Six Arrested in Local Graveyard

Over the weekend, five UMW students and one non-UMW student were arrested for trespassing in a cemetery at 12:30 a.m.

Two of the students were arrested for other charges, including public intoxication and underage possession of alcohol, according to the Fredericksburg Police Incidents report.

The five students did not comment on the incident.

On Nov. 7, a passerby complained to the Fredericksburg police that several people were climbing a wall into the cemetery, according to Public Information Officer Natatia Bledsoe from the Fredericksburg Police Department.

“It is against the law to be in a cemetery after dark,” Bledsoe said.  “And, this cemetery is of particular concern as there have been incidents of vandalism there in the past against historic gravesites.”

According to Bledsoe, two people ran from the police officer and were caught in the Free Lance-Star parking lot.  One person ran after giving the police officer his name and identification, but this person was not caught.

Three other people were cooperative.  The last person arrested was separated from the group and was arrested after jumping over the wall onto the sidewalk, according to Bledsoe.

Bledsoe said that all of the people arrested identified themselves as UMW students, but the UMW administration said that one person was not listed as a current student.

Although UMW students are only a small percentage of the actual arrests in Fredericksburg, they do cause disturbances.

Between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009, there were 3,094 arrest incidents in Fredericksburg, but only 65 of those were UMW students, according to Bledsoe.

“There are a greater number of complaints against students that do not involve arrests or citations, and the majority of these are large and loud parties that disturb the neighbors,” Bledsoe said.