Sheriff Sean Casey

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

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.

News

Mayor Gaskins, City Council ask sheriff to cease voluntary inmate transfers to ICE

By Katie Taranto

Published November 13, 2025 at 9:00AM | Updated November 13, 2025 at 9:33AM

A letter signed by 26 local organizations and leaders demanding Sheriff Sean Casey end voluntary collaboration with ICE was delivered to the Alexandria Sheriff's Office on Tuesday. (Courtesy ICE Out of Alexandria)

Mayor Alyia Gaskins and the City Council are calling on the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office to stop transferring inmates to immigration enforcement unless required by law.

Following months of pressure from activists critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement — including a protest during an Oct. 18 public hearing — Gaskins and the Council publicly asked Sheriff Sean Casey to stop transferring Alexandria inmates to ICE custody via the agency’s detainers and administrative warrants.

News

Alexandria woman scammed out of thousands by fake sheriff’s deputy

By James Cullum

Published November 6, 2025 at 8:30AM

Money (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria woman was scammed out of thousands of dollars last month in an elaborate scheme by several suspects pretending to be Sheriff’s Office officials.

No arrests have been made in connection with the Oct. 6 incident, in which scammers coerced the victim to deposit $4,600 into a Bitcoin ATM in Arlandria, through a barrage of texts, calls and false documents, according to a recent search warrant affidavit.

News

Alexandria voters reelect sheriff, commonwealth’s attorney and three state delegates

By Katie Taranto

Published November 5, 2025 at 9:15AM

Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter speaks at the No Kings Rally at Market Square in Old Town, June 14, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria voters reelected Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter, Sheriff Sean Casey and three House of Delegates members in resounding victories.

Running without opposition, Porter and Casey each received 96% of votes. Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-3), Del. Charniele L. Herring (D-4) and Del. Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (D-5) also held onto their statehouse seats.

News

Activists deliver letter demanding Sheriff Casey end ICE cooperation

By Ryan Belmore

Published October 21, 2025 at 4:15PM

A letter signed by 26 local organizations and leaders demanding Sheriff Sean Casey end voluntary collaboration with ICE was delivered to the Alexandria Sheriff's Office on Tuesday. (Courtesy ICE Out of Alexandria)

A coalition of Alexandria residents and community organizations delivered a letter to Sheriff Sean Casey on Tuesday, demanding that he stop his voluntary collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

ICE Out of Alexandria, representing 26 local groups and leaders, held a rally and press conference at the sheriff’s office at 2001 Mill Road to present their demands, according to a press release from the group.

News

PHOTOS: Thousands attend the 30th annual Art on the Avenue in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published October 4, 2025 at 5:32PM

As seen at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Oct. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood was packed with art lovers for the 30th annual Art on the Avenue festival in Del Ray on Saturday (Oct. 4).

Hundreds of juried artists sold their work, live music was performed on four stages and the event and its founder Pat Miller were recognized by Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th), Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5th) and Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley.

News

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.