MANASSAS, Va. – The Manassas City Police Department is hosting a free, family-friendly event on Tuesday, August 5, as part of the nationwide National Night Out celebration. The event will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the Manassas Museum Lawn.

National Night Out is designed to promote safer neighborhoods and stronger community ties. Attendees can enjoy free food, snow cones, police demonstrations, and games while getting to know local officers and community partners.

This evening is a chance for residents to build trust with law enforcement and learn more about the department’s work in Manassas.

Here’s the full press release:

Press Release

Celebrate National Night Out with the Manassas City Police Department on August 5
On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the Manassas City Police Department invites you to take part in National Night Out, an evening dedicated to building stronger and safer communities. We encourage residents to come together to show support for our shared community from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Manassas Museum Lawn.
National Night Out is all about connecting with one another, promoting neighborhood safety, and celebrating what makes our city a great place to live.
This event is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bond between our community and the Manassas City Police Department. By participating, you’ll help build positive relationships while learning more about the various roles and functions of the police department and our community partners.
Join the Manassas City Police Department for FREE food, snow cones, police demonstrations, and games!

Subscribe to our FREE email newsletter to get local news you can trust.
https://www.potomaclocal.com/email-subscription/

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Police are searching for a woman accused of leaving her 2-year-old son unattended outside a home on Dawson Beach Road. Officers responded to the home around 9:17 p.m. on July 23 after a child was found alone and in poor condition. Authorities say the boy’s mother, 37-year-old Alexandra Anna Granruth, had arranged for someone to look after the child earlier that afternoon but never returned.

When police tried to contact Granruth, she allegedly refused to come back. The child was not injured and was released to known parties. Warrants have been issued for Granruth, who is now wanted for felony child neglect.

Here’s the full press release:

Felony Child Neglect – On July 23 at 9:17PM, officers responded to a residence located in the 4000 block of Dawson Beach Rd. in Woodbridge (22191) for a found child. The investigation revealed the victim, a 2-year-old boy, was left unsupervised for an extended period of time by his mother, identified as the accused. Earlier that afternoon, at approximately 2:00PM, the accused contacted an acquaintance who located the victim in an unkempt state unaccompanied outside of the residence. The accused initially arranged for the care of the victim until later that evening. When the accused did not return to the area, the acquaintance contacted the police. When officers attempted to contact the accused, she refused to return to the area. The victim appeared uninjured and was turned over to known parties. Following the investigation, officers obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Alexandra Anna GRANRUTH. Attempts to locate the accused have been unsuccessful.

Wanted: [Photo from April 2024]
Alexandra Anna GRANRUTH, 37, of the 4000 block of Dawson Beach Rd. in Woodbridge
Described as a white female, approximately 5’9”, 165lbs., with blond hair and blue eyes
Wanted for felony child neglect

---

Cat Left Behind Pet Store Dumpster—Now Safe in Shelter

STAFFORD, Va. – A cat was found left behind a pet store in Stafford during the heat of summer—inside a carrier next to a dumpster with only a bag of dry food covered in ants. Stafford County Animal Control responded to the Pets Plus store on Richmond Highway on July 16 after staff found the abandoned animal.

The cat, named Arkansas, was frightened but unharmed and is now safe at the Stafford County Animal Shelter. Authorities were able to identify a suspect using surveillance footage. Warrants have been issued for animal abandonment and inadequate care.

Here’s the full press release:

Pets Plus Pet Found:
During a hot summer day, a cat was abandoned in less than favorable conditions. On July 16th, at approximately 11:26 a.m., Animal Control Officer K.L. Busch responded to Pets Plus, located at 2610 Richmond Highway, for an abandoned animal. Staff advised a cat was found abandoned behind the business. Animal Control Officer Busch arrived on scene and made contact with staff. It was discovered the cat was left in a carrier near the dumpster with nothing but a bag of dry cat food that was covered in ants. Upon locating the abandoned cat, staff brought it into the business to care for it. Despite being a bit scared, Animal Control Officer Busch confirmed the cat was unharmed. The cat, named Arkansas, was transported to the Stafford County Animal Shelter. There, it will be cared for until a resolution in the case can be reached. Using nearby security cameras, Animal Control Officer Busch was able to identify the individual who abandoned Arkansas. Yesterday, warrants for abandonment of an animal and inadequate care of an animal were obtained. Thank you Animal Control Officer Busch for your hard work in this case. The Stafford County Animal Shelter has a pet surrender program for those who can no longer adequately care for an animal.

