Stafford County’s Animal Shelter is facing a dire situation as it grapples with an unprecedented number of dogs in its care. Animal Captain Joe Bice revealed that the shelter has far exceeded its capacity.
“Last year, we adopted or transferred 583 dogs, with an average stay of 21 days in the shelter,” stated Bice. “However, we’ve been over adoption capacity for most of 2023 and 2024.”
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance from the public in locating a suspect involved in an incident that resulted in injuries to a deputy following a crash on Thursday morning.
On February 15 at 1:34 a.m., Sergeant J.T. Forman observed a Scion disregarding a red traffic signal at the intersection of Butler Road and Chatham Heights Road. Forman attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect failed to yield and initiated a pursuit, police said.
Larceny reports
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has been actively investigating several incidents recently, spanning a range of offenses. Here’s a breakdown of the incidents they’ve been handling:
ASSAULT
The school division announced it will revert to a three-bell lunch schedule starting Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. Potomac Local was the first to tell you administrators were scrutinizing the extended “power hour” lunch period following the arrest of at least 10 students involved in an early-morning fight at Brooke Point High School on January 29, 2024.
Later that day, police placed the school on lockdown after students assaulted two Brooke Point teachers in a separate incident.
Fredericksburg police found the body of the 22-year-old Darius Appiah, who had been reported missing by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office on January 25.
Police found the body in Hazel Run, at the intersection of Blue and Grey Parkway and Lafayette Boulevard, at approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. As part of the investigative process, Appiah’s body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Stafford County Public School officials are reviewing the division’s “Power Hour” lunch periods. High school students can walk around campus to have lunch with friends, study, meet teachers and guidance counselors, or attend workshops during these periods.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor said the power hour lunch was an idea introduced by students and allowed for the first time by the school division for the 2022-23 school year.
A routine disturbance call led Stafford County Sheriff’s Deputies to uncover a suspected drug-related bathroom party at the Arby’s located at 418 Garrisonville Road on January 31.
Deputies J.A. Martin and B.E. Vaughn responded to reports of a disturbance at the fast-food establishment around 8:47 p.m. Witnesses reported that two men and a woman, exhibiting erratic behavior, entered the single-use bathroom together, prompting suspicions among the restaurant’s patrons.
At 7:22 a.m. today, Stafford sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported fight at Brooke Point High School. Afterward, authorities placed the institution on lockdown for the remainder of the day as a precaution.
According to the county sheriff’s office, this decision aimed to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety of students and staff.
