The very latest Fauquier County crime and public safety news ... in brief

Saturday, May. 12 | 7:07 PM

Motorcyclist flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital, legs broken in accident

A motorcycle accident on the 7000 block of Carters Run Road Saturday afternoon sent the rider to Inova Fairfax Hospital in a helicopter. At about 4:45 p.m., the rider, a 39-year-old male, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. No other vehicles were involved, said Warrenton Assistant Chief Jason Golden. Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department, EMS, and the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office arrived to render aid. Both the rider's legs were broken in the crash. An AirCare helicopter took the rider to Inova Fairfax Hospital. – Mark Grandstaff

Wednesday, May. 9 | 3:36 PM

Scam alert

The Fauquier Times-Democrat is gathering advertising orders for the annual Fauquier Guide, but has not contracted with an out-of-state company to gather information -- nor to collect money. Some advertisers and readers have reported getting out-of-state phone contacts through which callers are identifying themselves as representing the Times-Democrat to discuss ad sizes for the Guide and to collect money for them. These calls are not authorized by the Times-Democrat nor associated with this company in any way. Do not send any money based on these solicitations. Please call your ad rep to let us know if you are contacted in this manner, (540) 347-4222. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tuesday, May. 8 | 10:40 AM

Warrenton police investigating man found dead in basement Monday

Warrenton police are investigating a man discovered dead in a basement by his family members Monday. At 1:30 p.m., Warrenton officers came to a home on the 100 block of Blue Ridge Street after Jeffrey Lee Patterson, 52, was found by family members in the utility room of the home's basement. Fauquier County EMS took Patterson's body to the Medical Examiner's Office in Prince William County for an autopsy. Police are still investigating the cause of death. – Mark Grandstaff

Monday, Apr. 30 | 4:04 PM

Warrenton Police Looking For Serial Eggers

Warrenton Police are investigating incidents between April 13 and April 27 of vandals egging parked vehicles. Twice, between 10 and 11 p.m., the suspect or suspects threw eggs at occupied vehicles stopped at the Winchester Street and Blackwell Road stop lights. The vandals have egged vehicles parked on Hastings Lane near Oak Tree Lane, and on Black Sweep Road. Police have no descriptions of the suspect, or suspects, or possible vehicle. Anyone with information can call Warrenton Police Detective T. M. Carter at 540-347-1100, or call the Fauquier County Crime Solvers anonymously at 540-349-1000. A reward is offered through Crime Solvers if the information leads to an arrest. – Mark Grandstaff

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Monday, Apr. 30 | 1:59 PM

Midnight Crash Sends 17-Year-Old Driver To Hospital By Helicopter

A 17-year-old boy driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee veered off Greenwich Road at about 12:33 a.m. Monday morning, striking a bridge near Greenville Road. Fauquier County sheriff's deputies closed the road. New Baltimore volunteer firefighters cut the driver from the vehicle, finding him so seriously hurt that they called for a medevac helicopter. According to the incident report, the driver said he fell asleep at the wheel. A helicopter took him to Inova Fairfax Hospital. – Mark Grandstaff

Monday, Apr. 30 | 1:51 PM

Crime Solvers: Sheriff’s Department Seeks Help With Lawn Mower Theft

The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office seeks tips from the public about a lawn mower stolen from the 7000 block of Justin Court East in Remington. The mower, a Cub Cadet Zero-turn 62" cut model, was taken some time between April 24 and April 28 from a garage that may have been left unlocked. Anyone with information about this or other incidents can call Fauquier County Crime Solvers at (540) 349-1000 or the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (540) 422-8650. A caller’s identity can remain anonymous. Crime Solvers offers a reward of up to $1000 for information. – Mark Grandstaff

Saturday, Apr. 28 | 7:11 PM

Multi-vehicle accident closes two lanes of Lee Highway

A multi-vehicle accident blocked two lanes of Lee Highway near Vint Hill Road Saturday at about 6 p.m. Fauquier County sheriff's deputies, volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel arrived to direct traffic around the accident. After about an hour, emergency responders re-opened the highway. – Mark Grandstaff

Saturday, Apr. 28 | 1:00 PM

Vehicle accident closes four lanes of traffic on US 17-South

A vehicle accident on US-17 southbound, near Coffman Circle south of Bealeton, closed four lanes of traffic for about an hour on Saturday. The accident happened at about noon. – Mark Grandstaff

Thursday, Apr. 26 | 11:12 AM

Tractor trailer accident blocks downtown Marshall, Va. Traffic

A car rear-ended a tractor trailer in front of the Marshall Ford Dealership on Main Street in Marshall, Va. at about 11:10 a.m. Thursday. Fauquier County sheriff's deputies, EMS and volunteer firefighters have been dispatched to investigate. No injuries have been reported. The interection in front of the dealership, as well as one lane of traffic on Main Street, have both been blocked. – Mark Grandstaff

