News Flash

PURCELLVILLE, VA October 7, 2022 

09/30/22          9:33 a.m.         200 N. Maple Avenue                                     Destruction of Property  

Officers on Midnight shift discovered a broken window on the front left side of the building. Unable to contact the property manager because of the late hour, a day shift officer responded in the morning. The building owner reported seeing the window intact on September 28, 2022, but she had not been to the building subsequently. The suite where the window was broken is vacant. There was no evidence of entry. The investigation is on-going.   

10/01/22          2:18 a.m.         700 E. Main Street                             Larceny

At approximately 12:38 a.m. three young males entered the 7-Eleven, did a lap around the store and exited.  About four minutes later, they re-entered the store and while one of the misguided youths spoke to the clerk, the other two grabbed four cases of beer, valued at $99.60 and fled the store, in the direction of S. Maple Avenue.    The incident was not reported for approximately two hours, until an officer on patrol entered the store to buy coffee (but no donut).  The event was captured on the store security system and the investigation is on-going.   

10/01/22          7:46 a.m.         300 Block of W. J Street                    Death Investigation

A family member checking on a sick relative found the person to be deceased.  Medics and fire personnel responded and confirmed the finding.  Purcellville officers responded and conducted a preliminary investigation.  Deputies for the LCSO responded to photo-document the scene and conduct follow up.   There was nothing to indicate anything other than death by natural causes. 

10/01/22          3:30 p.m.         200 Block of W. Main Street              On-Line Fraud

The complainant responded to a random text message and sent $80, via two cashapp transactions, to the texter.  A series of text messages followed, in which the suspect obtained from the victim, his Facebook password and reset code. The suspect changed the Facebook password and took control of the account. The suspect then told the victim that he would release the Facebook account if the victim sent him an additional $15.00. The victim had no more money and called the Police.  It was determined that the suspect phone number had been spoofed and belonged to a man in Cincinnati, Ohio, who was not the subject sending the text messages.

10/01/22          9:26 p.m.         1000 E. Main Street                                       Larceny

At approximately 9:00 p.m., two juvenile females, later determined to be 17 and 16 respectively, took beer from the cooler, placed it in a backpack, and exited the store. Outside, waiting were two juvenile males, later determined to be 17 years old. They got into a vehicle and drove away. Based on the age and the clothing descriptions, it appeared that they may have been students at a local high school that was having its homecoming dance that night.   Photos from the store security system were sent to the School Resource Officer, who was able to identify the four.   The investigating officer was able to locate the parents of the four and met with them separately.  By all accounts, it appeared that the young men were unaware of the larcenous intent of the young women.  The Giant requested that the four juveniles be barred from entering the store and thusly, they were served with trespassing paperwork.  The report was sent to the juvenile court for further consideration in reference to criminal charges.  

10/03/22          10:23 a.m.       100 Block of S. Nursery Ave                          Larceny& Warrant Service

Officers responded for a report of larceny from a residence. The complainant reported that an acquaintance of over two years, spent the night, but upon leaving, absconded money and the credit cards belonging to the complainant.  In spite of the tenure of their relationship, the complainant could only provide a partial name and a few other vague details of the suspected thief. As the investigating officer had recently assisted another law enforcement agency in finding and interviewing the complainant in another matter in which he was the suspect, she did a wanted check and discovered an outstanding warrant from Frederick County, Maryland.   The complaint/wanted subject was transported to the Adult Detention Center and held on a fugitive from justice warrant, pending pick up by Maryland authorities. 

10/03/22          5:12 p.m.         100 Block of N. 21^st Street                 Unlawful Entry/Destruction of Property              

The complaint reported that sometime between 10/1/22 at 5:00 p.m. and 10/3/22 at 5:00 p.m. an unknown person or persons entered two empty buildings that are slated for demolition. The first building entered holds old books.   No damage other than the method of entry was noted. The second building, which was empty, was defaced with graffiti.   Some was new and others had been previously discovered, but not reported to the Police.  Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Officer Adam Barnhart at 540-338-7422 x 2120. 

10/3/22                        6:59 p.m.         105 Purcellville Gateway                   DUI      

The Loudoun County ECC broadcast a lookout for a reckless driver, operating a vehicle with heavy front end damage, on Colonial Highway in Hamilton, heading for Purcellville, An alert officer responded to the area and located the vehicle at the traffic circle and followed it to the shopping center at Purcellville Gateway. He observed the driver exit his car and walk unsteadily around the vehicle checking the damages.  Upon approach, the officer did not notice an odor of alcoholic beverage, in spite of the appearance and behaviors of someone under the influence.   He spoke with the driver, who indicated that he was taking a number of prescription medicines that should not be taken before operating a motor vehicle. The driver was arrested and transported to the Hospital, where blood was drawn and he was medically evaluated.   Ultimately, he was transported to the Adult Detention Center, where he was placed on an 8 hour hold. 

10/4/22                        9:26 a.m.         500 Block of Maple Avenue               Hit and Run

A road rage incident that began on the ramp from Route 7 westbound at 287 and continued onto Hirst Road and Maple Avenue, where the suspect driver side swiped the victim driver and fled the scene. An officer checking the area located the suspect vehicle in the area of Purcellville Gateway and attempted to stop the car.  The driver refused to stop, and fled. In order to not unduly endanger other drivers, the officer terminated her efforts to stop the car.  She continued in the last direction of the suspect and saw that it was in front of a box truck and did not see her.  She followed the vehicle that was now traveling at a normal speed. She alerted the Sheriff’s Officer and Deputies flooded the area.   The car was last seen entering Wright’s Farm, where law enforcement officers were unable to locate the car.

A computer search led the officer and deputies to a home in Wright’s Farm.  While the suspect was not home, at the urging of his mother, he returned home and met with police.  He admitted to his actions. On 10-7-22, warrants were issued for reckless driving, eluding, hit and run and a variety of lessor offenses.   

10/6/22                        3:11p.m.          700 Block of Sun Flower Court         Fraud   

The complainant, who was selling a car, agreed to a deal, via text message. The “buyer” send a certified check for more than the purchase price of the vehicle.  The seller noticed that the check contained the name of a third party, who had never been mentioned during the discussions about the sale.  The seller called the issuing bank, who reported that the check was fraudulent. The seller was still in possession of his vehicle and the title and suffered no financial loss.  The check was collected and screen shots of the text messages were captured and submitted as evidence.

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https://www.swapmotors.com/about/blog/2/post/23/avoid-scams-online-when-selling-car

Officers also responded to the following calls for service:

In addition, officers also conducted the following: