Police briefs

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: May 9, 2008

Manassas City police are investigating the armed robbery of a service station store Wednesday night.

A man armed with a knife and handgun entered the convenience store at Citgo, 8536 Sudley Road, around 10 p.m. and demanded money, police said.

The robber climbed over the counter, pointed the gun at the 29-year-old employee and demanded money a second time, said Sgt. Tim Neumann, police spokesman.

After emptying cash from the register and stealing several cartons of cigarettes, the robber fled, running down Va. 234 toward Prince William Hospital, Neumann said.

The robber was described as a man in his early 20s, approximately 5 feet tall and was wearing jeans, a white T-shirt and a blue bandanna tied across his face, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Manassas City Crime Solvers at 703-330-0330. Callers don't have to give their names, just the information, and could earn up to a $1,000 cash reward.

Md. woman hit by car

while pumping gas

A 2003 Lincoln Towncar struck a 71-year-old Potomac, Md., woman who was

pumping gas on Monday afternoon, Prince William County police said.

The Lincoln Towncar was leaving the parking lot of Raceway gas station, 14106 Lee Highway in Gainesville, when for unknown reasons it began to accelerate, police said.

The driver swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle, drove through a set of gas pumps and struck the Maryland woman, who became pinned between the two vehicles, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman.

Good Samaritans helped the woman to safety, Hernandez said. She was flown to an area hospital with a broken hip and a broken leg.

No charges have been placed against the 58-year-old Nokesville woman who was driving the Lincoln Towncar, Hernandez said. Traffic was shut down for about two hours.

Man arrested, charged

in April home invasion

Prince William police on Tuesday arrested a man accused of being involved in a recent home invasion.

Around 4:54 p.m., detectives from the violent crimes unit searched two homes—one at 10726 River Run Drive in the Buckhall area and the other at 14059 Fallbrook Lane in Dale City—in connection with a home invasion in the 1400 block of Idaho Street in Woodbridge on April 30, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman.

The day six intruders, four of whom were wearing ski masks and were armed with handguns, bound the people inside the house with duct tape, according to an affidavit for a search warrant filed in Prince William County Circuit Court.

During the searches, detectives seized two pellet guns, Hernandez said.

Ronald Ebenezer Coleman, 22, residing at 11843 Troika Court in Lake Ridge, was charged with four counts of abduction, four counts of armed robbery, four counts of assault and battery by a mob and one count of burglary with intent to commit a felony, police said.

U.S. Marshals tracked Coleman to his best friend's house at 14059 Fallbrook Lane and took him into custody, the affidavit states.

He is being held without bond pending a June 19 court date. The investigation continues.

Woman robbed while walking to restaurant

A 55-year-old Montclair woman was attacked while walking from her vehicle to a restaurant in the 5100 block of Waterway Drive in Montclair around 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, said Officer Erika Hernandez, Prince William police spokeswoman.

Police said the assailant grabbed the woman's purse.

She was struggling with the robber to keep hold of her purse when he snatched her wallet and fled to the rear of the shopping center, Hernandez said.

The robber was described as a Hispanic man, between 35 and 42 years old, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and approximately 150 pounds, police said. He was wearing a light blue T-shirt, blue jeans and a blue baseball cap.

The woman suffered minor injuries during the robbery, according to police.

Fairfax man is robbed

at gunpoint, car hit

A 22-year-old Fairfax man was robbed at knifepoint in the 7400 block of Stream Walk Lane near Manassas around 10:11 p.m. Monday, said Officer Erika Hernandez, Prince William police spokeswoman.

The man reported to police that the passenger of a vehicle threatened him with a knife and demanded money.

After getting the money, the "suspect vehicle" began to leave when it collided with the victim's vehicle, Hernandez said.

Approximately $2,000 in damage was done, but no injuries were reported, police said.

The driver of the suspect vehicle was described as a man in his early 20s, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build.

A detailed description of the armed robber was not available.

Man throws rock

at window, exposes self

A man exposed himself to a woman Tuesday through her window, Prince William County police said.

The incident happened around 11:33 p.m. when someone threw a rock at the window of an apartment in the 13700 block of Keelingwood Circle in Woodbridge to get the victim's attention, said Officer Erika Hernan-dez.

The flasher was between 30 and 40 years old with a medium build, police said.

Man exposes himself

in Lake Jackson area

Two 18-year-old women from Montclair reported that a man exposed himself to them while they were driving in the area of Va. 234 and Purcell Road in the Lake Jackson area around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, said Officer Erika Hernan-dez, Prince William police spokeswoman.

Police said the flasher was thin, between 20 and 30 years old and was driving a two-door blue sedan.