Spotsylvania

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. – Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares led a “One Pill Can Kill” town hall Tuesday evening at Salem Fields Community Church, joined by state and local leaders who warned that fentanyl remains the state’s most urgent drug threat.

Miyares told the audience that fentanyl is “100 times more powerful than heroin” and that his office has prosecuted enough cases to remove the supply that could have killed nearly seven million Virginians. He called the drug not an overdose but “poison, turned into murder,” and said just two cartels are responsible for most of the synthetic drugs entering Virginia.


Police Blotter

A Richmond man hallucinating on Interstate 95 bit a deputy after running into traffic late Friday night, police said. The suspect, 30-year-old Adrian Chiodo, admitted to taking multiple drugs and mistook a deputy for someone wearing “a rubber deer mask,” they add. He was charged with Assault on Law Enforcement, Public Intoxication, and several other offenses and held on a $5,000 bond.

Also this past weekend, a woman rear-ended a car multiple times in the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru and later turned herself in. She’s now charged with Hit and Run and Assault and Battery.


Schools

STAFFORD, Va. – Two Stafford schools were briefly placed on lockdown Monday afternoon after a report of a suspicious person on Parkway Boulevard.

According to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the area and secured both Park Ridge Elementary School and North Stafford High School, which together serve nearly 3,000 students, “out of an abundance of caution.” Park Ridge Elementary enrolls about 910 students, while North Stafford High School has about 1,995 students.


Breaking News

QUANTICO, Va. – The folks at the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office just told Potomac Local News they’re investigating a serious crash that’s shut down all northbound lanes of I-95 near mile marker 148, right by Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Even though the crash happened in Prince William County, Stafford deputies are handling the scene. VDOT says traffic is backed up for about 3 miles, with vehicles being detoured off the interstate at Exit 148.


Stafford

A man wanted for a hit and run in Stafford was arrested at the McDonald’s on Ferry Road after a traffic stop revealed he had meth, a suspended license, and a fake registration. Deputies served his warrant and charged him with drug possession and multiple traffic violations. He’s being held without bond.

In a separate incident, a driver ran a red light at Garrisonville and Onville roads and was found to be intoxicated with a suspended license. He admitted to drinking wine and failed sobriety tests, leading to DUI and traffic charges.


Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The folks at the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber just wrapped up their annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast, and it was a big one. Held August 13 at the Fredericksburg Convention Center, the event spotlighted local heroes across law enforcement, fire, and EMS for their life-saving efforts and long-term service.

From snowy highway rescues to swift water saves and daring house fire rescues by everyday citizens, the awards covered a wide range of heroic acts. Citizen Valor Awards went to locals who jumped in to help during life-threatening situations, while police officers and EMTs were recognized for bravery, teamwork, and quick action in high-stakes emergencies.


Stafford

A man wanted for multiple charges—including felony domestic assault, vehicle tampering, and unauthorized use of a vehicle—was found hiding in a shed on Brooke Road after refusing to comply with deputies’ commands. He was ultimately arrested without incident and now faces an additional charge of obstruction of justice. He remains held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Also on Tuesday, deputies responded to two larceny incidents. At Kohl’s in Stafford Market Place, a woman reportedly stole over $600 in beauty products from the Sephora section. Later that evening, a woman dining at Chipotle on South Gateway Drive reported her wallet missing, likely stolen while she was picking up food.


Stafford

Stafford County authorities continue their search for 21-year-old Gabriela Alejandra Bonilla Flores, the suspected driver in a fatal hit-and-run earlier this month. Deputies say Flores is avoiding capture after her white Audi Q5 was seized as evidence in the August 5 crash that killed a 36-year-old man walking along Richmond Highway.

Two Stafford residents, Carlos Guevara and Maritza Bonilla Zapata, both 46, have been arrested for helping Flores evade law enforcement, police said. They face charges of obstruction of justice and being principals in the second degree of a hit and run. Both are being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail.


Stafford

Three suspected drunk drivers were arrested in Stafford County on Sunday night, including one woman allegedly driving with a cup of vodka in her console.

The first DUI arrest came at 5:20 p.m. on Stony Hill Road, when deputies say a driver crossing the double yellow line admitted she was “on a break from her family” and had been on her phone. She was also found with an open container of vodka and showed signs of intoxication. She was charged with DUI, drinking while driving, using a phone while driving, and a lane violation, and held until sober.


Stafford

An intoxicated driver led deputies on a high-speed chase through North Stafford late Thursday night, reaching speeds of 100 mph before being stopped with a PIT maneuver. Deputies say 38-year-old Edgard Martinez Martinez turned off his headlights and tried to evade arrest after being spotted speeding on Garrisonville Road. The pursuit wound through multiple roads and commuter lots before ending when the suspect’s car spun into woods near Little Forest Church Road. Martinez allegedly tried to run but was quickly caught. He faces charges including DUI, felony eluding, reckless driving, and fleeing law enforcement, and is being held without bond.

In other incidents, a verbal dispute on Shaw Court escalated into an assault when two women allegedly attacked a victim. Both were charged with assault and battery and released on personal recognizance.


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