July 2012
Today’s Good News
Monday, July 2
Third Precinct Det. Bill Cutshall recently wrote to commend Crime Analyst Torie Mount for
his excellent assistance during a bank robbery investigation. After receiving a Crime Stoppers tip,
Det. Cutshall asked Torie to help locate family members of a possible suspect as a means of
located the suspect himself. Torie not only provided the information about the suspect’s mother,
but also where she worked and her job title. Armed with that information, Cutshall was able to find
the mother who identified the suspect as her son and brought him to the precinct where he
confessed to the crime!
“Torie’s information was the crucial piece of information and the final piece of the puzzle needed
to get this bank robber off the streets,” Cutshall said. “Without Torie going above and beyond his
job duties, a bank robber would never have been apprehended or even identified and may have
continued this violent act. Torie’s knowledge and willingness to step out of the box and go take
the extra step is appreciated and helpful.”
Tuesday, July 3
K9 Officer Robert Gregory and K9 Bullit recently responded to Williamsburg Road to assist
Henrico Police with a foot pursuit of an armed person. Thanks to K9 Bullit’s sharp nose, the
suspect was tracked behind a residence and found hiding under a pile of brush and plywood.
With the assistance of Henrico officers and RPD’s Lt. Mauricio Tovar and Det. Jason Pittman,
the suspect was taken into custody without incident and charged with several crimes. Good job!
Wednesday, July 4—CITY HOLIDAY
Thursday, July 5
Friday, July 6
NO WEEKEND NEWS
Monday, July 9
Thanks to fast-responding officers and citizen involvement, the Department was recently able to
make a quick arrest in a downtown hit and run crash. A woman was crossing the street in the
Shockoe neighborhood at night when she was struck by a vehicle that left the scene. Quickthinking citizens recorded vehicle information and immediately relayed it to nearby First Precinct
police officers who coordinated with Third Precinct officers to identify the driver. With the
assistance of Hit and Run Investigator Mark Allen, the driver was found and charged with
felony hit and run. Further charges are pending. Good work everyone!
Tuesday, July 10
First Precinct Officers Anthony Catoggio and Steven Moore recently responded to Selden
Street for a report of a person shooting at an occupied vehicle. As they investigated, they
determined that thankfully no one was injured and they quickly identified and arrested the
offender. With the assistance of Major Crimes Det. Chris Foultz, they charged the offender with
multiple shooting and firearm-related charges. Good job!
Wednesday, July 11
Second Precinct Officer Derrick Longoria recently responded to investigate a burglary call.
Thanks to his in-depth investigation, he was able to identify the burglars and take out six warrants
for their arrest. But Officer Longoria didn’t stop there. He interviewed witnesses and took it upon
himself to visit several pawn shops in the area on three different days—including his day off. That
resulted in the recovery of all of the stolen power tools and their return to their rightful owner.
Good work!
Thursday, July 12
Want to learn more about the #rva Richmond Police Department? Applications are now
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being accepted for the 16 Citizens Police Academy to begin this fall. Throughout the classes,
you will meet different members of the Department and learn about the variety of responsibilities
and duties they perform, from homicide detectives to forensic investigators to patrol officers. For
more information and an application, contact Ms. GiTonya L. Parker at (804) 646-7648.
Applications can be found on our website here:
http://www.richmondgov.com/Police/Documents/CitizensAcademyApplication.pdf.
Friday, July 13
Fourth Precinct Officer Sergio Montalvan was patrolling in the Jackson Ward neighborhood
this week when he noticed a made standing next to a vehicle on North Henry Street around 3
a.m. When they made eye contact, the man suddenly took off running. Due to the recently spike
in car break-ins, Officer Montalvan gave chase and safely detained the man. After being
questioned, the man confessed he had entered an unlocked vehicle and stolen an iPod and was
about to break into a second vehicle when Officer Montalvan saw him. The man was then
charged. Good job Officer Montalvan!
NO WEEKEND NEWS
Monday, July 16
After noticing a spike in prostitution along an area of Midlothian Turnpike recently, Third Precinct
Officer Michael Shannon initiated a prostitution sweep. During the 10-hour shift, Officer
Shannon personally made six misdemeanor prostitution arrests along the 5100 to 6500 block of
Midlothian Turnpike with the support of Third Precinct’s Focus Mission Team officers. Officer
Shannon’s initiative in addressing an ongoing problem and his ability to work in an undercover
role should be commended. Good work officer!
Tuesday, July 17
Kudos to Officer Mary Gary who was named First Precinct’s Officer of the Month for June!
Officer Gary recognizes the fact that crimes like trespassing and DUIs can often escalate to
something much more serious. That’s why she makes it a point to arrest trespassers in the
Princess Anne Park community. Her ongoing crusade has resulted in multiple arrests that also
included additional charges for everything from marijuana possession to open alcohol containers
to a stolen firearm. Officer Gary is also proactive in fighting DUIs, making seven DUI arrests last
month that also resulted in the seizure of illegal narcotics. These arrests likely saved lives,
preventing the offenders from endangering the community on the roadways. Good work Officer
Gary!
Wednesday, July 18
Kudos to Officer Teru Hayashi who was named Second Precinct’s Officer of the Month for
June! Officer Hayashi has taken community policing back to walking the beat, patrolling on foot
for several hours last month in the areas of Foxwood, South Garden, Brookbury, Meadow Creek,
Woodhaven and Southwood. He routinely engages the residents in these areas to maintain an
ongoing partnership and he has created greater opportunities for community, all while taking
reports for a variety of criminal offenses. He responded to 118 radio calls month in addition to
making three felony and 12 misdemeanor arrests. He uses opportunities between these radio
calls for proactive purposes and to maintain sector integrity, including handing out crime
prevention and awareness fliers. Thank you Officer Hayashi!
