017. If you’re in the area, text us a photo of any work you see on the new restaurant to 571-989-1695, and we’ll be sure to share.
Greetings, Prince William – Animal lovers, the Pet Food Pantry at City of Manassas Animal Shelter needs donations of pet food to help those who temporarily need assistance in feeding their pets. Donations of dry and canned pet food plus treats for dogs and cats, pet food for small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) and cat litter are welcome! Items can be brought to the animal shelter at 10039 Dean Drive, Manassas 20110. If your kids are looking for a Spring Break service project, they could hold a pet food drive! Please call 703.257.2420 for more information and shelter hours.
- Prince William County Police Department is holding a Fill the Cruiser event for the County’s Animal Services Center March 28, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Come load up the police vehicle with your donations of pet food, pet toys, kitty litter and more to feed those furbabies! Please visit https://bit.ly/3TkJF9W for a list of requested items. Please email [email protected] or call 703.792.6465 for more information.
- The wonderful staff at Boxes of Basics reports they have a critical shortage of boys’ pants in sizes 6 & 12, girls’ tops in sizes 14 & 16, and girls’ size 8 pants. If you’re clearing out closets and have clean, gently used kids’ clothing in these sizes, they would welcome your donation! You can also purchase clothing from their Amazon Wish List or make an online donation and they’ll do the shopping! You’ll feel great knowing you’re helping disadvantaged children in the local community get the clothing they desperately need! Please email [email protected] to learn more.
- You can make a difference in the life of a child! CASA Children’s Intervention Services needs volunteers age 21+ who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent and loving home. The staff will hold their next Virtual Information Session on March 27, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. Learn how you can help protect abused and neglected children in your community by becoming a volunteer advocate. Please email [email protected] or call 703.330.8145 to receive the link to the meeting or to inquire about alternate dates.
- If you need service hours for school, church, etc., the Town of Dumfries is holding their Dumfries Spring Clean-Up on April 6, beginning at 9am. Everyone’s welcome! Volunteers will meet at 17757 Main Street in Dumfries for check-in. Fresh air, volunteering with friends and family, cleaning up the community – what a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning! Please visit https://bit.ly/48E96Ka to register, call 703.221.3400, ext. 119 or email [email protected] to learn more.
- Come out April 6 and be a River Hero! Friends of the Occoquan is holding their Spring River Cleanup at 5 different sites in Prince William County, 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Preregistration is recommended by emailing [email protected]. Bottled drinks and snacks will be available. Enjoy your Saturday morning with friends by doing your part to keep the source of our drinking water safe and pristine! Please visit www.friendsoftheoccoquan.org and scroll down the Home page for more information.
- Keep Prince William Beautiful is holding a March Cleanup March 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.! They’ll be picking up litter in an area along Sudley Road and Battleview Parkway. Volunteers should meet in the rear parking lot of Cracker Barrel, 10801 Battleview Parkway, Manassas 20109. Supplies provided, please bring a water bottle. Here’s another way to get those service hours and clean up litter in our community! Please visit https://bit.ly/49tRBMP to sign up, email [email protected] or call 571.285.3772 to learn more.
- Save the Date and get a jump on spring cleaning! Prince William County Solid Waste Division will hold a Free Document Shredding Event March 30, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. or until trucks reach capacity. The event is located at Pfitzner Stadium parking lot, 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge. This is for residents only, unavailable for businesses and commercial patrons. Please visit www.pwcva.gov/events/free-paper-shredding-residents for more information, email [email protected] to learn more.
- If you love working with special needs youth and horses and you’re at least 14 years old, Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center, 16198 Silver Lake Road in Haymarket, wants to meet you! Please attend their Volunteer Open House March 23, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. to learn how you can support this wonderful program. No horse experience necessary, training provided, and you’ll feel great as you help this organization achieve their mission of “Changing Lives One Hoofbeat at a Time!” Please visit www.rainbowriding.org to fill out an online volunteer application, email [email protected] or call 703.794.5308 for more information.
