Richmond's Fan area neighborhoods faced a frightening frenzy of robberies during the month of May according to Richmond Police. The Sector 313 report covering the Fan, Maymont & Randolph communities indicates robberies increased by 250% compared to the month of May 2009.

The bulk of the robberies occurred the weekend of May 7th when the fan was stunned by a series of robberies by two men. The Sector 313 report provides details on each of the incidents:

Friday, May 7, 2010, 2315 hours

1700 Grove Avenue
The victim was walking eastbound on Grove Avenue when he was approached by both suspects. Suspect #1 asked the victim for a cigarette. The victim looked down to find his cigarette pack and when he looked back up he saw suspect #1 armed with a silver handgun and his face covered with a dark-colored bandanna. Suspect #1 said, “Get your money.” The victim handed suspect #1 his BlackBerry and cash. After the robbery both suspects walked from the area westbound on Grove Avenue.

Suspect #1:
Armed w/silver-colored handgun
B/M, 20-25 years old, 5’9-6’0”, 175 pounds, puffy hair
last seen wearing: blue or black bandanna, dark-colored t-shirt, dark-colored pants

Suspect #2:
B/M, 20-29 years old, 6’0”, muscular build, puffy/messy hair
last seen wearing: white shirt, blue jeans

Saturday, May 8, 2010, 0525 hours

100 N. Morris Street
The victim was walking northbound on N. Morris when he was approached by both suspects. Suspect #1 asked the victim if he had a phone. Before the victim could elicit a response suspect #1 displayed a black handgun and pointed it at the victim’s chest. Suspect #2 searched the victim and stole his cell phone and wallet. After the robbery the suspects told the victim to run. The victim ran south on N. Morris and did not see how or when the suspects left the area.

Suspect #1:
Armed w/ black handgun
B/M, 25-29 years old, 6’0”, slim build, dark-colored complexion, goatee beard
last seen wearing: black hoodie, dark-colored clothing

Suspect #2:
B/M, 25-29 years old, 6’0”, 200-225 pounds, heavy-set, goatee beard
last seen wearing: black doo-rag, black shirt

Sunday, May 9, 2010, 2030 hours

315 N. Boulevard
The victim was exiting her parked car and talking on her cell phone when she was approached by both suspects. Suspect #1 displayed a black handgun and demanded her purse and cell phone. The victim gave the suspects her cell phone and handbag. After the robbery the suspects fled on foot northbound through the alley toward Stuart Avenue.

Suspect #1:
Armed w/ black handgun
B/M, 20-29 years old, 5’10”-6’0”, 170-180 pounds, cornrows
last seen wearing: black hoodie w/ white writing on right side, black shorts

Suspect #2:
B/M, 20-29 years old, 5’10”-6’0”, chubby
last seen wearing: dark-colored shirt, dark pants

For more details on these incidents & other crimes in our area check out the May Sector 313 crime report

A South Mulberry Avenue man is in jail this week after Richmond Police seized 25 pounds of marijuana from his car. RPD say that around 10 PM Saturday night Officers Robert Jamison and Toney Waldorf stopped a vehicle for speeding on West Main Street, when the officers approached the car the strong smell of marijuana led them to search the vehicle.

A thorough search of the vehicle yielded 25 pounds of marijuana and $10,000 in cash. The driver of the vehicle, William L. Bowman, 33, of the 200 block of South Mulberry Street, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Bowman faces a class 5 felony with imprisonment of not less than 5 nor more than 30 years for his possession of more than 5 pounds of marijuana. Police did not reveal details on the suspect's fine for speeding but he will likely face higher auto insurance rates as a result of this traffic stop.

Flashing lights and the wail of police sirens were all too familiar in the Fan area during April as RPD reports that violent crimes and robberies doubled over the same period in 2009.

In the Sector 313 April Newsletter the department reports:

Violent Crime: 100% increase
04/2010 vs. 04/2009 – ten (10) crimes vs. five (5) crimes.

Property Crime: 34% decrease
04/2010 vs. 04/2009 – forty-seven (47) crimes vs. seventy-one (71) crimes

Major Crime: 25% decrease
04/2010 vs. 04/2009 – fifty-seven (57) crimes vs. seventy-six (76) crimes

ROBBERY - INDIVIDUAL
100% increase
04/2010 vs. 04/2009 – two (2) robberies vs. one (1) robbery

Among the noteworthy incidents is this 3:30 AM robbery on April 16th:

Friday, April 16, 2010, 0318 hours
2700 W. Grace Street
The victim was outside of his apartment getting his mail when he was approached by the suspect who was armed with a silver-colored shotgun. The suspect said, “Drop everything and don’t run.” The suspect robbed the victim of his book bag which contained a wallet and a laptop computer. After the robbery the suspect ordered the victim to get on the ground and count to ten. The suspect was last seen running southbound on Mulberry towards Monument Avenue.

