Open House
<bt>In conjunction with National Emergency Services (EMS) Week, May 14-20, which honors EMS providers nationwide, the Loudoun County Rescue Squad will be conducting an open house Sunday, May 21. This event, which will be held from 1-5 p.m., is a child-safe, family friendly event designed to provide an opportunity to raise public awareness about health and safety issues, including how to prevent injuries and what to do in a medical emergency.
The open house will be at Station 13, 143 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg; and will include the mobile command units for the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue, Leesburg Police and Loudoun County Sheriff's Office; DNA screening of minors; blood pressure checks; 911 simulator for children; moon bounce; food and drinks; silent auction; Leesburg Police Motorcycle display; demonstrations by the MedStar helicopter and various rescue equipment; exhibits featuring ambulances, Inova blood drive and Loudoun Medical Reserve Corps; and music.
Parking available at the south-east corner of the Safeway grocery store at the intersection of King Street and Catoctin Circle. Free shuttle bus service will be provided to Station 13 throughout the afternoon. Do not park at the station. For more information, contact Jill, 703-777-7185, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon.
<sh>Regional Job Fair
<bt>The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office has more than 60 positions to fill. Therefore, the office has organized a second regional law-enforcement job fair, May 20, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. Law-enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local level from around the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area will be taking part.
Suspect Wanted
<bt>The Sheriff's Office released a composite sketch of a suspect in the robbery of a Sterling hobby store earlier
this month.
According to the 29-year-old victim, who is an employee of the Hobby Town USA hobby shop in the Dulles Eastern Plaza, the unknown male suspect entered the store around 10 a.m., May 2, and inquired about a radio-controlled car. According to the Sheriff's Office, as the victim turned to reach for the car the suspect indicated he had a weapon but none was displayed. He then led the employee to the back of the store.
The suspect left the store with several radio-controlled vehicles. He is described as a white male, 5 feet 4 inches, with a medium build. He is described as being in his mid-30s with brown hair, prescription glasses and facial hair. He was wearing a lightweight jacket at the time of the robbery.
Anyone with information about the robbery or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Investigator S. Angelo of the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.
If callers wish to remain anonymous, contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment in the case the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
<sh>Seeking Members
<bt>The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is seeking members to serve on the newly formed Loudoun Health Council.
The mission of the council will be to develop a consensus on strategies to prepare for and respond to a major outbreak of disease; to improve the health of the community in general; to increase the value of the local health-care system for the entire community; to align community resources with selected priorities for action; and to identify where resources should be concentrated.
The board unanimously approved the formation of the council at its May 2, business meeting and is seeking members from the following categories:
* Local physician(s): two-year term
* Three other health-care professionals: two-year term
* Health-related nonprofits: two-year term
* Loudoun Chamber of Commerce: one-year initial term, then two-year term
* Faith community: one-year initial term, then two-year term
* Business: one-year initial term, then two-year term
* Three citizens: one-year initial term, then two-year term
Letters of interest and resumes should be sent by Aug. 15 to Cherie Giles, Board of Supervisors' Office, 1 Harrison St., S.E., Fifth Floor, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177-7000.
Or send an e-mail to fgiles@loudoun.gov or a fax to 703-777-0421. Questions about the council should be directed to Julie Withrow at 703-777-0502.
In addition, a representative elected by the Coalition of Loudoun Towns will serve a two-year term. Other groups that will choose representatives to the council include Inova Loudoun Hospital, the Loudoun County Public Schools and the Loudoun County departments of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management; Health; Family Services; and Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Substance Abuse Services.
<sh>Two Brothers Charged
<bt>Two brothers involved in a possible human-trafficking ring were charged by federal authorities Monday, May 15, after they transported illegal immigrants from the U.S. border in the southwest to Loudoun County.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Benito and Miguel Cervantes were taken into custody April 27 after a Loudoun Sheriff's deputy on routine patrol observed a suspicious pickup truck in the parking lot of the Waterford Shell on Charles Town Pike.
The deputy shined his light at the Ford F-Series pickup and noticed several occupants inside. Upon further investigation 14 people were found crammed inside the truck.
The investigation revealed that the group, all of whom are believed to be illegal immigrants, had traveled from the U.S. border in the southwest to Virginia. Each of them is believed to have paid $1,500 for the transportation. Their final destination was unclear.
Special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement responded to the scene and took all 14 suspects into custody. The illegal immigrants included 12 males, an adult female and a juvenile female.
The two brothers have been charged with human trafficking and immigration violations. They could face up to 10 years in prison.
<sh>Armed Robbery
Suspect Wanted
<bt>The Sheriff's Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred overnight Wednesday, May 10, at a Sterling drugstore.
Shortly after 3:30 a.m., a black male entered the Eckerd Drugstore in the Cedar Lake Plaza, brandished a firearm and demanded cash from the registers. The suspect was said to have a medium to heavy build, with long hair and was wearing a dark-colored coat. He had on black sweat pants and was wearing gloves at the time of the robbery.
The suspect fled the store in an unknown direction with a small amount of cash.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Sheriff's Investigator J. Russ of the Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, contact Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information provided leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
<sh>Van Hits Child-care Center
<bt>A van drove into an Ashburn child-care center Monday, May 8, causing extensive damage to the building. No one was injured.
According to the Sheriff's Office, around 7:53 a.m., a 2000 Ford van driven by Tomeka Angela Mizell, 33, of Ashburn, crashed into the Chesterbrook Academy child-care center in the 43800 block of Clemens Terrace in the Farmwell Hunt community. Mizell was apparently pulling into a parking space when she inadvertently hit the accelerator and the van went through a brick wall and into an empty classroom.
Mizell is an employee of the child-care center and the van is owned and operated by the facility. Mizell, who was uninjured, was charged with failure to maintain proper control of a vehicle.