Thursday, July 19
Kudos to Officer Ben Frazer who was named Third Precinct’s Officer of the Month for June!
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Highlighting Officer Frazer’s very productive month of policing was the June 15 arrest of a man
who had abducted two women from New York and forced them into prostitution in the Richmond
area. The same man had multiple warrants on file in New York for carjacking, robbery and
abduction and was also wanted for questioning in a homicide there. Officer Frazer’s arrest of this
man has had implications up and down the East Coast, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office has
adopted the case in connection with a nationwide abduction-prostitution ring. Additionally, Officer
Frazier made five felony and 24 misdemeanor arrests, seized guns and drugs, served nine
warrants and wrote 27 summonses. Good job Officer Frazer!
Friday, July 20
A Major Crimes detective recently wrote to commend Second Precinct Focus Mission Team
Tactical Unit Officers Paul Cline, Obie Arrington, Cynthia Williams, Nicholas Caesar, Frank
Scarpa and Richard McTernan for their assistance with a dual surveillance regarding suspects
wanted in a drive-by shooting that injured two people. “These officers should be recognized for
their professionalism, diligence, sound tactics and positive attitudes,” the detective wrote. “All
officers mobilized quickly on short notice and all willingly stayed beyond their shift to assist with
this operation. Thanks to their efforts, the shooter was arrested without incident and the assault
weapon was recovered along with more than 9 ounces of marijuana, pills and ammunition. This
operation could not have been successful without their efforts.”
NO WEEKEND NEWS
Monday, July 23
Congratulations to the Department’s new sergeants, lieutenants and captains who will be
promoted today at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road!
Chief Bryan T. Norwood will promote 13 new sergeants, eight new lieutenants and three new
captains. Watch the ceremony live on our Ustream page at www.tinyurl.com/WatchRPD
Tuesday, July 24
Several Third Precinct officers recently worked together to link two burglaries and a traffic stop
to catch a burglar. Officers initially responded to a home on Fitzhugh Avenue for a report of an inprogress burglary, but after setting up a perimeter and searching the area with K-9’s help, they
could not find the burglar. A short time later, they received another burglary call nearby and this
time they were able to find the offender. Thanks to officers’ keen eyes, good memory and solid
investigation, they safely arrested the burglar and connected him to the earlier crime. Good work
everyone! Kudos to Third Precinct Officers Carl Scott, Steven Fields, Glendon Cox, Andrew
Nicholson, Andre Guevara, Christian James, Heather Truong, Brian Vessel and K-9 Officer
Sammy Hernandez and K-9 Niko.
Wednesday, July 25
A man recently wrote to commend Special Events Officer Christopher Kitt for his actions
during the National Veterans Games earlier this month. “Officer Christopher Kitt went way beyond
his duties as an officer every day that he was on duty,” the man wrote. “I would like to say how
much I appreciate that.”
Thursday, July 26
Thanks to the clever and coordinated efforts of several First Precinct detectives and officers
recently, two armed robbers were quickly identified and arrested. After the victim provided the
robbers’ license plate number, the officers tracked down the vehicle and identified the robbers
and their location to within several multiple apartment buildings. To safely make the arrests, they
arranged for the suspects’ vehicle to be towed. When the robbers came out of the apartment to
see why their vehicle was being towed, the officers arrested them without incident. Good work
Sgt. Jayson Walter and Officers Steve Moore, Michael Stinger, Kevin Hyde, Michael Bryson
and Focus Mission Team Det. Kevin Hughes and Officers Kenneth Custer, Harry
Fitzpatrick, Thomas Gilbert and John Hill.
Friday, July 27
After an elderly man recently returned home to find a burglar inside his house on Spotsylvania
Street, First Precinct Officer Deane Waite responded within one minute to help the victim and
find the offender. With the assistance of Det. Clyde Lindsey and Officer Brian Huddleston,
they found the burglar inside a bathroom and arrested him without incident after finding stolen
cash and burglary tools on his person. The man confessed to the burglary and was charged with
that crime, petit larceny and possession of burglary tools.
NO WEEKEND NEWS
Monday, July 30
Fourth Precinct Officer Michael Nyantakyi and Jerome Andrzejczak recently responded to
Chamberlayne Avenue to gather information about an armed robbery at 3:30 a.m. After they
broadcast the suspect and vehicle descriptions, keen-eyed Officer Virgil Burton spotted the
vehicle nearby on North Avenue and conducted a traffic stop. With the assistance of Officer
Nyantakyi and Det. James Higgins, the robber was detained, interviewed and charged with
armed robbery after officers found a gun and the victim’s purse in his car. Good job!
Tuesday, July 31
First Precinct Officer John Esposito was on patrol recently when he spotted a man running
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with a TV on North 32 Street and went to investigate. After the man ducked into a nearby
house, Officer Esposito called for backup. With the assistance of K-9 Officer Sammy
Hernandez, K-9 Niko and First Precinct Det. David Cuffley, Sgts. Dana Brereton, Chris
Wyatt and Ethan Rhodenizer as well as Officers Mary Gary, Jerry Baskette, Brenda
Graham and Tim Arthur, they surrounded the building, searched the area and safely made an
arrest. They also recovered the stolen property. Good work all!