News Briefs

Local and VCU
Arrest made in bicycle bandit case
Police charged a Richmond man Thursday in one of several robberies committed by someone on a bicycle at a South Richmond apartment complex.

Kent Peace, 18, was taken into custody yesterday morning and charged with one count each of robbery and use of a firearm in a felony.

The charges stem from an incident early Wednesday morning on the 1400 block of Treehaven Drive at the Communities at Southwood apartments. Police say a man was walking from his parked car when a robber rode up on a bicycle wielding a silver handgun.

The robber took cash and the victim’s iPod before pedaling away. Authorities say they believe the incident may be linked to as many as six other robberies at Southwood.
Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Soil contaminants found at Hopewell plant site
The discovery of contaminated soil at the site of Virginia’s first ethanol plant in Hopewell is no reason for concern, company and state officials said last week.

Low levels of contaminants — including trace levels of arsenic — have been found in the soil at the Appomattox Bio Energy site, said Craig Shealy, president and CEO of Osage Bio Energy LLC.

Since the discovery, the company has been working with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to test the soil and determine the environmental impact.
Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Cumberland man drowns in farm pond
A 78-year-old Cumberland County man drowned Saturday morning while fishing in a private Goochland County farm pond. Goochland Sheriff James Agnew said Harold Sutton of Ampthill Road in Cartersville, was fishing with a friend when their canoe capsized about 25 yards from shore.

Sutton attempted to swim to the shore. His companion, a 20-year-old Goochland man, tried to help him but was unable to prevent him from going under the water. The companion, who was uninjured, reached shore and called 911 from a nearby home. Sutton’s body was found in 11 feet of water.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:26 a.m., and his body was taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Richmond.
Brief by the Richmond Times-Dispatch

National and International

Former South Korean president laid to rest
Tens of thousands of mourners filled the lawn outside parliament for the state funeral Sunday of ex-President Kim Dae-jung, an advocate of reconciliation and democracy who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to reach out to communist North Korea.

Dae-jung was famous for holding a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000 also managed to bring the two Koreas together with his death Tuesday at age 85.

A North Korean delegation dispatched to Seoul to mourn him held talks Sunday with South Korea’s president, relaying a message from Kim Jong Il during the first high-level contact between the rival nations after many months of tension.
Brief by The Associated Press

Hurricane Bill passes Massachusetts
Hurricane Bill taunted the New England coastline from a distance Sunday, after causing beaches to close and setting off a string of safety warnings for weekend boaters, swimmers and surfers along the eastern seaboard.

Early Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said the tropical storm warning was lifted for the Massachusetts’ coastline, including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Forecasters said that the hurricane was moving away from the New England coast offshore and closer to Nova Scotia, and was expected to approach Newfoundland by Sunday night.

By early Sunday, it was about 175 miles south-southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Brief by The Associated Press

Outbursts disrupt Iraqi bank robbery trial
Five members of Iraq’s security forces accused of robbing a bank and killing security guards stood trial Sunday in a session disrupted by angry outbursts from relatives of those killed.

One relative attacked a defendant and another was dragged from the courtroom screaming obscenities. Gunmen broke into the state-run Rafidain Bank at about 4 a.m. on July 28, killing three guards and five others on the premises who were either on a break or asleep, according to police investigators.

The bank’s chief testified Sunday that 5.6 billion Iraqi dinars – or about $4.8 million – was stolen.
Brief by The Associated Press