- StreetLight Community Ministries still needs volunteers who can provide a nourishing dinner for 30 people each night at the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge through March 31. Meals should be prepared at home and provided in disposable aluminum pans or serving trays; drop off is between 6:15 p.m. – 7 p.m. only. Desserts and sides are also appreciated but not required. It’s a fantastic group project, and you’ll feel great knowing you are providing a delicious homecooked meal for our homeless neighbors! Please visit https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/lowvd4/ to sign up. If you sign up to bring a meal and cannot honor your commitment/make it on time, please email [email protected] or call 571.677.2883.
In a bold move to accommodate the region’s growing transportation needs, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has unveiled extensive expansion plans that will transform the commuter railroad landscape by 2050.
The proposal was unveiled at the VRE Operations Board meeting on Friday, March 15, 2024. Backed by financial forecasts and strategic ridership projections, it outlines a comprehensive strategy to enhance service frequency, extend operational hours, and cater to burgeoning populations and evolving travel patterns.
Forecasts indicate a substantial surge in operating costs and revenues by 2050, with projections estimating a 136% increase in operational expenditures and a 63% rise in operating revenues. The VRE Board recommends a significant boost in train frequency, particularly during peak periods on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines. This initiative is anticipated to attract 21,000 weekday users by 2030, with a further expansion to accommodate 4,500 Saturday riders and 3,700 Sunday passengers.
Under the proposed plan, VRE anticipates adding 116 more trains per day, with 68 trains operating on Saturdays and 60 on Sundays. The Fredericksburg line will extend south of Spotsylvania County with a bus service to Hanover County from Fredericksburg. Similarly, the Manassas line will stretch service beyond the Manassas Regional Airport, with a corresponding bus service from Manassas to Culpeper County.
However, future infrastructure constraints loom large, particularly regarding midday train storage capacity in Washington, D.C. Despite identifying a suitable site capable of housing 13 trains, logistical challenges persist, necessitating careful planning to ensure seamless operations. With every six trains arriving in Washington D.C., four will be required to return to Virginia, highlighting the complexities of managing the expanding network.
Ridership forecasts show exponential growth, with an estimated average of 28,100-weekday passengers and 10,820-weekend travelers anticipated by 2050. This represents a 262% increase in ridership since 2014, underscoring the imperative for phased infrastructure development and strategic expansion initiatives.
VRE officials say their transportation service of choice fosters meaningful connections and catalyzes economic opportunities in a safe, sustainable, and equitable manner. However, questions linger regarding the accuracy of population projections amid evolving telework trends, prompting stakeholders to scrutinize the reliability of regional travel models and their adaptability to dynamic socio-economic factors.
In February 2024, VRE saw 6,900 average daily riders, down from 20,000 in February 2020 (a CEO report for February 2020, the last showing its pre-pandemic ridership numbers, has been removed from its website). By comparison, an average of about 4,400 people choose to ride OmniRide commuter buses.
Sarah Romero documented the VRE Operations Board meeting.
The Manassas City Council will hold a town hall on its proposed city budget tonight.
The Manassas City Council has voted to adopt an advertised property tax rate of $1.28 per $100 of property value. This could lead to increased tax bills for homeowners and potentially higher costs for renters as landlords pass on the additional expense.
During the council session on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Interim City Manager Douglass Keen suggested a proactive approach, recommending an incremental increase to allow flexibility in adjusting the rate before final approval. Council members engaged in a thorough discussion regarding the potential impacts of the proposed rate.
Residents were already facing an average $266 increase in the average tax bill, with a corresponding $7.71 increase in the monthly utility bill, under Keen’s budget proposal, which proposed a lower tax rate than council members voted to advertise.
Ultimately, the council voted 4-2 in favor of the advertised tax rate, with Council members Mark Wolfe and Theresa Coates Ellis being the only council members opposed to the higher tax rates. While the council may revisit the rate before final budget approval in May, the advertised rate serves as a baseline that cannot be exceeded.
The City Council Budget Work Session will be held at 5:30- 7 p.m. at Jennie Dean Elementary School Auditorium, 9601 Prince William Street, in Manassas.
We had originally reported the city council was going to hold a work session at 5:30 p.m. based on information that the city had on its website this morning, but it was canceled, a city spokeswoman told us.
*The location has been corrected.
