Check out this twitter post from Outskirts Guy:

cops swarm downtown mall…was close to c-ville weekly….arrests, dragaway, cuffs?

Who has the deets?!

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This was sent in from a “concerned citizen” addressed to a police officer.

I saw this car parked in a space designated for “Marked Police Vehicles Only,” while walking into the downtown ACAC yesterday. Unless a Porsche Boxster is now a marked police vehicle in VA, the car was illegally parked. Parking is tight at ACAC due to the construction, but not that tight. I was able to find a space in the lot, it was just a little farther away.

See the attached picture for evidence of the infraction. It was not marked as a police car.

Now who wins here?  Or who loses?   We need to keep getting in these Charlottesville bad parking jobs sent in people!  Original bad parking job, and my favorite bad parking job.

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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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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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It looks like the local government types have finally realized that there is a severe gang threat in cville, despite all our past warnings.  While Thor never quite made it to graduation at the Police Academy, his razor sharp instincts and care for the cvillains shines through in his previous local coverage on the subject.  There is the infamous Gang Information Presentation, which led to me thinking Latin gangs from South America were about to infiltrate our town, to Parlie reporting on gunshots in the middle of the night.

Well it seems we couldn’t have been so far off the mark…a new team of elite (hopefully) police officers and ATF agents are forming the Albemarle Gang Enforcement task force.  No word yet if they will cooperate with cvillain to educate the public on how to defend oneself from the local hooligans, but we are keeping our inbox open.  Judging by this photo I nabbed, they might be able to start their search at the UVa frat houses, yes thats right, white boys are the now the target.

Photo from Flikr.

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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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Yay! It’s finally here! Government Services Day on the DT Mall. Police will be dropping from the tops of buildings. Students will be yelling at each other about something or other under the Free Speech Monument. I’m talking about fire trucks, tours of the Paramount, prizes, giveaways and all kinds of good stuff! Even Mayor Dave Norris will be there. You can even talk to your local utilities about their current and upcoming projects.

If you’re down there around lunch time, you’ll probably see me.

Link for more details.

Check the weather and bring your rain coat, though. Have fun.

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As a follow up to our news from yesterday…

The Charlottesville Police Department is currently investigating an Aggravated Assault (Shooting) that occurred at about 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 in the City of Charlottesville, Va.

Charlottesville Police Officers were dispatched by the Emergency Communications Center to the area of Meade Avenue and Fairway Avenue in reference to a report of shots fired in that area. When officers arrived on the scene they found a white Dodge van that had run off the road and struck a chain link fence. Officers secured the scene and rescue personnel were contacted to respond.

Occupants of the vehicle who were injured in the incident were taken to the University Of Virginia Medical Center to be treated. As of this time, two of the vehicles occupants have been released from the medical center with non life threatening injuries. One of the other passengers that was transported to the University Medical Center from the scene is listed as critical and guarded.

Investigators from the Charlottesville Police Department are continuing to investigate this matter to verify the precise circumstances of the incident. As further details develop more information will be released.

If anyone has further information related to this incident, please contact CRIMESTOPPERS at (434) 977-4000.

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Sorry, Albemarle County Police, we have to make fun of you when you get into fender benders.  Looks like a little accident!

More pictures after the break.. »Read More

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Virginia State Police have announced the arrest of a second unnamed suspect in the Interstate 64 Shootings.

Slade Woodson, 19 and the unnamed 16 year old face two felony counts of malicious wounding, two counts of using a firearm to commission a felony and four counts of maliciously shooting at an occupied vehicle.

Given that the 16 year old lives in Crozet, it is likely that this student attends Western Albemarle High School. We aren’t interested in naming names for a juvenile, so don’t.

Further Reading from cVillain:

Slade Woodson, MySpace and a Community Discussion

Initial Coverage of the shooting incident

Full Press Release as of March 28 from Virginia State Police after the break… »Read More

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