News in 5: York-Poquoson deputies seek 'armed and dangerous' suspect

Good morning!

We can expect some additional rain showers for the next few days, according to Meteorologist Myles Henderson of WTKR News 3. While the temperature won’t be as warm, it’ll still be humid.

	Myles Henderson Sep 07, 2022 ·

COOLER
Highs in the low 80s to end the work week
Mid 80s (near normal) this weekend
Still humid

wtkr.com/weather
#FirstWarn3

The weather is expected to improve for the weekend, just in time for many of the local events that are planned. If you’re looking for something to do this week, check out my latest community calendar of events. It’s been updated to include a free Harvest Moon Hike at Freedom Park and several additional live music events (including a free performance by the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble).

Now to the news.

-Christin

1. York County police are searching for an ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect who fled from officers after attempting to break into a home.

• The York-Poquoson Sherriff’s Office is looking for a suspect who tried to break into a home in York County but got away from police. The incident happened shortly after 8:00 pm on Saturday, September 3 in the Holly Point area of Dare in York County.
  • The suspect was known to the owners of the home where the attempted invasion took place, according to police.
  • When deputies responded, the homeowner confronted the suspect – now identified as 38-year-old Travis Levelle Warren – but he fled the scene on a motorcyle and dragged the homeowner in the process. The homeowner was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
• Warren was already wanted on multiple felonies in Newport News and Hampton. Deputies attempted to apprehend the man, but he ran into an officer’s patrol vehicle and escaped into the woods in the 800 block of Dare Road. Officers then lost sight of him, and even with the assistance of police K9 Ghost and his handler, the suspect could not be located after an extensive search.
• Deputies have issued a warrant for Warren’s arrest for aggravated assault, burglary, hit and run, destruction of property and obstruction of justice.
  • Police describe Warren as a black male who is about 6 foot 1 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a dark motorcycle jacket with red on it and a black and silver motorcycle helmet.
  • The York-Poquoson Sherriff’s Office is working with the Hampton Police Department to serve the warrant because the suspect is a resident of Hampton.

Police responded to a report of an attempted home invasion in the Holly Point area of Dare in York County on Saturday, September 3, shortly after 8 pm. The suspect, identified as Travis Levelle Warren, escaped into the woods and remains at large. (Getty Images)

2. DarKoaster – said to be the ‘world’s first all-indoor straddle coaster’ – is coming to Busch Gardens.

• For years, fans of Busch Gardens have expressed sadness over the closure of “Curse of DarKastle,” a popular indoor roller coaster that opened in 2005 but stopped operating in 2018. But many regular visitors will be excited to learn that the Williamsburg amusement park is replacing that ride with something that’s anticipated to be even better: DarKoaster. The new thrill ride is set to debut as the “world’s first all-indoor straddle coaster.”
• DarKoaster is already currently under construction, according to park officials, and is expected to open during the first part of 2023. It’ll be located in the same building that was previously home to DarKastle. DarKastle told the story of a mad Bavarian king who lived in a haunted castle, and DarKoaster is expected to evoke a similar theme.
• The family-friendly coaster will feature four launches, over 2,400 feet of track and speeds of up to 36 mph.

“DarKoaster will be an exciting and unique addition to our world class lineup of coasters,” said Kevin Lembke, Busch Gardens Williamsburg Park President. “As an indoor attraction, DarKoaster complements our collection of thrill rides and offers a new experience to enjoy throughout the year. Plus, with only a 48-inch height requirement, DarKoaster is a ride for the whole family to conquer together.”

