So yesterday I was driving back from 29N from an out of town trip and I took Preston at around 4PM. I saw a bunch of police cars driving that way and honestly, I wanted to see what was up. I noticed AT LEAST 8 POLICE CARS. All the flashing lights were a hop past Rugby and I was waiting in what looked like a very big line.

While the crime apparently took place off of Preston, the police officers decided it would be a good idea to block traffic. I waited 10 minutes without any movement. I eventually turned and drove past a HUGE line of cars. I felt like this was an obnoxious move by the police. Maybe there was a good reason for blocking off the roads, but from what I could tell nothing was actually happening on Preston.

I did see them arrest one guy, which is probably big news for the police in this town. But 8+ cop cars and blocking off roads? What gives?

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Guan Yu Lu:

Bai Chuan Shu:

Perhaps you remember when the UVA engineering students got busted for kidnapping someone in Northern Virginia.

According to the Washington Post, these former students will receive 4 years in the slammer. One of the kidnappers, Shu, said:

I’d like to apologize for my actions. It was outrageous, immature, irresponsible. I never intended to hurt Paul. I thought if I didn’t hurt him physically, I wouldn’t hurt him at all. I was wrong, so wrong.

It’s not fun kidnapping people when you get caught! Do you think they will spend time in US jail, or will they be sent back to China? Still, the question remains.. is this an Honor Code violation?

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I was walking home today, and was diverted to a new route because 9th Street in front of Buford Middle School as been blocked off, and cops are everywhere. Even one of the local news stations was setting up. That can’t be good. I asked an officer on the scene for some information, but he was not allowed to offer any details other than the fact that something had happened at the school. I have a bad feeling about this.

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This woman decided to break into Millers two nights ago.  She broke into the third floor via the window.
I ask… why?

[via Newsplex]

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Oh Charlottesville’s pride and joy. The former UVA football player, J’Courtney Rydell Williams charged with credit card fraud, plead guilty and was sentenced to four days in jail. He began serving his sentence today after his trial. Lester Guy Spellman III also plead guilty and was handed the same sentence. The most important detail not to be forgotten: they must pay $42.40 in restitution. Wow! Imagine the hours of work it will take to pay off such a debt.

Read the full story here.

Pics and Links to MySpace & Facebook here.

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Green Energy is Not Always So Safe
A Charlottesville green energy company, Greenlight Biofuels experienced an explosion at its plant in Princess Anne, Maryland.  Two men were working on site and one was killed.  The article explains “town and county officials helped break ground for the alternative fuel facility in January 2007, following numerous community meetings at which nearby residents expressed their concerns over safety.”  Looks like they had appropriate concerns. [ref]

Who is gonna pay for development?

Jim Duncan brings up a very interesting story from InRich.  The article was written by “Clay”Athey Jr., the 18th District representative in Virginia’s House of Delegates.  The article describes a new bill, HB 3202, which allows localities to charge “impact fees” to new development buildings, potentially making developers bear the cost of increased transportation and traffic development.  Jim wants to know how this is going to affect Charlottesville and Albemarle. [ref]

6 Die in Car Accidents Over the Weekend

One Fluvanna crash involving high speed, alcohol and no seatbelts killed five; another head-on truck collision killed one. [ref]

Man Kills Storeowner, then Marries His Widow

I can’t make this stuff up.  The Daily Progress reports that after 20 years, they have finally charged a man with killing a storeowner.  He is apparently married to that storeowner’s widow. [read it to believe]

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Some University of Virginia students go on to do great things like be famous politicians, run Fortune 500 companies and book hookers.

Or, wait… There is Tameka Lewis who just plead guilty to money laundering and promoting prostitution.  She’s 32 and has an English major from UVA.  While Tameka’s family couldn’t believe that she did anything wrong, it looks like they have believe, differently.

Tameka is part of the investigation that involved former New York Governor, Eliot Sptizer.

[via NBC 29, NY POST]

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I absolutely just heard 10-15 gunshots coming from near the corner of Ridge and Elliott. It could not have been anything other than a clip unloading. Does anybody live nearby that heard or saw anything? Or would like to step forward and confess? Not everybody at once, there’s plenty of internet to go around, just tell me why I have to listen to fucking gunshots every night.

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I look through the Daily Progress every now and then for some interesting tidbits about Charlottesville.  Today, I was both surprised and saddened to read about a case in which a James Gardner Dennis was charged with rape and and abduction of a 17 year old girl.

Apparently, he used the website Seeking Arrangement to solicit this girl.  The website describes its services as creating:

“Mutually Beneficial Relationship” between two people. Such a relationship is usually between an older and wealthy individual who gives a young person expensive gifts or financial assistance in return for friendship, or intimacy.

Seriously? 

[via Daily Progress]

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A little birdie sends this in:

My coworker had her car broken into while at the Springsteen concert last night. She was parked in the Barracks Road shopping center. Was there a rash of burglaries during the concert last night? 

I checked the police report and there were only a handful of thefts reported, but did anyone experience otherwise?

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