Week in Loudoun
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Week in Loudoun

Growth Summary Trends

<bt>The Loudoun County Department of Economic Development has released its annual Growth Summary, a synopsis of demographic and economic trends in Loudoun and the region. Highlights in the 2004 Growth Summary include the following:

* Over the past four years, the county led not only the Northern Virginia region with a population growth of 41 percent, but was recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as the fastest growing county in the nation with a population more than 100,000.

* Loudoun County ranked second among localities in Northern Virginia in the number of new residential units permitted in 2004, contributing 27 percent of the total.

* Loudoun experienced dramatic job growth in the past decade, increasing by 139 percent. In 2004, 7,673 jobs were added over 2003.

* The nonresidential vacancy rate continued its downward trend, dropping to 14.6 percent from 18 percent in 2003. The office vacancy rate decreased by 3.5 percent, from 16.3 percent to 12.8 percent, and flex/industrial vacancy rates dropped by 3.3 percent, from 19.2 percent to 15.9 percent.

The 2004 Growth Summary is available as a free download from the Department of Economic Development's Web site at www.loudoun.gov/business/growth. Printed, bound versions are available by mail for a $12 fee by calling 703-777-0426; or may be picked up for $10 at the Department of Economic Development, 1 Harrison St., S.E. in Leesburg.

<sh>Delivery Man Robbed

<bt>A pizza delivery man told authorities he was robbed at gun point Sunday, June 19, in Ashburn, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

The 30-year-old victim says he was walking to his car from the rear entrance of the Domino's Pizza in the Junction Plaza when an unknown suspect who brandished a firearm approached him. The suspect told the victim to give him his wallet. The suspect would later remove the wallet from the victim's back pocket and take an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect, described as a teenage black male with a light complexion, fled the area on foot running towards the rear of the Giant grocery store. The suspect was further described as being 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He was wearing a black shirt. dark jeans and a baseball cap at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Investigator Fognano of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.

Callers who would like to remain anonymous are asked to contact Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information provided leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

<sh>Man Dies from Accident

<bt>A Herndon man involved in a two-car accident in a Sterling parking lot died early Sunday, June 19, after he was run over by the truck he was driving, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

The victim, Ramiro Arevalo, 30, was driving a 2000 Ford F550 in the parking lot of Sterling Plaza near Enterprise Street shortly before 1 a.m. when the accident occurred.

Witnesses to the incident say the victim struck a 1995 Dodge Neon driven by Jose Donaldo Ramos-Delcid, 21, of Herndon, according to the Sheriff's Office. As Arevalo got out

of the Ford to check on Ramos-Delcid and his passenger, the Ford began backing down the hill. Arevalo ran after the Ford when he fell to the ground and was run over by the left front tire of the Ford. The truck then continued backing into the front entrance of Pepe's Restaurant. Arevalo was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both the victim and Ramos-Delcid were unlicensed and alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the accident.

<sh>Checkpoint Yields No Arrests

<bt>A DUI checkpoint in Ashburn Saturday, June 18, yielded no arrests for driving while under the influence, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The checkpoint, held at Ashburn Village and Bruceton Mills, saw 723 cars pass through during a three-hour period with five drivers being checked and no arrests.

The Sheriff's Office designed the checkpoints to raise public

awareness and to discourage impaired driving. The ultimate goal is to ensure the roads are safe for all motorists. The success of the checkpoints is measured by the number of drivers who were screened and were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Sheriff's Office and the Loudoun chapter of MADD remind people that if they drink, use a designated driver this summer.

<sh>Man Charged in Vehicle Accident

<bt>A two-vehicle accident near South Riding Tuesday, June 14, injured five people, one seriously, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

The accident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. when a 1998 Land Rover, driven by Dennis Albert Azato, 33, of Springfield, was heading west on Edgewater Street where the SUV ran a stop sign at the intersection with Poland Road, according to the Sheriff's Office. As Azato passed through the intersection he was struck on the passenger side by a 1997 Ford pickup driven by Samuel Alredo-Cerritos, 36, of Sterling.

A front-seat passenger in the Land Rover, Virginia Mary Simone, 48, of Alexandria, was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital where she is being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Azato, Alredo-Cerritos, and two other passengers in the Ford pickup were injured. Azato, Alredo-Cerritos, and one of the other passengers were taken to local hospitals by ambulance with non-life-threatening

injuries.

Azato was charged in the accident with disregarding a stop sign, according to the Sheriff's Office.