Prince William police target sex crimes at Locust Shade

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: May 9, 2008

During a two-week operation, detectives of the Prince William County police street crimes unit arrested five men after receiving a string of recent complaints of sexual solicitation at Locust Shade Park.

Police made the following arrests on May 1:

• David W. Ford, 45, 3409 Tuckahoe Court near Dumfries, was charged with criminal solicitation, indecent expo-sure and obscene sexual display, and was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond, according to a police spokes-woman.

• William D. Jones, 45, of 6 Cable Road in Stafford, was charged with criminal solicitation and was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.

• James M. Anderson, 51, of 13 Robert St. in Stafford, was charged with criminal solicitation, indecent exposure and obscene sexual display, police said. He was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

A week later police arrested two others:

• Charles D. Ross, 44, of 35 Settlers Way in Stafford, was charged with criminal solicitation, obscene sexual display and indecent exposure. He was held in lieu of a $1,500 bond, police said.

• William M. Stewart, 50, of 108 Ivywood Drive in Stafford, was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal solicitation. He was held in lieu of a $2,000 bond.

1st Sgt. Paul Rankin said the police department began getting complaints of sexual activities taking place at the park in Triangle about a month ago.

During the undercover operation, which took place mostly during daylight hours, at least two men offered oral sex to undercover police officers and one made advances to another undercover officer in a public men's rest-room, according to criminal complaints filed in Prince William County Circuit Court.

Each of the five is scheduled to appear in court June 6.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.