3. Williamsburg police are looking for two men wanted on fraud charges.

• Williamsburg police are looking for two men they say fraudulently purchased five electric boards at an electric bike shop at 100 College Row on June 29, 2022. The purchase totaled $12,757.31.
• An employee reported the men to police after becoming suspicious of their behavior and the large purchase. The men attempted to use two different credit cards that were both declined, but on the third attempt, the transaction was processed after a credit card number was provided. Both subjects had already left the scene by the time officers arrived.
• Upon further investigation, police discovered that the two men used a credit card number and ID that belonged to someone else.
• The men were identified as Jermaine Clive Gobern, 32, of Tampa, Florida, and Dhrai Justin Davis, 26, of Tampa, Florida. Felony arrest warrants have been issued for both Gobern and Davis. They’re wanted for attempting to obtain money by false pretense, conspiracy to obtain money by false pretense and intent to defraud.
  • The two men’s whereabouts remain unknown. Police describe Gobern as a black male, 6 foot 2 inches tall and 230 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Davis is described as a black male, 5 foot 7 inches tall and 150 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.
  • Anyone with information concerning the possible locations of the men is asked to call the Williamsburg Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

4. The popular Paradise Ocean Club at Fort Monroe announced plans to close permanently – but the owner plans to fight back.

• An announcement posted to Paradise Ocean Club’s social media page stated that the popular beachside business would need to close permanently after Labor Day weekend. The decision came after the business said its 10-year lease agreement with the National Park Service (NPS) was “taken away without cause.”
• Baxter Simmons, the owner of the business, said he was told NPS has developed a new vision for the property and is “going in a different direction.” But Simmons said the announcement was unexpected, and he had planned to sign a lease and stay for at least another 10 years. Now, Paradise Ocean Club is launching a petition it hopes will make NPS change its mind.
  • The popular waterfront restaurant features a tiki bar, a private beach, an Olympic-sized pool, live music and full-service catering. Simmons said he’s had to cancel events, including weddings and holiday parties, that were booked months out.
• The closure comes just a few months after the NPS issued a weekend curfew for North Beach in June after safety concerns emerged in the area.

“They’ve not sat down and at least worked with us to say, ‘Hey we want some changes. Can you do this within your business model?’ There’s been no talk or negotiation of that with the National Parks,” Simmons told WTKR News 3.

• In a statement, Eola Dance, Superintendent for Fort Monroe National Monument, said the NPS wants to “clarify the vision, scale, and scope of activities at the ocean club that are appropriate in a National Park setting for the enjoyment of all visitors.” She added that the NPS will welcome an updated proposal “from the current business operator as well as others,” and the proposals will be posted to the park website.
• So far, Paradise Ocean Club’s petition has generated over 4,000 signatures. The business’s current goal is to reach 5,000.

	paradiseoceanclub 7.5Kfollowers
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Paradise Ocean Club Closing Permanently Paradise has been a part of the community since 2012 and was looking forward t…

5. Williamsburg was named the ‘Best City for History Buffs’ by Yahoo! Life.

• Yahoo! Life ranked Williamsburg at the very top of their recently published list of the best U.S cities to visit for History Buffs. According to the popular lifestyle website, Williamsburg stands out as one place, in particular, that is a “must-see” for history lovers.

“Williamsburg, Virginia, is probably the closest you’ll ever get to time travel,” said travel expert and history buff Leslie Carbone in the article. “Colonial Williamsburg features a recreated 18th-century capital city where you can chat with simple tradesmen or George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, dine at taverns, and even participate in reenacted court trials.”

• Other East Coast cities to make the list include Boston, Massachusetts (#5), Washington, D.C (#8) and Charleston, South Carolina (#9).
• A Triangle reader also pointed out that Williamsburg was recently included on The Discoverer Blog’s list of top “10 U.S towns stuck in time” (and yes, that’s meant in a good way!)
  • “Next time you have the urge to escape the fast-paced city life, consider these wonderful towns,” the blog states, before highlighting Williamsburg.

	colonialwmsburg 112.6Kfollowers
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Time traveling is best experienced via carriage ride, wouldn’t you agree? Recently, we’ve been named as the best city…

