Father, 6-year-old son drown in Rappahannock River
A spring break outing turned tragic when a father and his 6-year-old son drowned in the Rappahannock River in Spotsylvania County.
Danny Sumner and his young son went to a boat landing off Legacy Lane on Saturday, March 22, sometime before 5 p.m. They were reported missing when they didn’t return home by 9:45 p.m. Deputies responding to the scene found Sumner’s vehicle and cell phone near the dock. Shortly after the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office Dive Team entered the water, they recovered both victims.
Investigators say the child, who had just caught a fish, fell into the river. His father jumped in to save him but drowned in the attempt.
The child was enrolled in Spotsylvania County Public Schools. Officials say counseling will be made available.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the area where they entered the water is not a public boat ramp. The Rappahannock River is tidal and unpredictable. At the time of the incident, the water was 9 feet deep and 52 degrees cold.
There is no evidence of foul play.
Fredericksburg Police
Man arrested after exposing himself to Girl Scouts, masturbating in coffee shop
Fredericksburg Police arrested 28-year-old Terrence Bernard Rock Graham after a series of disturbing incidents on March 29.
Witnesses say Graham exposed himself to a group of Girl Scouts selling cookies. A bystander told him to leave, and he fled on a bicycle. Later, he inappropriately grabbed a restaurant employee at J. Brian’s while helping with a flag, then returned trying to speak with her again. Finally, he was caught masturbating inside a downtown coffee shop next to two female patrons.
Graham, who has no fixed address, was arrested nearby and is being held without bond. He faces multiple charges:
- Indecent Exposure
- Actual or Simulated Masturbation in Public
- Sexual Battery
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Fredericksburg Police at 540-373-3122 or text “FPDtip” to 847-411.
Additional Fredericksburg incidents
- Theft from motor vehicles was reported on West Kensington Circle and Woodland Road.
- Wallet thefts occurred at Panera Bread on Carl D. Silver Parkway.
- Vandalism to a car was reported on Keeneland Road.
Notable arrests include charges for malicious wounding, firearm possession by a felon, drug possession, multiple shoplifting incidents, and several family-related assaults. A full list of names and charges is available from the department.
Prince William County Police
Armed robbery suspect arrested
Deontae Terrell Galitan, 21, of Woodbridge, was arrested March 29 in connection with an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven on Dumfries Road earlier that month. He brandished a firearm and stole cash before fleeing. He was served with charges while already incarcerated on unrelated matters.
Gun brandished at teen in Manassas
On April 1, a 17-year-old boy was approached by two masked suspects on Winchester Court near Irongate Way. One suspect pulled a firearm during a brief confrontation before they separated. No one was hurt. The suspects were dressed in all dark clothing.
Swastika found at Patriot High School
A school resource officer reported a swastika drawn inside a classroom dictionary on March 26. The incident, reported two days later, did not contain threats or additional markings.
Anyone with tips is asked to contact Prince William County Police at 703-792-7000 or visit pwcva.gov/policetip.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office
DUI crash leads to assault on rescue staff
On April 1 at 8:11 p.m., Stanley Oliver Jr., 61, of Warrenton, was a passenger in a Dodge Charger that crashed into a tractor-trailer near Warrenton and Cedar Grove roads. Police say Oliver, intoxicated, grabbed the steering wheel, causing the crash. The vehicle also carried a juvenile.
During a search, deputies found suspected controlled substances. While being transported in an ambulance, Oliver became aggressive and assaulted Fire and Rescue staff. No one was hurt.
Oliver was charged with:
- DUI
- Possession of controlled substances
- 3 counts of assault on rescue staff
- Child neglect
- Interfering with driver control
- Driving without a license
He is being held without bond.
Other Stafford incidents
- Public intoxication at Lowe’s on Stafford Market Place resulted in a nighttime arrest.
- Threatening texts reported by a woman on Providence Street from an ex-boyfriend since January.
- Vandalism at Paddy’s Steakhouse, where a window was shattered and glass neatly swept into a pile.
- Another vandalism involved a smashed vehicle window on Spring Lake Drive.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4450.
Multiple agencies gathered at Walker-Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg for a semiannual exercise on Friday, March 7, but the doors were closed to keep plans from reaching the wrong eyes.
“It was a matter of security,” said Jack McGovern, the exercise director with the Fredericksburg Fire Department. “That was spelled out for media,” he added.
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Fredericksburg Police have launched automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones at Hugh Mercer Elementary and James Monroe High School to curb speeding and improve safety. The move is part of a partnership formed in November 2024 between the Fredericksburg Police Department and the city, aiming to reduce speeding near schools and protect students, staff, and families.
To ease drivers into the new system, the city implemented a 30-day warning period following the installation of the cameras. During this period, violators received warnings instead of citations, a step the city said was designed to "educate drivers and encourage compliance with speed limits."
