Almost a year has passed since 44-year-old Fairfax resident Ryan Fry ran afoul of the law in Fairfax County. But last week in Circuit Court, it was time for him to pay his dues. Appearing last Thursday and Friday before two different judges, he received a total of 1 1/2 years behind bars.
The incident that landed Fry in hot water happened Jan. 18, around 6:45 p.m., at Route 29 (Lee Highway) and Summit Drive in the Crystal Springs community. But it wasn't his first brush with the authorities.
That evening, police Officer O.J. Faulk saw Fry, of 12723 Lee Highway, driving on Route 29 in a green pickup truck. Because of a previous encounter, Faulk knew Fry's license had been revoked.
He stopped Fry's vehicle in the parking lot of the Pleasant Acres Motel at 12723 Lee Highway. When Fry got out of his truck, Faulk told him he was under arrest and should stop right there. Instead, Fry tried entering a room and, when Faulk tried to arrest him, Fry hit the officer twice.
A struggle ensued and, with help from other officers, Faulk took him into custody. Police charged Fry with assault on a police officer, driving while intoxicated, driving on a revoked license and two counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute.
Faulk was not injured, and Fry went to jail. He was indicted by the grand jury on May 19 and returned to court, Aug. 26, to plead guilty. Last week, he came back again for sentencing.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, in Circuit Court, Judge Gaylord Finch sentenced Fry to a year in prison on the drug charges. Then on Friday, Nov. 21, Judge Dennis Smith sentenced him to six months for assault on a police officer.
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs