Correction
<bt>In the July 7 article, "New Hospitals in County Subject of Debate," it was inaccurately written that South Riding resident Janet Warren had to drive her unconscious child to the emergency services facility at Cornwall after he was injured on a playground. In fact, Arcola Elementary School had him transported by ambulance. Warren praised the professionalism and responsiveness of the school staff.
<sh>No Promises for RFK Stadium
<bt>U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-11th) has not guaranteed that a Virginia bound team could play at RFK if Major League Baseball awards the Montreal Expos to Virginia.
"Congressman Davis has told Major League Baseball he will do whatever he can to make sure a Virginia baseball club could temporarily play at RFK," said Robert White, Davis' spokesman.
Speculation that the owners of the RFK Memorial Stadium might refuse to let the team temporarily play at the ballpark to put Virginia out of the running for the team and a stadium site has been publicly batted about recently.
Brian Hannigan, a spokesman for the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority, said the congressman had assured Major League Baseball could play at RFK. Davis is chairman of the House of Representatives Government Reform Committee, which oversee the D.C. Government Sports and Entertainment Commission.
Virginia investors have introduced a financial package and a 450-acre stadium surrounded by development as its best hope to making the Virginia Expos a reality.
<sh>Burglary Suspect Arrested
<bt>Christopher Thomas Smith, 22, of Herndon, was arrested in Loudoun County after an Ashburn resident called the Sheriff's Office shortly before 4:30 a.m., Thursday, July 1, after observing the suspect walking in the area of Tippecanoe Terrace and looking in cars with a flashlight.
According to the Sheriff's Office, during a search of the suspect's vehicle deputies found 10 car stereos, multiple compact disc cases, a video game system, a Walkman, and numerous other electronic devices. The total value of the more than 40 items recovered from the car is estimated to exceed $1,000. Smith has been charged with grand larceny, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen goods, destruction of property, and possession of marijuana. Any Ashburn residents who have had items removed from their vehicle or believe items may have been taken from their car during the past few weeks are asked to contact Loudoun County Detective Craig Schleiden at 703-771-5670 ext. 6432.ÊÊÊ
<sh>Route 637 To Close
<bt>Potomac View Road or Route 637 will be closed until Sept. 30 while contractors build two turn lanes onto Cascades Parkway, officials said Monday.
Access to the road, behind the Potomac Run Plaza, remains open to residents and the Faith Bible Church, said Ryan Hall, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Fort Myer Construction of Washington, D.C. is the contractor for the $701,385 project.
<sh>Sheriff Injured in Accident
<bt>Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson was involved in a car accident on the morning of July 7, but he wasn't called to the scene after the fact Ñ he was the scene. Jordan Valenzuela, 20, of Leesburg was traveling eastbound on Rt. 7 just west of Rt. 659 when his 1999 Ford Explorer struck the rear bumper of the sheriff's county vehicle. Valenzuela has been charged with reckless driving. Simpson was treated at Loudoun Hospital for minor injuries and was released the same day. He returned to work on July 12.
<sh>Suspect Charged with Embezzlement
<bt>A nine-month embezzlement investigation of a former Lansdowne Resort employee by the Sheriff's Office has ended in an arrest. Dennis Williams, 46, has been charged with two counts of embezzlement, one count of money laundering and one count of fraudulent entries. As assistant controller at the hotel, Williams is alleged by investigators to have applied unauthorized refunds to credit cards under his name as well as others, in addition to intercepting checks sent to the resort. He is currently being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Bond has been set at $265,000. Investigators say the case is still under review and more arrests are possible.
<sh>Single-Car Accident
<bt>A single vehicle accident south of Lucketts just before 12:30 p.m. Friday on Route 15 tied up travel for several hours along the two-lane roadway.
According to members of the Sheriff's Office Accident Reconstruction Unit a 2001 Sterling tractor trailer, driven by John William Pollatos, 56, owned by Wickes Lumber Co. of Frederick, Md., had swung wide in an attempt to pull out of the parking area for the Farmer John's Produce Stand to head north on Route 15.ÊÊÊ
A southbound 2000 Ford F250 Pickup, owned by Cowell Masonry Corporation, with a fully loaded trailer of wet sand was unable to slow in time. The Ford's brakes failed causing the driver, David Alan Cowell, 45, of Fulton, Md., to steer to the right, onto the shoulder, up an embankment, and into a Dominion Virginia Power utility pole which completely cracked in half. Crews from Dominion Power were on the scene for several hours working to fix the lines and secure the damaged utility poll.
Investigators believe the cause of the brake failure was a result of either improper brake adjustment on the trailer or the load of the trailer in motion overcame the braking power of the trailer.ÊÊ
Cowell was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was uninjured. Cowell was charged with defective trailer brakes.
<sh>Leave Animals at Home
<bt>Last year in Loudoun County, animal control officers responded to 91 reports of pets left in hot cars, up from 63 reports the previous year. In Loudoun County, it is illegal to leave an animal in a car when the outside temperature is above 70 degrees and the temperature inside of a vehicle is above 80 degrees. Heat is especially hard on dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paws. With only hot air to breathe, dogs and other animals can suffer irreparable brain damage and die of heatstroke. To report a dog left unattended in a hot car, call the Loudoun County Animal Care and Control at 703-777-0406.
<sh>Seeking Information
<bt>Sheriff's Deputies are searching for a man who allegedly exposed himself several times throughout the day Monday, July 5. The first call came shortly after 1 p.m., the suspect was said to have been in the area of Lynhaven Square in Potomac Falls. The second call was received after 1:30 p.m., the man was said to have been in the woods near Algonkian Regional Park. The third call was received around 3:30 p.m., and the man was reportedly in the area of McPherson Circle. The suspect is described as being a white male in his mid-30s with a military-style haircut with dark hair. He was wearing blue shorts and wire rim glasses at the time of the incident. He was not wearing a shirt during the incidents and is said to have a tattoo on his right shoulder. To provide information, contact the Sheriff's Office at 703-777-1021.
<sh>Hit and Run Reported
<bt>The Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in a reported hit and run July 2. According to the report, shortly after 9 p.m., a 36-year-old Sterling man was crossing Augusta Drive just north of Route 7 when a red sports-style motorcycle allegedly struck the man as he was at the double yellow line. The motorcycle then fled north on Augusta Drive towards Seneca Ridge Drive.
The suspect was described as a male wearing a dark helmet, possibly black in color. The rider was also said to be wearing a white T -shirt and blue jeans at the time of the incident. The victim received minor injuries in the incident but refused medical treatment at the scene.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Deputy Sean Dikeman at 703-771-5670 ext. 6461.
<sh>Attempted Robbery
<bt>An attempted robbery at a residence in Ashburn Sunday has Sheriff's Investigators searching for two men, one of whom is believed to be armed. The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. when the 62-year-old victim in the case answered the door of his home on Hyde Park Drive. The suspects allegedly entered the home and brandished a firearm. One of the suspects searched a portion of the home before both men fled the house. Nothing was taken during the incident.
One of the suspects is described as a dark-skinned black male with his hair fashioned in dreadlocks. The second suspect is described as a white male with light-colored hair. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans at the time of the incident.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Investigator Canham of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.
<sh>Suspects in Purse Snatching Arrested
<bt>Four Loudoun residents were arrested Wednesday night for their involvement in two purse-snatchings outside the Dulles Town Center this week.
Jennifer McCarthy, 25, Kylan Derrelle Paige, 21, and two female juveniles, ages 16 and 17, were caught shortly after the second purse-snatching as they were driving in the area of Providence Village Drive and Saint John Square in Sterling.
McCarthy of Sterling, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and robbery. She is being held without bond at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center. Paige of Sterling, has been charged with robbery and is also being held without bond at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center.
The 17-year-old female, who is from Potomac Falls, is charged with felony possession of stolen property, obstruction of justice and underage possession of alcohol. She is also charged with shoplifting from a previous incident at a 7-Eleven in the Sterling Town Center.
The 16-year-old female from Sterling is charged with possession of a firearm under the age of 18. Both juveniles were being held at the Juvenile Detention Center.
<sh>Healthcare Facilities Study Released
<bt>The final text of a study on the possible effects of a second hospital just five miles from Loudoun Hospital Center has been released. Louis F. Rossiter, Ph.D., former Secretary of Health and Human Resources for Virginia directed the study, titled "Economic Study of the Impact of Broadlands Regional Medical Center on Loudoun Hospital Center and Loudoun County." It concluded that the proposed Broadlands Regional Medical Center would not present a financial hazard to Loudoun Hospital Center. Furthermore, the study concluded that BRMC would help prevent residents from leaving the county for healthcare. The study was commissioned by Hospital Corporation of America, which owns BRMC.