Suspect:
Armed w/silver-colored, single-barrel shotgun
B/M, 26-30 years old, 5’8-5’9””, 160-170 pounds, goatee beard
last seen wearing: dark-colored skull cap, dark-colored, baggy jacket

Read more about April crimes in the Fan, Maymont, Byrd Park & Randolph neighborhoods in the Sector 313 Newsletter

Richmond Police confirm that there is a "strong possibility" that the five armed robberies in Boulevard area neighborhoods are connected. Says Lt. Timothy Morley with the Richmond Police Department's 3rd Precinct Robbery & Property Crimes Team, "We had two sets of robberies, on two different days which were minutes apart. There is a strong possibility these are related, due to the proximity to each other, the times and physical descriptions given by the victims. There was one robbery which occurred in the same area but at a different time. It would be premature to say the same suspects were involved in all of the robberies, but we are looking carefully at the similarities."

Lt. Morley tells us that in each case the suspects were described as:

• young black males
• around 6 feet tall
• one suspect was stockier than the other
• wearing dark clothing

Police are taking proactive measures to prevent further robberies and capture the suspects in the recent rash of robberies. Says Lt. Morley "Our officers have been briefed on the locations and suspect information regarding recent robberies. This may not, however, be the best indicator of where and when any suspects may strike again." Morley adds, "Our Third Precinct officers are going to be conducting regular checks in the area. We would ask our area residents to assist us with their eyes and ears to report any suspicious activity, cars or persons in their neighborhoods."

Police say the best thing you can do when you observe suspicious persons around you or your vehicle is to call 9-1-1. Your detailed description of persons and vehicles could prevent one of your friends or neighbors from becoming a victim of crime.

 **DEVELOPING**

Crime hit the Fan this weekend as Richmond Police report a significant number of armed robberies between the VCU campus and the Boulevard. The rash of robberies on Friday and Saturday all share similar characteristics: two suspects armed with a gun robbing an individual.

 Richmond Police Report The Following Incidents:

ROBBERY
5/7/10 11:15 p.m.
1700 block of Grove Avenue
A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY
5/8/10 5:34 a.m.
100 block of North Morris Street
A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY
5/8/10 5:34 a.m.
1800 block of Grove Avenue
A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY
5/9/10 8:28 p.m.
315 N. Boulevard
A female reported she was robbed at gunpoint by two unknown males.

ROBBERY ATTEMPT
5/9/10 9:28 p.m.
3000 Monument Ave.
A female reported she was assaulted during a robbery attempt by two unknown males with a gun.

Police have not yet confirmed a link or provided suspect descriptions for these crimes.

WRIC reports that Richmond Police are still on the hunt for a man accused of abducting and attempting to assault a young woman near the intersection of Floyd Ave & Boulevard. Watch the 8 News report on the Wednesday incident:

Do you live along or near the Boulevard? Well be sure to claim your parking spot tonight because this weekend is going to be a very busy one on our grand avenue.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts grand opening celebration on Saturday and Sunday will draw thousands of residents and tourists to the Grove through Kensington blocks of Boulevard. The expanded museum features a 600 car parking garage however we can expect many visitors to utilize free street parking.

Further south on Boulevard traffic and parking will also be more of a challenge than usual as Byrd Park hosts Arts in the Park. The 38th annual art show will feature more than 450 artists and will also draw thousands of people to the Carillon area in Byrd Park.

Arts in The Park will provide free parking and free shuttle service from the City Stadium parking lot to Byrd Park.

Residents south of the James have the Farmer’s Market at Forest Hill Park. Shockoe Bottom has the 17th Street Market. And beginning May 1st, Boulevardizens will have the Monument Market!

Organized by First Baptist Church, Monument Market will be located at the corner of Monument and Robinson every Saturday from 8am to noon through October 2010.

The market will feature fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers and even include organically raised meats and eggs. Additional vendors will sell jewelry, bird houses, wooden bowls and more. With space for 30 vendors, this market will offer Boulevardizens a great place to shop locally for produce and more.

As a special treat, Saturday’s grand opening will feature live music and entertainment.

Richmond Fire Department units swarmed the intersection of Stuart Ave and Strawberry Street around lunch time today when a small blaze broke out in the Italian restaurant 8 1/2.

According to Lt. Shawn Jones with the RFD the restaurant blaze was ruled accidental and that units quickly controlled the smoky fire.

All of the restaurant's staff & patrons were safely evacuated from the single story structure.

On June 13, 1951 a large F3 tornado touched down just west of the Boulevard Bridge and carved a path of destruction through Byrd Park, The Fan and into Richmond's north side communities. The late afternoon tornado travelled four miles through the city, completely destroying 35 buildings and damaging 1,000 others.

From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
"It came on fast. It sounded to me like an earthquake. I saw rooftops flying through the air. Pieces of tin and trees were falling on South Granby Street. When it hit my house, the back of the house came down. All the houses along here got hit in the back, and they all were half ripped down." - Perl Price, 1835 Rosewood Avenue.

And from the Richmond News Leader came this quote by John L. Walker:
"Four different clouds - all funnel-shaped - were rushing toward the city. Each one had a tail like a kite. Then the four came together in the shape of a huge auger that picked up everything in front of it."
This report suggests that it was a multi-vortex tornado with, at one point, four vortices visible.