6. A second fox has tested positive for rabies in the Williamsburg area.

• The Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts notified residents last week that a wild fox who attacked a cat in James City County on August 26 tested positive for rabies. Several sightings of the fox were reported in the area of Canvas Back Run and the Warhill Sports Complex. The fox is now deceased.
• The news came about a week after a wild gray fox tested positive for rabies after biting five people, a cat and a dog in Williamsburg. Bites and sightings were reported in the areas of Boundary Street, Counselor’s Way, Mimosa Drive and Griffin Avenue, according to City of Williamsburg officials.
  • Rabies is a fatal, but preventable disease that is carried by mammals. It has existed within the wild animal population on the Virginia Peninsula since the mid-1980s. Residents are urged to protect against rabies by vaccinating their pets, reporting all bites or scratches from wild animals to their doctor and the local health department, and refraining from feeding wild animals like raccoons, skunks and foxes.
• Anyone who has had exposure to any fox bite is asked to contact the Hampton & Peninsula Health Districts’ Williamsburg Environmental Health Office at 757-603-4277.

Additional crime notes:

• A man was fatally shot in Newport News on Saturday night. Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of 33rd Street after responding to a Shotspotter activation around 10:09 pm. They then discovered an adult male with gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and an investigation is ongoing. –WAVY
• A 13-year-old student in Gloucester was taken into custody after sending out violent threats on social media against Page Middle School in Gloucester County. The teen has been charged with threats of death or bodily injury on school property and use of profane, threatening or indecent language over public airways. He is currently being held at the Merrimac Center, where he awaits a court hearing. –13NewsNow
• James City County police responded to a report of gunfire shortly after 8:00 pm last Tuesday. After arriving on the scene, they found a 44-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder. The man was taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center and is expected to recover. No further details have been released by police. –The Virginia Gazette

Lowest Gas Prices Today

All prices listed are per GasBuddy. To check the lowest prices based on zip code, click here.

Local Covid-19 Update

New cases: ➕ VDH reports that an additional 16,908 people in Virginia tested positive for Covid-19 last week (down from the 17,422 cases reported during the previous week). Localities on the Peninsula with the biggest increases in new cases (over 100) last week include Newport News (+204), Hampton (+189) and James City County (+124), according to WTVR News 6.

Hospitalizations and deaths: An additional 252 people were hospitalized with Covid-19 in Virginia last week (down from 280 the week before), according to VDH data. 107 Covid-19-related deaths also occurred in the state last week (equal to the number reported in the week before).

Vaccination rate: 72.4% of Virginians are fully vaccinated (up from 72.2% last week).

In the National News

• New Booster Shots Approved: The CDC on Thursday endorsed updated Covid-19 booster shots intended to target today’s most common Omicron strains, the AP reports. The vaccines are expected to start arriving in pharmacies and clinics this week, and officials hope the new jabs will help reduce the severity of an anticipated fall and winter surge. But some have criticized the CDC’s decision to approve the shots because they’re being released before human studies concluded, and it is not clear exactly how effective they will be. “I just feel that this was a bit premature” given the absence of human data on how well it works, said Dr. Pablo Sanchez of the Ohio State University, the only CDC adviser to vote against recommending the shots. Sanchez, nonetheless, said he believes the booster is safe and will likely get it.
• Artemis 1 Mission Fails Again: NASA’s highly-anticipated second attempt to launch Artemis 1 in a moon mission was scrapped again due to a hydrogen fuel leak Saturday. Officials now say the earliest they can try for another launch will be late September. The stakes are high for the launch to be successful in the near future, as the mission is considered the first step toward getting astronauts back to the moon. No human has been to the moon since 1972, and Artemis is already years behind schedule and billions over budget, PBS News reports.
• Russia Buys Weapons from North Korea: Russia is buying “millions of rockets and artillery” from North Korea to support its invasion of Ukraine, a U.S official told ABC News. The purchases indicate Moscow’s military is continuing to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, partially because of heavy sanctions and export controls.
• New PM Takes Helm in U.K.: Liz Truss became the U.K’s new prime minister Tuesday, the AP reports. Truss – who is replacing Boris Johnson – faces enormous challenges, including soaring prices, labor unrest and a healthcare system bogged down by long waiting lists and staff shortages. A member of the Conservative party like Johnson, Truss is pledging to prioritize lowering energy costs, which have become unaffordably high in the country.

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