Around 7:45 last night a bunch of emergency vehicles arrived on Spring Street last night to investigate a burning smell from one of the houses. Unofficial word is that it was a malfunctioning fridge. Also, see related Style story from this week.
Don’t you just love the fall? The nights are getting cooler which means we can turn the air conditioner off and crack the windows. If you chose to do this please do not leave them up when you are at work and never open the windows on the first floor, you are only inviting trouble. Unfortunately, we have to always think defensively.
The same crimes are still plaguing our Sector. During the month of September we had 29 thefts from motor vehicles in Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward. The items being stolen are still electronic equipment,(GPS, iPods, laptops). If anyone sees or hears of these types of items being sold on the street, call me so I can forward that information to a Detective.
There were 8 robberies to individuals in Sector 413 last month. Three were cleared with arrests. There were also 2 aggravated assaults in Sector 413; an arrest was made on one of them.
Here is a breakdown on the crimes reported:
VIOLENT CRIME:
8 Robberies
100 W. Franklin Street, 9-5-09, unknown b/m robbed at this location of money.
16 E. Grace Street, 9-8-09, unknown b/m attempted to rob the victim of his money.
100 S. Cherry Street, 9-11-09, 3 unknown b/m suspects robbed 3 victims. ARRESTED: Jayquan Perry, 6/22/90; Brian Walker,12/19/90; Dennis Loney, 8/21/86
800 E. Marshall Street, 9-13-09, 3 unknown 2 b/f, 1 b/m suspects robbed the victim.
100 E. Leigh Street, 9-14-09, unknown b-m robbed the victims of money.
800 Cumberland Street, 9-19-09, 3 unknown suspects robbed the victim of his wallet. ARRESTED: Jayquan Perry, 6/22/90; Brian Walker,12/19/90; Dennis Loney, 8/21/86
100 E. Leigh Street, 9-24-09, unknown b/m stole money from victim.
0100 N. 4th Street, 9-26-09, 5 unknown b-m’s robbed 3 victims of money. ARRESTED: Roger August, 6/29/67; Delroy Dixon, 8/5/87, Everett Evans, 8/23/87; Roy Battle, 7/13/89; Lamine Ndour, 8/15/85.
2 Aggravated Assaults-
312 W. Grace Street, 9-9-09, Individual assaulted by a known party- ARREST MADE
15 N. 5th Street, 9-27-09, a male was shot in the 00 block of 5th Street. Result of a fight inside of the “Cotton Club”.
PROPERTY CRIMES
As I already mentioned there were 29 thefts from motor vehicles in Sector 413 with the majority being in the Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward neighborhoods. The police will continue to patrol and monitor these areas but we need your help by securing valuables in the trunk and locking all doors.
October 24, 2009, is clean up day in the Jackson Ward neighborhood, come out and support this good cause!
If interested, the Richmond Police Department has an account on FACEBOOK and we are interested in your comments.
Please continue to report suspicious persons or activities to the police as soon as possible. The non emergency number is 646-5100.
During the month of September, Sector 413 officers answered 1769 radio calls and conducted 154 field interviews.
I want to thank the officers, detectives and community for their continued support in combating the crime in Sector 413.
Sincerely,
Lt. Yvonne Baltz– Fourth Precinct – Sector 413 – (o) 646-4239
Also, you can get to the newsletter from links on this page:
http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/departments/police/fields/4thPrecinct/S413.aspx
Sept. 26- St. Andrew’s Oregon Hill Art Show
Sept. 26- Jerry Seinfeld at the Landmark Theater
Sept. 27- St. Andrew’s Community Fair
Sept. 27- OHHIC annual meeting
Sept. 28- Richmond City Council meeting
Sept. 28- Lady Gaga at the Landmark Theater
Sept. 29- Blood Drive at the Byrd House Market
Sept. 30- VCU Commuter CoffeeBRAKE
Sept. 30- VCU’s Green Unity’s E-Cycling Drive
Richmond Police Department press release:
For Immediate Release
News Release
RPD Taking Crime Prevention to New HeightsSept. 24, 2009
The Richmond Police Department has seized the opportunity to lift its crime prevention efforts by using confiscated funds to purchase the SkyWatch mobile surveillance tower.SkyWatch is a mobile trailer and cabin that can be deployed to any area of the city. One to four officers can staff the cabin that, when positioned, can be raised 25 feet to allow the officers excellent surveillance opportunities.
The Department used captured property and currency from drug trafficking cases for the purchase.
The unit is equipped with tinted glass, video cameras with recording devices, flood lights, and a loudspeaker system. It is heated and air-conditioned and has a generator that can allow it to operate uninterrupted for several days.
