News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 31, 2026
Local News
Charles City animal control officer arrested
A Charles City animal control officer has been arrested on allegations of assault and battery and trespassing stemming from an Oct. 30 incident. Frank Bates, of the 11000 block of Carriage Road, Providence Forge, was taken into custody on Oct. 31 after a magistrate deemed a citizen’s complaint sufficient to bring charges. The citizen approached the magistrate the night before with safety concerns, prompting the magistrate to issue an emergency protective order and a warrant for Bates’ arrest. Bates was taken into custody and released on an unsecured bond. He is scheduled for a Nov. 5 arraignment in Charles City…
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Homes burglarized in Charles City
Residents in Charles City are advised to be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles or suspects in the central part of the county. On the evening of Nov. 3, a residence on Cattail Road was burglarized. Valuables and jewelry were among the pillaged items. No other details on the break-in were available at the time of this release. Captain Jayson Crawley said that two residences were broken into and that the sheriff’s department is currently conducting an investigation. If you have any information regarding this or any other crimes, please contact Charles City Sheriff’s Office at 829-9265 or Crime Stoppers…
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New Kent sheriff’s investigators seek information on recent home burglaries
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in solving a number of residential burglaries that have occurred throughout the county over the past three to four weeks. Sheriff’s personnel are investigating burglaries at addresses on Mount Nebo Road, Quaker Road, Mountcastle Road, and Wildfox Lane and do not have any leads at this time. Anyone who may have spotted a suspicious person or vehicle in those areas within the timeframe or has other information that could relate to the crimes should call the sheriff’s office at 966-9500 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.
DUI charge upgraded to felonies for Richmond man arrested in New Kent
A Richmond man originally charged with driving under the influence in New Kent County now faces felony counts after a check of his criminal record revealed past DUI offenses. New Kent Deputy Ryan Shobe observed a vehicle being driven erratically on Route 60 in New Kent on Oct. 25. The vehicle then failed to stop for a stop sign, prompting Shobe to conduct a traffic stop. The driver, Jose Alfredo Hernandez-Soto, 31, of the 2500 block of Atwell Drive, failed field sobriety tests after Shobe detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the suspect. Shobe charged the suspect with…
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Renamed, Quinton Auxiliary moves forward with turkey dinner
A group that formerly called Quinton Volunteer Fire and EMS Station 2 home has decided to organize its own annual turkey dinner. Now operating under the name Quinton Auxiliary, the former women’s auxiliary group for Company 2 that used to function inside the company’s station on Route 249 decided during an Oct. 29 meeting to hold the holiday event. “When people heard we were kicked out of the department, they wanted to support us and still have the dinner,” said a Quinton Auxiliary member, speaking to the Chronicle on condition of remaining anonymous. “We finally had a meeting with all…
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Richard Bowman, noted Charles City historian and civil rights leader, succumbs
Richard Bowman, a former Charles City supervisor who played a vital role in school desegregation in the county, died at the age of 86 on October 30. Born in 1928, Bowman graduated from the original Ruthville High School in Charles City. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army before returning to his native county to raise a family. Bowman became active in the equalization of education in 1958 when he attempted to enroll his children in Charles City High School, an all-white school at that time. “Even though the federal ruling of Brown vs. the Board of Education was…
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Pilot CUP approved; New Kent supervisors concerned about regional radio grid
New Kent supervisors have approved a 10-year conditional use permit (CUP) for Pilot LLC. Action took place during the Oct. 29 board of supervisors work session after being deferred from the Oct. 14 regular monthly meeting. During the regular meeting, last minute additions to the permit raised concerns for supervisors, causing action to be halted until the work session. Pilot representative Jack Wilson reiterated the additions that include allowing Pilot to address parking concerns with a parking study and allowing the company to add at least 15 new spaces at its location on Route 106 (Emmaus Church Road). Those additional…
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NKSO issues warning of individuals acting as social service workers
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning for county citizens to be on the lookout for individuals portraying themselves as employees of New Kent Department of Social Services. Recently, individuals have visited homes in and outside of the county, indicating they were employees of the department of social services and inspecting the homes. New Kent Sheriff’s Office has investigated calls and conducted an investigation and identified these people are not employees of, nor appear to have any connection to the county’s department of social services. The sheriff’s office is recommending that if someone approaches you claiming to be from…
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Traffic delays on Route 5 expected beginning in early November
Beginning in early November, the Herring Creek Bridge on Route 5 in Charles City will be undergoing construction. During repairs, the road will have one lane open with a temporarily traffic light installed to direct traffic. Motorists can expect delays through that area or may use a detour provided. Large trucks will be directed to detour due to width and weight limitations on the bridge. No estimated time frame has been announced for the completion of the repairs.
Charles City supervisors defer action on implementing business permit fee
Charles City supervisors have chosen to temporarily halt implementing a business permit fee after questions arose at their Oct. 28 regular monthly meeting. While supervisors had no problem with the $30/year cost for the permit, language written in the proposed ordinance about which businesses should receive an exemption confused the leaders. Specifically, supervisors wondered if farmers were on the exemption list. “I want to make sure we have the list of exemptions correctly,” said District 3 representative Floyd Miles Sr. “If we decide to give farmers exemptions, I want to make sure the language reads correctly.” According to county attorney…
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