Law enforcement officials and advocates are raising the alarm about what they believe to be the prevalence of human trafficking in Prince William County.
Crime
In response to the recent surge in crime rates in Prince William County, Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin is set to host a Zoom town hall meeting on Monday, January 22, at 7 p.m. The town hall aims to address community concerns and provide insights into the county’s current public safety situation.
The decision to hold this annual town hall comes on the heels of a shooting in Woodbridge, resulting in the first homicide victim in Prince William County for the year 2024. A woman lost her life after being shot and taken to a local hospital.
On Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., a disturbance unfolded at Brooke Point High School, located at 1700 Courthouse Road. Deputy D.J. Taylor, fulfilling his School Resource Officer (SRO) duties, responded to the commotion caused by two students engaged in a physical altercation.
Upon arrival, school staff assisted in separating the two students involved in the fight. Investigation revealed that student one had initiated the confrontation by approaching student two with the intention of starting a fight. As the victim tried to disengage from the situation, she became the target of an assault by the aggressor.
Prince William police reported the following incidents:
Indecent Exposure – January 16, 9:11 AM
On January 16, at 9:11 a.m. officers responded to the area of Potomac Mills Road near Opitz Blvd. in Woodbridge to investigate an indecent exposure incident. Two female victims, aged 29 and 37, reported that an unknown man, identified as Rodney Kayne BYRNE, exposed himself and made inappropriate gestures. The women promptly contacted the police, leading to the detention of the accused without incident. Following the investigation, Rodney Kayne BYRNE, 33, of no fixed address, was charged with indecent exposure. His court date is pending, and he has been released on a court summons.
Drugs
On 1/15, 7:34 p.m., Deputy E.T. Osborn responded to a disturbance at Walgreens, 50 White Oak Road. A male acting strangely was wanted out of Spotsylvania. During arrest, drug paraphernalia and a suspected controlled substance (claimed to be Viagra) were found. The suspect faced charges and was held at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office: “A Stafford man was arrested on Friday for animal cruelty after a brandishing incident last month brought the animal abuse to light.”
“On December 29, 2023 deputies responded to Knollwood Court for a disturbance with a weapon. Deputy S.M. Eastman investigated the disturbance and learned Rickey Carr, 30, had been beating his pit bull named Demon with a stick. When other members of the home confronted Carr about the abuse, Carr brandished a handgun.”
On January 14, 2024, at 4:19 p.m., Manassas City Police responded to a shooting report in the Brentwood neighborhood. A 31-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound to the leg was found near Digges Road and Forum Way.
Officers provided immediate assistance, and the victim was transported to a local hospital.
Bel O’Neill, president of the committee, said the committee’s decision to focus on human trafficking coincided with National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. While initially unaware of the national event, the alignment added importance to the local initiative, she added.
A panel comprising experts such as Wesley Dawson, director of the office of community safety in Prince William County, Detective Abigail McLaughlin, with Prince William police special victims unit, and representatives from ACTS and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of human trafficking.
The Stafford County sheriff reported the following incidents: