This morning’s police blotter reported this assault from this past weekend:
4th Precinct
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (x2)
4/3/10 8:23 p.m.
700 block of Oregon Hill Parkway
Two males reported they were assaulted by approximately 15 males.
Category Archives: crime
VCU/Monroe Park Housing & Crime Issues
1
While parking is still of concern, VCU is taking steps to become more of a residential university. Recent articles contain announcements of new developments and feedback.
There is also news on VCU’s recycling front.
And if that was not enough, there is also this email from Oregon Hill resident and Monroe Park Advisory Council member Todd Woodson, which expresses concern over the way VCU crime is reported, and can be seen in the context of the latest (2008) postings of crime in Virginia colleges by FBI:
Friends-
I left our last meeting with more questions than answers regarding safety statistics and in particular, enforcement statistics for Monroe Park. Please find below a link for VCU’s 2009 Safety Report. It is odd that although VCU includes statistics for Cumberland ave, 100 block Pine St and 100 block Cherry St which are all part of the Historic Oregon Hill Neighborhood and not campus, there is no mention of statistics within Monroe Park itself:
http://www.vcu.edu/police/campussafetyreport2009.pdf
Of interest are the statistics for non-student liquor and drug offenses on unspecified public property which essentially doubled from 2007 to 2008 (block by block figures for public property provided by RPD) :
2008: non student liquor offenses on public property: 168
” ” ” drug ” ” ” ” ” 151
2007: non student liquor offenses on public property: 80
” ” ” drug ” ” ” ” ” 78It would be most helpful to address safety issues in Monroe Park if offenses in the Park could be logged and consequently tracked by the Council and/or a Richmond Police entity. I know we have asked for these statistics many times in the past and as was discussed, we really havent had any consistent presence at meetings from either RPD or VCU Police during our tenure.
In addition, I have included an eye opening report from the Commonwealth Times October 2008 issue regarding VCU crime statistics:
http://eblackstock.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/campus-crime-statistics-subject-to-interpretation/
I think that considering the amount of money hopefully being directed toward the park, the safety issues are something we as a group really need to focus on- especially the ever present substance abuse and collateral safety issues. As we’ve said before, there seems to be an absence as well as major confusion over day to day law enforcement in Monroe park. I believe we should address this at our next meeting and of course invite RPD and VCU police. Hopefully someone from higher up in those respective organizations will attend.
thanks,
Todd.
A Car Break In- And A Resident Comments
A resident gave me permission to post the following:
Last night (Thursday night) or early this morning (Friday morning), a red, 1994 Pontiac Firebird was broken into on the corner of Holly and South Pine. Most likely, the thiefs were trying to steal the T-Top, which may make this somewhat of an insolated incident: driver-side window was busted out and then the T-Top was also smashed in.
If you have any information, please call 646-4105 (case # 201003120160).
With this said…
1) Obviously lock your doors and remove items from your car.
2) Call in grafitti when you see it by calling the city at 311 or going online to make a request: http://eservices.ci.richmond.va.us/applications/citizensrequest/frmNewEntryType.asp (Studies have shown that grafitti invites crime)
3) Pick up trash…again, the more trash around, the more likely that thiefs think that residents don’t care about their property and less likely to respond to crimes.
Overall, our neighborhood has never had any major problems, but if we consistently do the above, we can help keep it this way!!
The Work of Wrong Doers, 1896
From the Richmond Dispatch, January 18, 1896:
The youths on Oregon Hill have recently started quite a money making scheme at the expense of the city. It seems that a certain junk-dealer has offered to buy bricks at four for one cent. Little by little the sidewalks on Oregon Hill have dwindled away, until now many of them present quite a dilapidated appearance. It is said that more than twenty boys are members of the enterprising exchange.
New Year’s Eve Party Mayhem
Apart from the regular New Year’s Eve noise, there are several residents’ reports that New Year’s Eve parties at VCU students’ houses last night on Cherry and Laurel Streets were out of control and lead to street brawls and vandalism. Police and ambulances were on the scene, but no word on any arrests or specific injuries.
Conviction for Belle Island Attack
The Times Dispatch reports that a man convicted of sexually assaulting a jogger on Belle Island could be facing 40 years in prison. The victim in the case has been lauded for her courage in facing her attacker and testifying in his prosecution.
Police Pursuit and…?
From a neighbor….
tonite about 10:30PM RPD in what seems to be pursuit of a small truck
going south (wrong way) on S Cherry street. Truck loses control and
hits tree in 200 block S Cherry and driver gets out and runs. Police
swarm all over the place with many cruisers, briefly closing 200
block S Cherry. Not sure if suspect apprehended.This is just what appeared to have occurred and not official police
record.
broken car glass in front of William Byrd Community House
Jewell Sentenced To Suspended Jail Term in DUI
From the Times Dispatch (this follows coverage for his arrest in October):
Richmond City Councilman E. Martin Jewell pleaded no contest yesterday to driving under the influence in October and apologized to his constituents and the community.
“I made a mistake. I should not have driven after drinking,” the 5th District council member said outside Richmond’s John Marshall Courts Building.
Substitute Judge Randy Rowlett fined Jewell $500, with $250 suspended, and imposed a 90-day jail sentence with the time suspended for three years. Jewell’s driver license also was suspended for 12 months, but he will be allowed to drive to and from work, including City Council functions. Jewell is owner of Total Home Care, a residential cleaning service.
In addition, Jewell was referred to the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program, an anti-drunken-driving school that will last at least 10 weeks. Attorney Craig Cooley, who represented Jewell, said the punishment was standard for a first-time offender such as Jewell.
Richmond police pulled over and arrested the councilman about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 24 near Byrd Park. Cooley said Jewell’s blood-alcohol reading was 0.11 percent. In Virginia, a motorist is presumed to be legally intoxicated with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. Cooley noted that Jewell’s level was below the 0.15 percent that would trigger mandatory jail time.
The state’s maximum punishment for first-offense DUI, a Class 1 misdemeanor, is one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Thefts In The Neighborhood
There have been a few reports of petty thefts from yards and porches in the neighborhood.
One neighbor reported that someone cut a electric cord to steal a reindeer Christmas decoration from front yard, while another has had a rocking chair stolen right off front porch.
Rock Battle Was In Police Court, 1903
From the Times-Dispatch edition of November 21, 1903:
Rock Battle Was In Police Court
Alfred King’s Case Continued.
Pat Griffin’s Hearing Goes Over.Justice John had a big bunch of young Americans before him yesterday morning. The youngsters were up for engaging in a rock battle on Gamble’s Hill against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth, especially that in the neighborhood of Gamble’s Hill forninst Oregon Hill. The line of battle extended across Second Street at its foot, and rocks fairly filled the air, the people said.
In the battle a little fellow, names Holmes Hix, of No. 210 Third Street, was hit on the head and badly hurt. Everything pointed to A.G. King as the one who threw the stone that hit Hix.
Because the injured boy was unable to appear the case was continued to the 28th. Eleven other boys were each fined $2.50 for throwing rocks and being disorderly.King is also charged with being a deserter from the navy. This charge was also continued to the 28th.
Historic postcard of Gambles Hill Park (from VCU collection):