Wednesday, Apr. 4 | 8:54 AM

New Baltimore woman organizes local Potomac Watershed cleanup

Ashlea Smith hopes that her “little effort” will inspire others to rid their communities of litter. On April 14, Smith, who lives near New Baltimore, and perhaps 20 or more neighbors will participate in the 24th annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, a massive regional event sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, based in Accokeek, Md. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Friday, Mar. 23 | 8:22 AM

‘Safe Routes to School’ path would link Cedar Lee Middle and community

Steve Parker walked along Schoolhouse Road in Bealeton under a light drizzle Wednesday, rhapsodizing about a planned walking and biking path that would link Cedar Lee Middle School with area neighborhoods. “We’ve got to make this a more pedestrian friendly community,” said Parker, the middle school principal. “It’s been a dream since I got here.” Parker, an avid runner bike rider, became Cedar Lee’s principal in 2007. It appears his dream will come true in about two years, thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation the county will receive to develop a “Safe Routes to School” program. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sunday, Mar. 18 | 1:12 PM

Former chief deputy Warren Jenkins dies

Lt. Colonel Warren Jenkins, who served as chief deputy at the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office for 20 years, succumbed to a long illness late Friday night. After serving in Vietnam in the U.S. Air Force he began his law enforcement career at the Sheriff's Office in February 1969. He was initially hired by Sheriff Sam Hall and would eventually serve four sheriffs. Jenkins was quickly promoted through the ranks and became the agency's first graduate of the FBI's National Academy in Quantico. In 1984, he was appointed chief deputy by then-Sheriff Ashby Olinger. Then-Sheriff Joe Higgs re-appointed him to the position in 1992. Jenkins served in this capacity until his retirement in 2004. During his tenure as chief deputy, he was instrumental in the modernization of the Sheriff's Office through tireless efforts to obtain the most up-to-date equipment and facilities. Even after retirement, Jenkins actively participated in Sheriff's Office programs such as Shop with a Cop. A funeral service will be held at St. James Church on Culpeper Street in Warrenton at 1 p.m. Thursday, with interment to follow at Little Georgetown Cemetery in Broad Run. A reception will be held at Highland School. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Wednesday, Mar. 7 | 3:22 PM

By design, Fauquier deer population on delcine

While the deer kill for the Northern Piedmont climbed 5 percent this year, it dropped 8.5 percent in Fauquier That’s a good thing, according to Matt Knox, a deer project coordinator for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. In rural counties like Fauquier with concentrated areas of growth, the department wants to reduce deer population largely because of the property damage the animals cause to homeowners, especially to landscaping, and the danger they pose to drivers, Knox said. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Monday, Mar. 5 | 11:12 AM

Deliveryman robbed in Warrenton

A pizza deliveryman was robbed near Haiti Street in Warrenton on Sunday evening. According to Warrenton Police, the victim was returning to his vehicle after a delivery when he was approached by several men, who began to harass him. Two men, one in a gray hooded sweatshirt and the other in a red hooded sweatshirt--both with the hoods cinched tight over their faces--approached from behind and demanded his wallet, which he produced. The two men took $60 and an ATM card from the wallet, and the entire group left towards Horner Street. Anyone with information should contact the Warrenton Police Department at 540-347-1107. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Monday, Feb. 27 | 2:11 PM

NFL player charged in Warrenton

Jacksonville Jaguars player Nathaniel Collins was charged last Thursday evening with marijuana possesson in Warrenton. The defensive tackle was traveling north on U.S. 29 when a Virginia state trooper stopped him for illegal window tint. The trooper noticed the scent of marijuana coming from the car and found a duffle bag with marijuana joints in the trunk. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 4:06 PM

Deputies investigating damage and theft of public school property

The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office is investigating damage and theft of public school property at Auburn Middle School. The school reported several display cases recently placed at the outdoor classroom in the marsh land adjacent the school were damaged. Each display case, valued at $150 each, had been broken, and another one is missing. Anyone with information regarding this incident or others is encouraged to contact Fauquier County Crime Solvers at 540-349-1000 or the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 540-422-8650. A caller’s identity can remain anonymous and Crime Solvers offers a reward up to $1000 for information. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Friday, Feb. 17 | 1:26 PM

Drive-by shooting in Bealeton

The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office is investigating a drive-by shooting in Bealeton. At approximately 8 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to shots fired on the 6600 block of Schoolhouse Road in Bealeton. A homeowner told the officers that his house had been shot at and an unknown vehicle was heard speeding off. Several other witnesses said they heard the same thing. According to Lt. James Hartman, the house, which was occupied by several adults and a small child, was struck with several small-caliber rounds. No one was injured. – .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)