---

Nearly $200K Fraud Stopped by Manassas Detectives

MANASSAS, Va. – A quick-thinking detective stopped nearly $200,000 from being stolen in a wire fraud scheme. On July 1, a Manassas resident reported their email had been hacked and a transfer of $194,120.43 was about to be sent to an unknown account.

Detectives worked with banks to freeze the transfer just in time. The case has since been referred to the U.S. Secret Service for further investigation. Manassas Police say the rapid coordination prevented major financial harm.

Here’s the full press release:

Fraud Investigation
On July 1, 2025, the Investigative Services Division received a report of fraud involving a compromised email account and an attempted unauthorized wire transfer. Detective Armas promptly initiated an investigation and determined that the victim’s email had been hacked, with $194,120.43 set to be transferred from the victim’s bank account to an unknown account. Thanks to the swift actions of Detective Armas and the critical support of Detective Urey, investigators were able to work with the financial institutions involved to halt the wire transfer before the funds were lost.
The case has since been referred to the United States Secret Service for continued investigation. The department commends both detectives for their rapid response and effective collaboration, which prevented a significant financial loss and protected the victim from further harm.

---

Subscribe to our FREE email newsletter to get local news you can trust.
https://www.potomaclocal.com/email-subscription/

MANASSAS, Va. – The Manassas City Republican Committee headquarters was vandalized on July 4, 2025, in an incident now under investigation by police.

Zachary Murphy, a committee member, discovered the damage shortly before 9:45 a.m., Saturday, July 5, while walking to the city’s farmers market. He had spent the morning decorating the headquarters at 9016 Center Street for Independence Day, hanging an American flag, and putting up patriotic bunting.

“While I was walking to the farmers market, I got a text about what had happened,” Murphy said.

On the front window of the building, someone had scrawled the word “Fash”—an apparent attempt to write “fascist.” “It looks like they were trying to write ‘fascist,’ but they weren’t very good at spelling or spacing,” Murphy noted. He also observed a suspicious substance on the window that he believed to be urine. Murphy removed the graffiti using nail polish remover and rubbing alcohol.

Murphy said that someone had also pulled down one of the American flags, but there was no video surveillance on the building to capture the vandalism. Manassas police responded to the scene, and a bystander reported seeing a suspicious individual in the area. Another committee member, Stephen Kent, visited the building at 9:30 p.m. on July 4 to retrieve his bike and confirmed the flag had been removed.

Murphy expressed frustration but also called for constructive civic engagement: “Get your message out—it’s your civic duty to speak your mind—but it’s got to be constructive.”

The vandalism came as the local GOP committee prepared to celebrate July 4 and support its slate of candidates in upcoming elections.

The Republican Party in Manassas advocates for conservative principles outlined in the Republican Party of Virginia’s creed, including free enterprise, fiscal responsibility, constitutional limits on government, and a strong national defense.

In April 2024, George Ellis was elected the new chairman of the committee. The committee holds monthly meetings, typically on the second Wednesday, at Old Towne Sports Pub in downtown Manassas.

The committee endorsed Xiao-Yin “Tang” Byrom for mayor and Robyn Williams, Lynn Forkell Greene, and Stephen Kent for City Council in the 2024 local elections. It has also nominated Nate Fritzen for City Treasurer and Deon Shamberger for Commissioner of Revenue in 2025.

The group encourages civic participation through volunteering, campaigning, and attending events. For more information, visit manassascitygop.com.

MANASSAS, Va. – All lanes on Sudley Road are back open following an overhead communications wire issue that forced a full road closure earlier today.

Verizon completed repairs to the overhead lines by 3:29 p.m., and traffic signals are once again operating on their normal timing. City of Manassas Electric crews and police responded to the scene, with initial assistance from Verizon beginning around 1 p.m.

Although the road is fully reopened, drivers traveling northbound on Sudley Road may still encounter delays, particularly back to Stonewall Road. City officials expect traffic to return to normal as flow improves.

Police have not disclosed the cause of the issue.

MANASSAS, Va. – The Rotary Club of Manassas welcomed local police leadership to its weekly meeting to honor one of the department’s finest: Master Police Officer Kentalle Gaines.

During a recent luncheon at City Tavern in Old Town Manassas, Assistant Chief and Captain Trey Lawler introduced MPO Gaines and presented her with a Rotary recognition plaque. Gaines was recognized for receiving the department’s top accolades—the Sergeant Conner Memorial Award and Officer of the Year.

According to Lawler, MPO Gaines has played a key role in several high-stakes arrests in Manassas, including tracking down a murder suspect and apprehending an individual connected to a series of car thefts across the city. Her commitment to public safety goes beyond patrol duties; she completed a demanding instructor course with the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) in Arkansas and later helped the Manassas Police Department establish its first certified Police Cyclist Course. The course launched in October and is now part of the department’s training program.