On March 12, 2024, Manassas City Police responded to a sighting of two individuals known for involvement in narcotics activity in the area of the 9200 block of Byrd Drive around 6:18 p.m. One of the subjects attempted to evade police, prompting a foot pursuit, according to a Manassas police press release. During the chase, the fleeing individual discarded suspected narcotics, which officers later recovered. Both suspects were apprehended and found to have outstanding warrants. They were subsequently transported to the Prince William County Adult Detention Center.
Arrested: Christopher Rice
Age: 36
Residence: Manassas
Charges: Obstruction of Justice, Prince William County Warrant
Status: Released on Bond
Arrested: Derrick Wanzer
Age: 36
Residence: Manassas
Charges: Possession of Schedule I/II Narcotic, Prince William County Warrant
Status: Held on Bond
Disorderly / Obstruction
Later that same day, around 10:30 p.m., Manassas City Police Department responded to a Loud Music disturbance in the 8700 block of Bretton Woods Drive. Upon approaching the residence, officers encountered an intoxicated and belligerent individual who became aggressive toward them, police said. Despite the individual’s attempts to resist arrest and obstruct justice, officers successfully took him into custody. The suspect, identified as Oswaldo Junior Lozano, 35 years old from Woodbridge, faces charges of Disorderly Conduct, Obstruction of Justice, and Intoxicated in Public. Lozano is currently held on bond pending further legal proceedings.
By Morgan Sweeney
The Center Square
Virginia’s congressional races will soon heat up, as competitors must declare their candidacy by April 15 to make June’s primary ballot.
The seats for districts seven and 10 will be the most competitive, with Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7, declaring a run for governor and Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10, not seeking reelection due to illness.
Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2, may also have a tough fight on her hands; Republicans have won the district more often than Democrats in recent history, and some sources indicate that redistricting in 2020 gave the district a heavier Republican lean. However, Kiggans’ predecessor, Elaine Luria, was a Democrat elected in 2018 and reelected in 2020, and Kiggans won by less than 4% in 2022.
Including Independents, almost 40 candidates have tossed their hats in the ring for districts seven and 10, according to Ballotpedia. Seven Democrats and eight Republicans are running for the seventh district; 13 Democrats and seven Republicans are competing for the tenth district.
Of the commonwealth’s 11 congressional districts, The Virginia Public Access Project has deemed only these two as competitive based on their outcomes in the two biggest elections since redistricting: The 2021 gubernatorial election and the most recent congressional election in 2022.
Spanberger’s district went to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021, 52-47%, but Spanberger won by about the same margin in 2022. Wexton’s District 10 leans farther blue. Former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe won Wexton’s district by less than 2% in 2021; Wexton won by more than 6% in 2022.
Of the Democrats running for the seventh district, Elizabeth Guzman and Brianna Sewell have experience as state legislators. Guzman served as a delegate from 2018-24 but lost to Sen. Jeremy McPike when she attempted to run for state Senate in 2023. Sewell is a new delegate who was elected to office in November.
Eugene Vindman is also a recognized name on the Democratic side – he and his brother blew the whistle on former President Donald Trump for “attempt[ing] to extort our ally, Ukraine, unless it investigated his political rival, Joe Biden,” according to Vindman’s campaign website. He and his family emigrated from Ukraine in 1979. Vindman served in the U.S. military for 25 years and as a legal advisor on the National Security Council when he reported on Trump – which led to Trump’s first impeachment.
Vindman leads all other candidates (both parties) for the seventh district in fundraising by about $1.5 million.
None of the Republican candidates have held a state office before, though some have previously run. Several have had extensive military careers and have worked for federal agencies like the U.S. Department of State, Homeland Security or Education. Derrick Anderson, a lawyer and former member of the special forces, leads in Republican fundraising at just over $460,000.
District 10 will see many locally high-profile Democrats vie for its seat: State Sen. Jennifer Boysko, former Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, Dels. Dan Helmer, Michelle Maldonado and David Reid, and Sen. Suhas Subramanyam. Filler-Corn served the longest in the state Legislature, with 14 years as a delegate. Boysko has served as a senator since 2020, with four years in the House of Delegates before that.
Most of the Republican candidates have run for the seat previously, but Aliscia Andrews was the only primary nominee. She lost in a match-up with Wexton in 2020 by more than 10%. A Marine Corps veteran and the director of Northern Virginia for Youngkin’s political action committee Spirit of Virginia, Andrews served as the state Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security and was the state’s first Deputy Secretary of Cybersecurity.
