Alexandria Sheriff's Office

City Council candidates address sheriff’s ICE policy, taxes, more at civic association forum

Published April 9, 2026 at 4:30PM | Updated April 9, 2026 at 4:47PM

(Left to right): Sandy Marks, Frank Fannon and Alison O'Connell participate in an April 8 forum hosted by the Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations (via Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations video)

With less than two weeks until the April 21 special election, candidates for an open seat on Alexandria City Council made their pitches to civic association members yesterday (Wednesday) at a forum.

Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and Frank Fannon joined the forum, held during Alexandria Federation of Civic Associations’ monthly meeting. Candidates answered questions on topics the civic association leaders selected, along with a lightning round of policies they would support or oppose.

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Alexandria sheriff’s deputy fired after accusation of drug smuggling attempt in jail

By Emily Leayman

Published April 5, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated April 6, 2026 at 9:58AM

The William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center (via City of Alexandria)

A sheriff’s deputy was fired after attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail Saturday, according to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said former Deputy Sheriff Amarachukwu W. Igwe tried to provide drugs to an inmate at the jail. After an investigation, the sheriff’s office took Igwe into custody before she could deliver the drugs.

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Advocates ask City Council to cut sheriff’s budget over inmate transfers to ICE

By James Cullum

Published March 10, 2026 at 2:45PM | Updated March 10, 2026 at 3:03PM

City Council budget public hearing on March 9, 2026 (via City of Alexandria)

Critics of Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey asked City Council last night (Monday) to withhold his funding unless he stops voluntarily transferring inmates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

More than two dozen speakers appeared before City Council at its public hearing on City Manager Jim Parajon’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal. For nearly a year, activists have protested against ASO’s transferring of Alexandria inmates to ICE custody via the agency’s detainers and administrative warrants.

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Sheriff’s Office accepting applications for four-week ‘Community Academy’ program

By James Cullum

Published January 22, 2026 at 9:30AM

Sergeant Mauck supervises a PepperBall® launcher training activity with members of the Alexandria Sheriff’s Community Academy. (via Alexandria Sheriff’s Office)

Sheriff Sean Casey is inviting residents to the city courthouse and jail to learn about the inner workings of the Sheriff’s Office.

Applications are currently being accepted for the spring session of the Sheriff’s Community Academy. The free sessions run on four consecutive Saturdays from March 7-28, teaching residents about jail operations, inmate services, judicial operations and more. The application deadline to participate is Feb. 27.

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Alexandria Sheriff’s Office inmate dies in hospital, prompting investigations

By Katie Taranto

Published January 20, 2026 at 8:15AM

Inova Alexandria Hospital at 4320 Seminary Road (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria Police Department and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating the death of an Alexandria Sheriff’s Office inmate yesterday (Monday).

Ricardo Roberts, 60, died shortly after 5 a.m. yesterday “while being treated for chronic medical issues” at Inova Fairfax Hospital, the Sheriff’s Office announced yesterday. The investigations are required by law following an in-custody death.

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Gov.-elect Spanberger taps Alexandria Sheriff for transition committee

By James Cullum

Published December 10, 2025 at 1:45PM

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey at the swearing in of Police Chief Tarrick McGuire, Dec. 10, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey has been named to Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s Transition Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Policy.

Casey was notified last week in an email from Spanberger’s staff that he was named to the committee and assigned to its eight-member Criminal Justice/Corrections Subcommittee.

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Alexandria woman scammed by suspects pretending to work for Sheriff’s Office

By James Cullum

Published December 3, 2025 at 2:45PM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Another Alexandria resident has fallen victim to scammers pretending to represent the Sheriff’s Office this fall, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

A woman was scammed out of $5,000 following interactions with suspects claiming to represent the Sheriff on Oct. 9, just three days after another resident was scammed out of $4,600 through a similar situation.

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Alexandria Sheriff’s Office recovers missing man with Project Lifesaver technology

By James Cullum

Published November 18, 2025 at 12:30PM

Alexandria Sheriff's Deputy Carlos Canas (left) and Lieutenant Victor Ignacio with Project Lifesaver equipment that is used to track down people with cognitive disorders who are prone to wandering (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria man with dementia who wandered more than a mile from his home was recovered by the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office earlier this month.

ASO Lieutenant Victor Ignacio noticed an Alexandria Police Department dispatch for a missing person on Nov. 3, identifying the man as a participant in Project Lifesaver. The program provides free, trackable bracelets for residents at risk of wandering due to conditions like Alzheimer’s or autism.

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LaPluma cafe gets more seating and longer hours in Old Town, after neighbors rally support

By Katie Taranto

Published November 17, 2025 at 1:45PM

LaPluma Coffee and Wine offerings (via LaPluma/Facebook)

Alexandria leaders have approved an Old Town cafe’s request to expand its outdoor seating and extend Sunday hours, after several neighbors spoke in support of the measure.

The City Council green-lit LaPluma Coffee & Wine’s special use permit application to increase outdoor seating capacity from 28 guests to 40, and to remain open until 10 p.m. on Sundays, as opposed to 6 p.m.

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Alexandria residents can safely dispose of unused medications at Drug Take Back Day

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 10, 2025 at 11:30AM

Drug Take Back Day (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria residents will have the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unused or expired medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, and Alexandria Health Department — in cooperation with the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria — will staff four drop-off locations across the city as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s nationwide initiative.

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Alexandria to host free expungement clinic Oct. 18

By James Cullum

Published September 29, 2025 at 1:45PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Looking to clear your criminal record? Some of Alexandria’s top legal minds will meet next month for a free expungement clinic in the city’s West End.

The clinic will be held at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Avenue) on Oct. 18 (Saturday) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with volunteer pro bono attorneys, as well as Del Charniele Herring (D-4), Sheriff Sean Casey, Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter, Circuit Court Clerk Greg Parks, and Public Defender Megan Thomas.