Manassas VA City Police Department's crime report for Friday, Oct. 19, 2012

The Prince William County VA Police Department is asking for the public’s help in providing information about an abduction and assault that occurred in the Dumfries area of Prince William County about 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012.

October 21-27 is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and on Thursday, Oct. 25 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host two free webinars - one for contractors and another for property owners - on the hazards of lead and lead-based paint.

Members of an honor society at Northern Virginia Community College's Manassas VA campus recently collected 786 diapers and baby items for needy families–more than any other of the honor society's Virginia chapters.

Prince William County VA Fire Marshal’s Office investigators are working to determine the origin and cause of an Oct. 14 fire that heavily damaged or destroyed about 80 storage units and brought in firefighting units from Fauquier, Loudoun and Fairfax counties to supplement Prince William County's firefighting force. No one was injured and no fire loss estimate is yet available.

Fire and rescue units from the city of Manassas VA, the city of Manassas Park VA and Prince William County VA quelled a blaze that broke out in a middle of the row townhouse with heavy fire on the first floor on New Britain Circle. Seven adults and a child exited the structure before rescue units arrived. One resident was treated and transported to Prince William Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Damage was estimated at $150,000.

Under a new Virginia law, “Mandate reporters who fail to report suspected abuse or neglect as soon as possible, but no longer than 24 hours after having reasons to suspect abuse, can be charged anywhere from $500 and higher in fines. In the case of suspected acts of rape, sodomy, or object sexual penetration, a person who knowingly and intentionally fails to make the required report shall be guilty of a Class 1 Misdemeanor.”

Manassas VA CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is the city’s local program that teaches ordinary people how to safely help in their neighborhoods when an overwhelming emergency requires more than regular 911 responders. The fall series of CERT training sessions starts Thursday, Oct. 4, and there are a few more spots for volunteers, according to Bob Keller, the city’s CERT volunteer coordinator.