TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE INVESTIGATING LARCENY FROM BAREFORD BUICK

 

On November 13, 2013, the Tappahannock Police Department took a report of a larceny of wheels and tires from Bareford Buick/GMC.  Sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, eight wheels and tires were removed from two SUV’s on the Bareford lot.  The tires are BRIDGESTONE brand and the wheels are chrome in appearance. 

                                               

Anyone who may have information regarding this case is asked to call the Tappahannock Police Department at 804-443-3992.

 

TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE CAUTION AGAINST THE USE OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS

The Tappahannock Police Department wants the public to know the dangers of synthetic drugs.  Tappahannock and Essex County have seen a dramatic increase of the use and overdose of these dangerous substances.  Synthetic drugs are often marketed as herbal incense, bath salts, potpourri and plant food.  While some of these substances are legal to purchase they have damaging and sometimes irreversible effects on users.  Those that have abused the drugs have suffered vomiting, anxiety, seizures, hallucinations, elevated heart rate and loss of consciousness.   In the last 30 days alone, the police department and EMS have responded to multiple incidents where people used these drugs and required emergency treatment.  "The fact that some of the substances are legal does not make them safe," says Chief Jim Ashworth.  "This is a serious problem both legally and medically."

 

The most common form of this drug is synthetic marijuana or cannabinoids.  This drug is smoked to achieve the same type of high but the chemical used in the drug to mimic THC, found in marijuana, has dangerous psychoactive compounds.  Synthetic marijuana is sold at a variety of stores and online making it easily attainable and affordable.  In 2012, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, released a report detailing the dramatic rise of visits to emergency rooms caused by synthetic cannabinoids.  According to the report in 2010, 11,406 ER visits were related to cannabinoids alone.  In 2011, that number rose to a dramatic 28,531 visits.  The report also detailed that most of the patients were between the ages of 12 and 29. 

 

In August, the police department charged two men in connection with the sale of illegal cannabinoids at the A & N Tobacco store in Tappahannock.  Over 100 bags of illegal substances and several thousands of dollars were seized. 

Tappahannock Police Department and Essex Sheriff’s Office to participate in Drug Take Back Initiative

The Tappahannock Police Department and the Essex Sheriff's Office will again participate in the National Drug Take Back Initiative on October 26, 2013 from 10am to 2pm at the Tappahannock WAL-MART.  The program is aimed at removing outdated and/or unwanted prescriptions from the community.  In April 2013 the DEA collected and destroyed 371 tons nationally with 40 pounds being collected in Tappahannock alone. 

 

Officers from Tappahannock and Essex will be on hand to collect drugs to be destroyed.  No injected medications, syringes, or illicit drugs will be accepted. 

 

For more information contact Captain J.H. Siddons of the Tappahannock Police Department or visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.

TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE SEIZE SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA FROM BUSINESS

On August 15, 2013, the Tappahannock Police Department with the assistance of the Essex Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police served a search warrant on the A & N Tobacco Store, 1828 Tappahannock Boulevard.  The search warrant was the result of a long term investigation into the sale of synthetic cannabinoids in the Town of Tappahannock.  Officers seized 123 bags of "iBlown", an illegal cannabinoid, over $7000 in cash, and 24 VIAGRA pills that were also being illegally sold. 

 

"The use of these illegal substances poses serious health risks to the community.  Our office has received several complaints from concerned citizens, but until recently the law didn't allow us to take any action.  The emergency bill signed by the Governor clearly shows how dangerous these substances are."

 

Nagi Mahamed Alashmali, 53, of Tappahannock was arrested and charged with one count of distribution of a Schedule I drug and two counts of possession with the intent to distribute a Synthetic Cannabinoid.

 

Waleed Nagi Mahamed Alashmali, 19, of Tappahannock was arrested and charged with two counts of possession with the intent to distribute a Synthetic Cannabinoid.

 

This investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

 

SUBJECT ARRESTED FOR INVOLVEMENT WITH JUVENILE

On Saturday July 20, 2013, Tappahannock Police Department received a call regarding a parked vehicle behind the Derbyshire Apartments on Tanyard Drive. Detective R. C. Beynon recognized the vehicle license tag as belonging to an individual from Chesterfield County who he had taken a report about regarding possible involvement with a juvenile female, age 16, in April of this year. The juvenile's residence was within walking distance of the parked vehicle.

At 11:05 p.m., Detective Beynon and Officer D. E. Gray arrived at the residence of the juvenile located on Daingerfield Street to conduct a welfare check. After making contact with the juvenile's grandmother at the residence, consent was given to check on the juvenile who was in her bedroom. Upon entering the room, the juvenile was located unharmed and upon further search, a male subject was located underneath the bed. The individual was identified as Anyi Douangdara, 5913 King's Grove Drive, Chesterfield, Virginia, age 37. He was taken into custody, removed from the residence, and placed into a police vehicle.

After several minutes, the juvenile's grandmother, who was supposed to be watching her, advised the officers that the juvenile was not in her room. Detective Beynon went back inside the residence and into the juvenile's room and noticed that a window was open. Officer Gray went behind the residence and located the juvenile underneath the window and immediately noticed that she had tried to asphyxiate herself. Gray immediately held her up while Detective Beynon removed the ligature from her neck. Officer Gray noted a pulse but the juvenile was not breathing. He immediately gave rescue breaths and the female regained limited breathing. Emergency service personnel arrived and transported the juvenile who was flown to MCV. As of this time, she is in intensive care and hopefully will recover. "There is no doubt that Officer Gray's and Detective Beynon's quick actions saved the life of this individual and kept this unfortunate incident from becoming a tragic one."

Anyi Douangdara was charged with Trespassing, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and an Emergency Protective Order was issued. Further charges are pending and the investigation is continuing by Detective R. C. Beynon.

TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES FACEBOOK & TWITTER PAGES

The Tappahannock Police Department is now using Facebook and Twitter in an effort to better inform and connect with residents. The department will be utilizing social media to keep citizens updated on public safety information, community events, and requesting assistance in the apprehension of wanted persons and crime information. Social media platforms are a way for the department to quickly broadcast information to the public.

Facebook is a social networking site that allows users to create a personal or organizational profile with photos and videos, contact information, and other personal or agency information. Users can then communicate and interact with other "friends" and create or join groups and "like" pages of agencies, organizations, and departments.

Twitter is a microblogging tool that allows users to send short messages (140 characters or less), known as tweets that will immediately be distributed to their network of followers. People can receive tweets without having a Twitter account.

"How people receive information has changed dramatically over the past few years. The department sees this as a way not only to provide information, but to interact with our community. We hope this will be a way to effectively interact and communicate with the public."

Twitter: @TappPD

Facebook: Tappahannock Police Department

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE AT SHEETZ

On February 14, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., Tappahannock Police responded to
the Sheetz Store on Tappahannock Boulevard, reference a suspicious
package. Upon arrival, a medium sized box was observed placed
against a support column at one of the gasoline islands and was
approximately 3 feet from the pumps. The box was sealed and taped
and appeared to contain a heavy item inside. There was no note
attached and no bomb threat had been received by store employees.

Upon closer inspection and assessment of the situation, it was
decided to close the store, evacuate the area, and contact the
Virginia State Police Arson/Bomb Unit. At approximately 10:00 pm,
Special Agents from the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal
Investigation arrived and proceeded to inspect the package by
examination of the contents by X-ray. The contents of the box did
not reveal any type of explosive device and the box was removed and
the scene declared safe. The Sheetz Store was re-opened around midnight.

The Tappahannock Police Department was assisted by the
Tappahannock/Essex Volunteer Fire Department in securing the scene
and closing the entrances to the store.

"If this box was intended to be left by someone as trash, this
location was certainly not the place to dispose of it. This incident
caused inconvenience to Sheetz and its customers and employees and
tied up emergency responders for nearly 5 hours. If this was the
case, the public is to be reminded to dispose of discarded items in a
legal and approved location at all times. In this day and time, we
can never be too cautious when dealing with public safety."

This area is under constant video surveillance and the incident
remains under investigation by the Tappahannock Police Department.