Man Charged with Assault
<bt>A Leesburg man was charged Friday, June 22, with two counts the assault and battery of two juveniles.
According to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Gary Neal Frans, 47, was taken into custody and charged in two separate incidents during the month of June. The first incident occurred on June 1 in the 43600 block of Riverpoint Drive. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the suspect allegedly approached a 7-year-old child around 7 p.m. He then allegedly made comments that he would beat up the victim. He then hit him on his head.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the second incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, in the area of Upper Belmont Place. A mother was walking with her children along a path. Her 6-year-old son was walking ahead of her when the suspect allegedly picked him up and shook him before putting him down.
Neither of the children required medical treatment.
Frans was being held on a $2,500 secured bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
<sh>Public Fireworks Displays
<bt>There will be several public fireworks displays throughout Loudoun County. The following areas of Loudoun County routinely hold public displays, which are approved by the Fire Marshal: Sterling, Dulles Towne Center Mall, Ashburn, South Riding, Leesburg, Purcellville, Hillsboro, Waterford and Middleburg. Visit the Web site, www.loudoun.gov/fire/marshal.htm, for locations where approved displays will be held for the 2007 holiday.
<sh>Task Force Meeting
<bt>Supervisor Steve Snow (R-Dulles) will be hosting the second Waxpool Road Task Force meeting at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building, July 9, at 7 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to continue the initial organizational efforts and discussions regarding problem areas of Waxpool Road. The public is invited to attend.
<sh>Some Fireworks Illegal
<bt>Recent advertisements appearing in the local media are encouraging residents to travel out of the area to purchase fireworks. The Fire Marshal’s Office reminds citizens that many of these fireworks are not approved for possession or use in Loudoun County or the majority of the Northern Virginia area.
To aid in safely and legally enjoying the July 4th holiday, a full listing of all fireworks that are approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office is available on the Web at www.loudoun.gov/fire/marshal.htm. There is also a listing of public fireworks displays scheduled throughout the county and location maps for all vendors selling permitted fireworks in Loudoun.
All fireworks not on this approved list are prohibited and illegal within the county, with possession punishable by penalties as imposed by the judicial system.
<sh>Fireworks Safety
<bt>The Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office reminds residents that fireworks can injure or kill, cause fires and cause legal trouble.
Any firework that explodes, rises into the air, travels laterally or fires projectiles into the air is illegal to possess or use in Loudoun County without a permit. These include firecrackers, Roman candles and the like, as well as "shell" devices associated with aerial displays.
The Fire Marshal's Office requires that residents use only those "legal" or permissible fireworks purchased at one of the many fireworks retail locations throughout the county. These locations are inspected for safety and required to have a Fire Marshal permit. They are only allowed to sell consumer-grade fireworks that have been certified and listed for personal use. Fireworks that have not been listed are deemed unapproved and otherwise unlawful to possess. A listing of permissible consumer fireworks may be found at the Loudoun County Web site at www.loudoun.gov/fire/marshal.htm.
Fire Marshal staff and other law enforcement personnel will be on active patrol throughout the county during the upcoming holiday period. Illegal fireworks will be confiscated if found and the person possessing them may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. The penalty if convicted includes fines up to $2,500 and up to one year in jail. Citizens are encouraged to voluntarily surrender any illegal fireworks they possess by contacting the Fire Marshal's Office.
For other safety tips, visit the above-mentioned Web site or call the Fire Marshal's Office at 703-737-8600 during normal business hours.
<sh>Seeking Witnesses
<bt>A Lovettsville teenager died June 21 in a single-vehicle crash on Route 672.
Joseph S. Blalock, 19, was traveling west on Route 672 (Lovettsville Road) when for unknown reasons his 2000 Dodge Durango struck the side of the Catoctin Creek bridge. The SUV then lost control and left the roadway striking several trees, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle was hidden from the roadway and was not discovered until 7:57 a.m. when a passerby noticed the crash scene. An investigation has narrowed down the time of the crash to between 3-6:50 a.m.
Anyone who may have more information about the crash is asked to contact DFC D. Lake of the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit at 703-737-8307.