Prince William Times 07/29/2021

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MEET THE GAINESVILLE HIGH COACHING STAFF: New school is fielding 22 teams. SPORTS, Page 15

July 29, 2021 | Vol. 20, No. 30 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | $1.00 Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Challenges remain as county hits 70% adult vaccination mark Officials urge a return to mask-wearing By Jill Palermo

Times Staff Writer

PHOTO BY JOHN CALHOUN

A Prince William County police tactical unit responds to a standoff near Lake Jackson Drive in July 2021 that ended with one arrest.

Report: Local crime dipped in 2020 Overall crime rate ticked up .1% amid increases in property crimes, some violent offenses By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

Local crime dipped in most categories in 2020, and criminal incidents continue to be steady through the first six months of 2021. But the overall crime rate ticked upward last year amid an increase in property crimes and some violent offenses, according to police Chief Peter Newsham and the county’s recently released annual crime report. The Prince William County Police Department released its 2020 crime report on Friday, July 23. The report states that total calls for service, traffic citations and arrests declined “in part, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” while some other criminal activity in the county “remained steady or significantly increased.” Upticks were reported in some categories of violent crimes, including assaults in which there was a significant injury, or an attempt to commit a serious injury, known as “aggravated assaults.” The number of aggra-

The Prince William Health District finally hit the 70% mark for adults having had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this week. But officials say they remain concerned about the 30% who are not yet vaccinated as local transmission of the virus hits the “substantial” level amid the rise of the more contagious Delta variant. Prince William Health District’s community engagement director Sean Johnson said Tuesday that even fully vaccinated local residents should wear face masks indoors in public places or when they are in close contact with people outside their households. See VACCINATION, page 2

5-Year Crime Rate 13.7

2016

14.0 12.9

2017

2018

11.9

12.0

2019

2020

vated assaults rose 50% between 2019 and 2020, from 476 to 716. Firearm use in these instances increased from 140 in 2019 to 301 in 2020, an increase of more than 53%. “Although no definitive cause can be identified for the overall increase, the use of firearms, dangerous weapons and vehicles to assault intensified in 2020,” the report said. Crimes against persons, such as homicide, manslaughter, consensual and nonconsensual sex offenses, simple and aggravated assaults, kidnapping and human trafficking fell 10% in 2020. There were eight homicides, the lowest number in the county since 2017, according to the report. Firearms were used to kill seven of the homicide victims, and one victim was killed by stabbing. All eight murders were cleared with arrests, the report states. See CRIME, page 6

Work set to begin soon on Rollins Ford Park. Page 3

88 DULLES, VA

Welcome to the new legacy! Still your bank. Visit TFB.bank for more information.

COURTESY PHOTO

The area slated to become Belmont Bay’s new marina district is now a cleared field stretching from George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center and the Belmont Bay Harbor marina.

Developer pitches 1,400-home boost for Belmont Bay By Daniel Berti

Times Staff Writer

The developer that brought Woodbridge’s Belmont Bay to life more than two decades ago is proposing another 1,400 homes, 90 acres of parkland and more commercial space in a plan aimed at giving the commu-

nity a fresh shot in the arm. The Caruthers Companies, based in Northern Virginia, has submitted a redevelopment plan for the community that spans 170 acres and is estimated to cost about $550 million. See BELMONT, page 6

The ‘faces’ who make Manassas great. Page 11

NOW


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