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Arrest of Shooting Suspect
On January 17, Daquan Warren, 24, of Woodford, was arrested by the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office for his alleged involvement in the downtown Fredericksburg shooting on December 14, 2024. Warren is charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held at Pamunkey Regional Jail without bond. The Fredericksburg Police Department, led by Detective Tittle, continues its investigation and urges the public to share any relevant information.
Shots Fired and Breaking and Entering
- On January 20, Fredericksburg police responded to reports of gunfire and a burglary in the 1100 block of Townsend Boulevard. A bullet entered an unrelated apartment, striking a kitchen cabinet, while items were stolen from a separate residence. Witnesses reported seeing a group of men fleeing the scene. No injuries were reported, and police are working to determine if the incidents are connected.
Stafford County Sheriff's Office
Assaults
- Chatham Heights Road: A January 20 altercation led to an assault charge after the suspect fled the scene but was later located by deputies.
- North Stafford High School: A prearranged fight on January 21 between two students resulted in assault and battery charges for both.
Breaking and Entering
- Ripley Road: A man’s ex-girlfriend unlawfully entered his home on January 21. She was served with a warrant for unlawful entry.
Larcenies
- ABC Store (Richmond Highway): Two men stole liquor on January 20 and fled in a black F-150 with trash in the truck bed.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: On January 20, a customer left without paying an $80 tab, leaving behind a hotel key that led to his arrest.
- Walmart: A suspect stole $100 worth of Legos on January 21.
Prince William County Police Department
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Fredericksburg Police Department
Arrest of Shooting Suspect
- On January 17, Daquan Warren, 24, of Woodford, was arrested by the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office for his alleged involvement in the downtown Fredericksburg shooting on December 14, 2024. Warren is charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held at Pamunkey Regional Jail without bond. The Fredericksburg Police Department, led by Detective Tittle, continues its investigation and urges the public to share any relevant information.
Shots Fired and Breaking and Entering
- On January 20, Fredericksburg police responded to reports of gunfire and a burglary in the 1100 block of Townsend Boulevard. A bullet entered an unrelated apartment, striking a kitchen cabinet, while items were stolen from a separate residence. Witnesses reported seeing a group of men fleeing the scene. No injuries were reported, and police are working to determine if the incidents are connected.
Stafford County Sheriff's Office
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A 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI traveling northbound veered off the roadway into a field, striking a utility pole. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn multiple times and catch fire. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities confirmed no other vehicles were involved, and speed was identified as a factor in the crash.
The driver’s identity is pending confirmation and notification of next-of-kin. Police urge anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact investigators.
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Fredericksburg Police Investigate Downtown Shooting, Identify Additional Suspect
The Fredericksburg Police Department is continuing its investigation into a shooting that took place in the early hours of December 14. Authorities have identified a new suspect, Izaiah Jabbar Daniels, 21, of Woodford. The Orange County Sheriff's Office apprehended Daniels during a vehicle stop, and he is currently being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. He faces charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
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At 1 a.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024, Fredericksburg Police responded to reports of gunfire in the 400 block of William Street in Downtown Fredericksburg. Upon arrival, officers discovered a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds on the adjacent Charles Street and provided aid until rescue personnel arrived.
The victim, identified as Tyler Lee Jones, 23, of Fredericksburg, was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The shooting occurred near two popular Downtown restaurants, Castiglias Italian and Fahrenheit 132, in a bustling area typically frequented by locals and visitors alike.
The investigation is in its early stages, and police are urging anyone with information or video footage related to the incident to come forward. Those with information can contact Fredericksburg Police at 540-373-3122. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting “FPDtip” followed by the information to “847-411” or by using the FPD Tip app, available for download on Android and iPhone devices.
The Stafford and Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Offices assisted Fredericksburg Police in the investigation.
Fredericksburg Police tell us:Â
On November 30, 2024, at approximately 4:25 p.m., the Fredericksburg Police Department E-911 Center received a call about a pedestrian near the train tracks in the 200 block of Lafayette Boulevard. Upon arrival, Fredericksburg Police Officers discovered a male who had been fatally struck by a train. The on-call detective and Amtrak Police were notified and responded to the scene.
The next of kin has been notified. This investigation is ongoing, and no further information will be released at this time.
More as we have it.
On November 27, 2024, the Fredericksburg Police Department (FPD) executed a search warrant and arrested a suspect wanted for multiple offenses, including his connection to a homicide that occurred in Caroline County on November 18, 2024.
The FPD had an open warrant for Jamale Antonio Moore for contempt of court, while Caroline County Sheriff’s Office also had a warrant for his involvement in the November 18th homicide. Fredericksburg Police Officers received a tip regarding the apartment complex where Moore could be located and Officer Bach was able to confirm the information received.
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