SERIAL BANK ROBBER CAUGHT

I am writing with good news: the deputies captured a suspect in the bank
robbery as we all hoped would happen quickly. Our hopes and prayers have
been answered.

>>>> Serial Bank Robber Apprehended in Loudoun

A woman who allegedly robbed a bank Friday evening in Sterling was
apprehended and charged with robbery this weekend by Loudoun Sheriff's
Deputies.

>>> CITIZEN CONTACTED AUTHORITIES

Peggy V. Membreno, 42, of no fixed address, was taken into custody
Saturday night in the area of Route 9 and Route 7 near Leesburg. A
concerned citizen contacted authorities around 10:30 PM after they saw
the woman next to a car that was pulled over on the side of the roadway.

>>>> SUSPECT MATCHED DESCRIPTION

During the initial contact with the woman deputies learned she was
wanted on two outstanding felony warrants in Fairfax and Prince William
Counties. Membreno also matched the suspect description in the robbery
of the Provident Bank Friday evening. The bank is located inside the
Shopper's Food Warehouse in the Sugarland Crossing Shopping Center.

In the robbery the woman allegedly walked inside the bank and presented
a note to a bank teller asking for money. She never brandished nor
implied she had a firearm during the course of the robbery. She left the
scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

>>>> SECOND ARREST IN A WEEK OF BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS

This is the second arrest of a bank robbery suspect by the Loudoun
County Sheriff's Office in the past week. As I earlier wrote and told
you: Investigators have arrested a Leesburg man, Joseph Kevin Holland,
in connection with the armed robbery of a Sterling bank in July.

Both Membreno and Holland remain held-- without bond-- at the Loudoun
Adult Detention Center.

>>>Apprehension of Prowler Leads Deputies to Wanted Man

Can you handle another heroic story about a bad person being reported,
tracked down and jailed? I can never get enough of it.

The apprehension of an alleged prowler earlier this month led
authorities to a man wanted on ten outstanding warrants in Loudoun.

>>>> 4:30 A.M. IN THE MORNING

Jefferson Beckles, 43, was taken into custody on July 9th shortly after
4:30 AM after Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 44500 block of
Potter Terrace in Ashburn for a man attempting to enter a residence.

Beckles allegedly was attempting to enter the residence of a 34-year-old
Ashburn woman. Shortly before the arrival of the deputies the suspect
fled into the community.

>>>> PERIMETER SECURED AND SEARCH CONDUCTED

Deputies quickly established a perimeter around the area and conducted a
yard-by-yard and street search. The suspect would be located underneath
a pick-up truck on Kilawag Terrace, several streets away from the
victim's home.

Mr. Beckles was wanted on ten outstanding warrants including Sexual
Battery, Stalking, Grand Larceny, Obtaining Credit Card Numbers Under
False Pretenses, two counts of Attempting to Commit Credit Card Fraud
and two counts of Credit Card Fraud. Beckles was also charged with
Drunk in Public, Stalking and Trespassing. He remains held without bond
at the Loudoun Adult Detention Center.

>>>LIMIT OF 25 ONLY
>>>Formation of 18th Citizen Police Academy

I announced this earlier and some newspapers are still reporting it: the
formation of the 18th Citizen's Police Academy, which will commence on
Wednesday, September 7,
2005, ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.

These sessions equip HOA and other community leaders with the background
to assist law enforcement in the security and well being of their
neighborhoods.

The free sessions will be held one evening per week for eleven-weeks and
each session will be two hours in length (7:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.).

All classes will be held at the Sheriff's Office administration building
in Leesburg with the exception of the firearms training session, which
will be held at the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office firearm's range
located off of Route 50, in the Chantilly area.

Sheriff's Office personnel will conduct the training classes, providing
an overview of all the aspects of law enforcement within the agency.
Members of the class may also have the option of participating in a
ride-a-long with a deputy after completing the academy.

The classes are open to Loudoun County residents over the age of 18. To
enroll in the Citizen's Police Academy, please contact Ginger Wines or
Audra Vogel at the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office at
703-777-0407,during normal business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Enrollment will
be limited to 25 participants. (Note: Usually a third of the registrants
are from Sterling, so fellow Sterling Americans get enrolled.)