In 2023’s General Assembly general election, when all 140 seats of the state Legislature were up for reelection, the Virginia Public Access Project had labeled seven House of Delegates and four Senate races competitive. Republicans ultimately won seven of the 11 contests, but the average margin of victory for all races was just over 3%.
The Manassas government will expand the number of acres it owns by purchasing the Manassas Shopping Center.
The Economic Development Authority of the City of Manassas (EDA) will buy a shopping center, a mainstay at 9018 Mathis Avenue, to help spur the long-planned redevelopment and revitalization of the Mathis Avenue corridor.
The purchase comes after the city announced the purchase of the former 20-acre Marsteller Middle School property at 8730 Sudley Road for $10 million, with plans to transform it into the city’s 21st public park.
Officials said the envisioned park on Sudley Road, near UVA Prince William Medical Center, will provide green space and house a future community center, athletic fields, open land, and even a fire station.
Meanwhile, Manassas Shopping Center, built in 1959 on Mathis Avenue, includes over 100,000 square feet of building space and sits on 13.5 acres. The $16 million purchase price is funded by a one-time American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal coronavirus bailout and capital reserve funds and is included in the FY2025 budget that begins on July 1, 2024. According to a press release, the proposed sale does not affect the city’s tax rate.
In the short term, the city said all existing leases in the shopping center will be honored. Existing tenants will be supported but eventually relocated. New leases to existing or prospective tenants may be granted on a short-term basis. The shopping center now generates $1 million annually from lease revenues, which will be retained for public use. Sales, meals, property, and business taxes will still be paid, and the EDA will continue to pay real estate taxes and manage the property.
No stranger to purchasing shopping centers, the city bought the Grant Avenue Shopping Center for $3.2 million in 2016. Once home to a Safeway grocery store, it eventually demolished it and built a police station.
Last year, the city sent $5.5 million to buy the Old Town Inn in Downtown Manassas. It demolished the mid-century motor in, and plans to sell the property to a developer with hopes it w will build a hotel on the site.
Over the past decade, the city has invested $20 million in acquiring new properties. Simultaneously, the city has sold surplus properties to private developers to bolster tax revenue. Recent sales include parcels to Amazon Web Services (AWS) for a new data center at the city’s airport for $30 million and to Stanley Martin Homes for $12 million for residential development.
This week, city officials gathered behind the city’s old Holmes Heights section, behind the city’s museum, to break ground for 247 new homes along Grant Avenue in a neighborhood soon to be called Ashberry.
A press release states that long-term redevelopment plans for the Manassas Shopping Center may include retail and office space and could provide opportunities for the City to meet its attainable housing goals. A city plan also calls for a mixed-use development along Mathis Avenue that would reshape the area into a city-like neighborhood with mid-rise residential buildings.
The city is encouraging residents to share their ideas for the property, including interim adaptive uses, and expects the public conversation to be ongoing over the next several years.
The Virginia General Assembly charters the EDA and has broad powers defined in the Code of Virginia to promote economic development in the City. Those powers include the acquisition, disposition, and management of property for a public purpose. The Manassas City Council appoints its directors.
The idea of redeveloping the Mathis Avenue corridor has a long history. “Citizen committees were contributing to the Mathis Avenue Sector Plan in the early 2000s,” Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger states in a press release. “During Community Conversations for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, residents told us they would like to see a more walkable neighborhood, more affordable housing options, and more green space on Mathis Avenue. This purchase allows us to advance the long-term investment and vision of the residents and Council.”
When Interim City Manager Douglass Keen presented his proposed FY2025 budget to the city council late last month, homeowners in Manassas were already facing a $266 increase in their property tax bills. Last week, the city council topped it by choosing to advertise a $1.28 per $100 Real Estate tax rate on homes, two cents more than what Keen had proposed.
A city government spokeswoman said council members will learn just how much the advertised rate would increase the average tax bill during a meeting tonight, Wednesday, March 13, 2024.
The city council must adopt a tax rate to fund its annual budget before June. The advertised rate may be lowered but cannot exceed $1.28 per $100 taxable value.