Read More From The National Weather Service In Sterling

March proved to be a terrible month for criminals in the Fan and Byrd Park neighborhoods as Richmond Police report a number of successful arrests.

Noteworthy incidents from the Sector 313 report for the month of March:

Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 7:15 PM–  1809 Hampton Street
The victim was jogging wearing headphones when he was attacked from behind by the suspect who repeatedly punched him and pushed him into a parked car. During the assault the suspect took the victim’s iPod and ran from the scene eastbound toward Kansas Avenue. A short time later an officer stopped an individual matching the suspect’s description in the 1800 block of Colorado Avenue. Detectives brought the victim to the scene of where the suspect was stopped and the victim positively identified the suspect as the robber. The suspect was arrested and charged with robbery. A search of the suspect incident to his arrest revealed the victim’s iPod in the suspect’s pants pocket.

Friday, March 12, 2010
Officers responded to the 00 block of S. Davis reference a domestic assault. The victim had been assaulted by her boyfriend during an argument in which he broke her cell phone, choked her and put his cigarette out on her forehead. The suspect was gone when the officers arrived, but they obtained a warrant for his arrest. Two days later the suspect was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Officers with the Focus Mission Team executed a drug search warrant in the 00 block of S. Addison Street. As a result, the officers seized over two (2) pounds of marijuana and a digital scale. Two suspects were charged with felony attempt to distribute marijuana.

Thursday, March 25, 2010
Officers arrested a suspect for property damage after catching him carving his initials into a tree in Byrd Park. A further check revealed he was wanted by police in reference to seven (7) felony indictments involving forgery and grand larceny.

Saturday, March 27
Officer Morley received information that a wanted suspect was in the area of the 2700 of W. Main Street. She and other officers circulated the area and located the suspect right where the tipster said he would be. As a result, the suspect was taken into custody without incident and served with two warrants; one for possession of marijuana and another for possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.

View the full report from the Sector 313 Newsletter

Do you frequently park your vehicle in the Fan? If so, now is the time to improve your parallel parking skills as Richmond Police are cracking down on parking violations. According to a report from NBC 12 the department is issuing more citations for vehicles parked within 20 feet of an intersection and vehicles blocking fire hydrants.

Reports NBC 12:

"If vehicles are parked so close to an intersection it just reduces the visibility to almost zero and it just increases the likelihood that there will be a crash at that intersection." [says Lieutenant Edward Capriglione]
.....

"There is a misperception that you can park up to this sign but technically the ordinance is 20 foot back from this intersection," he said. "So where the alley comes out, technically 20 feet back is where the parking zone would start and it's not here at the sign."

Read more about the increased parking enforcement at NBC 12

Have you received a parking ticket that you think is unfair due to confusing or improper signage? You can challenge the ticket in person or by mail in Richmond's General District Court. According to the City of Richmond website:

You may contest your citation with the Richmond General District Court - Traffic Division by completing a Contest Citation Form that has been approved by the Court. To obtain a copy of the Traffic Court Contest Citation Form. You may also obtain a copy of this form in person, by fax or by mail.

In Person: go to Parking Violation Unit, Room 102-City Hall, 900 E. Broad St. Parking or a Customer Service Specialist, Room 102-City Hall, 900 E. Broad St.

By Fax: Parking Violation Unit: (804)646-5641 or Customer Service Specialist: (804)646-5700

By Mail: City of Richmond Department of Finance - Parking Violations City Hall, Room 102 900 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219

Citations may not be contested after they have been paid, nor may payment for contested citations be made to the City of Richmond once they have been contested. Once the citation has been contested and the information forwarded to the Traffic Court to establish a court date, all actions regarding the citation must be handled through the Clerk, General District Court, Traffic Division;(804)646-6431.

CRASH!!!! A rain soaked roof covering the front porch of a home at 2629 Kensington Ave performed an unplanned separation from its parent structure at around 8:30 PM this evening. Richmond Fire crews arrived on the scene to discover an estimated 30 feet of smashed roofing materials collapsed onto the porch foundation and shrubbery in front of the structure.

According to reports from a nearby resident the roof was already in a state of disrepair after suffering significant damage from this winter's heavy snowfall accumulations.

There were no reported injuries in this catastrophic structural failure.

Are you soothed by the sound of falling water? This spring you may find parts of the Fan neighborhood to be exceptionally relaxing according to the Department of Public Utilities. DPU says that their water main cleaning and renewal project will resume as soon as springtime weather arrives and that we can expect open fire hydrants and bypass hoses releasing water on the streets.

DPU says that the remaining phase of the restoration project will affect Hanover Ave from Robinson Street to Harvie Street and some side streets off of Stuart Ave.

Says DPU on the project:

Residents and businesses in the impacted area will only be without water briefly as they are switched from the water main to the bypass hoses. Doorhangers with information will be delivered before work begins.

Stay informed about the project's progress and other developments from the Department of Public Utilities

CBS 6's Sam Brock went undercover at some of Robinson Street's most popular bars and what he found may shock and surprise you!
 
Brock continues his investigation into the smoking ban's lack of enforcement in a new report from CBS 6.