The Rotary Club of Manassas, a long-standing civic group in the city, meets every Wednesday at noon at City Tavern. The club regularly supports local service efforts and recognizes those who make a difference in the community. Anyone interested in learning more about the club is encouraged to reach out and attend a meeting.

MANASSAS, Va. – Manassas City Police Chief Doug Keen has announced a new mission, vision, and set of core values for the department, describing the changes as a foundation for how the city will be policed in the years ahead.

Keen said his recent role as Interim City Manager gave him a broader perspective on the city’s operations and allowed him to reflect on the direction of the police department. While Manassas has earned national recognition through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)—including flagship and gold standard status—Keen said it was time to reevaluate the department’s guiding principles.

“We needed to look at and change our mission and vision statements,” Keen said in a recent public video. “They set the foundation for how we will police the City of Manassas in the future.”

The new mission statement emphasizes promoting public safety and reducing fear through fair and impartial policing, compassion, and professional standards. The vision calls for a department culture rooted in dignity, respect, community policing, and accountability. New core values include integrity, professionalism, excellence, safety, and teamwork.

“By working together with our community, we will make the City of Manassas a safer community,” Keen said.

Crime Context: Serious Offenses Up, Overall Activity Down

While Chief Doug Keen’s remarks focused on the future direction of the Manassas City Police Department, the department’s most recent annual report offers important context about the current state of crime in the city.

According to the report, serious offenses—also known as Part I crimes—increased by 6% in 2024. These offenses include violent and property crimes such as homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson. Law enforcement agencies use these categories to measure overall crime trends because they represent the most impactful crimes on public safety.

Among these, larceny was the most common, making up 79% of all serious crimes, and rose by 14% from the year before. Burglaries dropped by 37%, while auto thefts declined by 14%. The city also recorded one homicide in 2024, compared to none in 2023.

Despite the increase in serious offenses, other measures of police activity declined:

• Total arrests fell by 14%

• Officer-initiated activity decreased by 11%

• Traffic enforcement dropped by 25%

• Calls for service were down 5%

The report also noted a 6% increase in domestic violence reports, but arrests in those cases declined by 3%. DUI arrests fell sharply, by 26%, reflecting fewer impaired driving incidents or enforcement.

MANASSAS, Va. —  A false lockdown alert briefly disrupted the start of the school day at Osbourn High School, located at 1977 Eagle Way in Manassas, after a technical error mistakenly triggered a security alarm around 9:12 a.m.

The Manassas City Police Department, which has a school resource officer (SRO) stationed at the school, confirmed that the alert was a false alarm caused by a technology error. Police say they were already on the scene when the alert was issued and remained in constant communication with school administrators throughout the incident.

Manassas City Public Schools also confirmed that the building was secured as a precaution and that the “all-clear” was issued by 9:13 a.m. Normal school operations have since resumed.

“We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our school community,” the school division said in a statement to families.

Police spokeswoman Alexis Williams emphasized that “everything is okay” and that no threat to students or staff occurred.

Manassas City Council members praised the Manassas City Police Department (MCPD) at its recent meeting for its resilience from leadership changes and efforts to reduce crime.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

The Prince William County Police Department is expressing gratitude to the community after another successful Polar Plunge event, which raised $130,000 for Special Olympics Virginia.

The event, held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Leesylvania State Park, saw strong participation from local residents, law enforcement personnel, and sponsors. Funds raised during the Polar Plunge will support Special Olympics Virginia, providing athletes with opportunities to compete and receive essential services.

The police department highlighted the role of community members, businesses, and sponsors who contributed by joining teams or making donations. Team PWCPD also took part in the plunge to show their support.

The Polar Plunge is part of a nationwide initiative, with law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and 45 countries backing Special Olympics programs.

The Prince William County Sheriff’s Office, Manassas, and Manassas Park police departments also participated in the event.

Law enforcement and emergency responders in Prince William County, Stafford County, and the City of Manassas handled multiple incidents over the past several days, including a house fire that displaced a family in Woodbridge, two shooting investigations, drug-related arrests, and a series of disturbances and crimes.

Prince William County

House Fire Displaces Family in Woodbridge

On February 10 at approximately 8:30 p.m., fire crews responded to a house fire on the 3000 block of Fillmore Drive in Woodbridge. Flames broke out in the home’s laundry room, causing moderate damage. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported. The home was deemed unsafe for occupancy, and two adults and one child were displaced. The Red Cross is providing assistance. The Fire Marshal confirmed the fire started in the laundry room, though the cause remains under investigation.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.