While Richmonders gathered downtown to check out the early days of the UCI race, crime didn’t sit on the sidelines.
Richmond Police reported two incidents related to UCI over the weekend.
While Richmonders gathered downtown to check out the early days of the UCI race, crime didn’t sit on the sidelines.
Richmond Police reported two incidents related to UCI over the weekend.
Ronald Henders, 52, from the 900 block of Travis Drive in Lawrenceville, VA, came into town and, according to RPD, stole himself an official UCI racer’s bike. It was sitting unattended outside of the Marriott Hotel Thursday evening when it went missing. (Welcome to Richmond, UCI racers, get a U-lock)
It seems someone called in a tip to RPD detectives and both Henders and the bike (pictured below) were located and brought in.
“We are pleased we were able to find the bicycle in good working order and return it to the UCI team for use in this week’s competition,” said RPD Chief Alfred Durham in a release sent out Sunday. “I would like to thank the person who came forward with the information that allowed detectives to find the bicycle so quickly and make the arrest.”
Henders was charged with Grand Larceny and Obtaining Money under False Pretenses, both felonies. He also had weed on him which netted a Possession of Marijuana misdemeanor charge.
Near the other end of UCI on Monument Ave, a drunk driver found himself on the wrong side of a UCI barricade.
According to Richmond Police, Michael G. Sciolino of Mechanicsville drove onto Monument, and into race territory, erratically around 1:30 PM Sunday. Police officers tried to flag him down, but they were almost struck by the car. When they tried to do an official traffic stop, the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued.
The car came to a stop when it ran into a barricade and the driver was taken into custody.
One Richmond Police vehicle was damaged and an officer suffered minor injuries.
Sciolino of Mechanicsville was charged with driving under the influence, felony eluding, felony hit and run and resisting arrest.