It will be deployed at festivals, popular dining areas on weekend evenings and other events where large groups gather such as the Monument 10K and New Year’s Eve.
“The SkyWatch designers assure us that when this tower goes up, crime goes down,” Major John Venuti said. “As the special events in Richmond continue to grow in popularity each year, the Department is always looking for ways to help large groups stay safe and have a good time. And with SkyWatch’s 360 degree view, cameras and recorders, this tower will send a message to criminals: We are watching.”
The Department is offering the media a preview of SkyWatch and its features tomorrow, 3 to 4 p.m., at the City Garage, 2901 N. Boulevard.
Richmond BizSense has an article on cuts to higher ed in the state, including VCU.
Virginia Commonwealth University is expected to lose $15.2 million. VCU’s overall budget for 2009-10 is $827 million.
VCU will make cuts by leaving unfilled positions open while cutting down on travel, equipment, supplies and training and support for computer centers and systems, said spokesperson Pam Lepley.
VCU, along with the other schools, is waiting for the governor’s office to give them more information, so they can determine what to do, she said.
This follows an earlier article on the topic that appeared in VCU’s Commonwealth Times.
Recent tests found high levels of toxic chemicals called PCBs in the James River and some tributaries between Richmond and Hopewell.
In some cases, levels of the chemicals were hundreds of times higher than the state limit, state officials said.
The PCBs pose a threat to fish but not people, unless people eat contaminated fish, said Bill Hayden, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Clean Energy Rally tomorrow evening in Monroe Park! There’s more events and movie showings planned…
I heard the Benny-Fit went well, and there are tentative plans to hold it again next year.
Pete’s virtual roadtrip got some international press.
Noticed this on Oregon Hill’s Wikipedia page: “Michael Irgens, a product of oregon hill, is making his name known in production and rapping under the name Mike The Martyr.”
City Council gave Center Stage the the Landmark Theater.
Councilperson Marty Jewell lampooned on Tobacco Avenue.
Don’t forget to make plans to attend the upcoming St. Andrew’s Oregon Hill Art Show (and Community Fair on the following Sunday!).
For Immediate Release
News Release
Richmond Police Recruiting for Citizen AcademySept. 16, 2009
If you have ever wondered what it takes to become a Richmond Police officer or how the Richmond Police Department operates, now is your chance to find out.Richmond Police will offer an eight-week Citizen Police Academy for those interested in learning about the Richmond Police Department’s personnel, goals, community policing strategies and law enforcement-related topics.
There will be seven, two-hour classes held every Thursday, beginning Oct. 1 through Nov. 19. Classes will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road. The academy concludes the eighth week with a graduation ceremony.
The Citizen Police Academy instruction will cover different areas of the Department provided by expert guest instructors from area law enforcement agencies as well as certified police officers. The courses are diverse and range from the Department’s organizational structure to forensics, criminal investigation, narcotics and firearms.
Anyone who lives or works in Richmond can attend the academy. You must be at least 18 years old with no felony convictions. Misdemeanor convictions will be reviewed and considered by Chief Bryan T. Norwood. The deadline to register for the academy is Tuesday, Sept. 29. Space is limited.
“The best way our citizens can help us help them is for them to learn what we do, how we do it and why we do it,” Chief Norwood said. “That’s the purpose of the citizen academy.”
Persons interested in registering may contact Citizen Police Academy Coordinator GiTonya L. Parker at 646-7648.
I went and saw the new canal bridge plans this afternoon. The new bridge should
be put in place just west of the telephone pole bridge early next year, and the
old bridge will be taken out at that time. Officially the project is called the “North Bank Trail Pedestrian Bridge Replacement”, and what its really about is a new bridge that will cross the historic Kanawha Canal near the Lee Bridge and enable pedestrians to make their way to the James River Park. The flat bridge will be placed so that it can be raised easily later to accommodate canal development and possibly the return of canal boats. The money for this is coming from greenway grants that the neighborhood association previously applied for and won. Anyone can go see the plans for themselves which are in the City’s Parks & Rec office at 808 W. Main (in the Landmark Theater building).
From the Hill and Heights neighborhood blog:
Richmond City Council is considering appointments to the GRTC (Greater Richmond Transit Company) Board of Directors. It’s unpaid, meets monthly. Interested parties can obtain an application from the city clerk’s office or download this pdf: Appointment Application Form. Applications are due in by the end of the day next Monday. There is no description of the job on the city website just this on the Obligations of the Board.
Acquire, operate, lease, or otherwise provide for the operation of a public transportation system, including by way of illustration but not limitation, the operation of passenger buses, both within and outside the City of Richmond, including providing for transportation for pupils attending public schools operated by the School Board of the City of Richmond.