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Dec 23, 2023

A look at pursuit policies of Virginia police departments

Esther Seoanes, whose husband died in a police vehicular pursuit in Austin, Tx., in 2012, joined PursuitSAFETY with the goal of reducing fatalities due to police vehicular pursuits like the one that

Esther Seoanes, whose husband died in a police vehicular pursuit in Austin, Tx., in 2012, joined PursuitSAFETY with the goal of reducing fatalities due to police vehicular pursuits like the one that killed her husband.

It is the vehicular equivalent of being caught in a crossfire between police officers and suspects.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of times a day across the nation, officers set off in hot pursuit of suspects or erratic motorists, and most of those chases end without injury or loss of life. But that is not always the case.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2011 and 2021, 3,842 people across the U.S. were killed during vehicular police pursuits: more than one per day. Of those 3,842 fatalities, 135 occurred in Virginia.

In 2021 — the most recent year for which data is available — 432 people in the U.S., 20 of whom were in Virginia, died in vehicular police pursuits.

Two recent cases in Virginia highlight the potentially tragic and deadly consequences of such chases.

Some residents of eastern Goochland County are determined to keep their home rural. But development is knocking on their door.

On July 29, a high-speed police chase in Hopewell came to a fatal conclusion when the driver of a pickup truck being pursued by Prince George County police ran a red light at Ashland Street and Oaklawn Boulevard and collided with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle — Andre Bassett Jr., 45, of Jacksonville, Florida — was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to police.

Geormond “Geo” Morton, 17, of Henrico County was biking home from work on Aug. 7 when he was hit and killed by a carjacking suspect who was fleeing police, according to Morton's aunt, Rosyln Morton.

About a week later on Aug. 7, police said a high-speed police chase in Henrico County ended when Henrico police chased a carjacking suspect down Williamsburg Road, where the suspect struck a juvenile bicyclist — Geormond “Geo” Morton, 17, of Henrico — and killed him.

Rosyln Morton, Geo Morton’s aunt, said her nephew was biking home from work at a Wendy’s when he was killed. She described him as quiet and “very intelligent.”

Thomas Gleason instructs a class of around 300 military police officers in 2020 at then-Fort Polk in Vernon Parish, Louisiana. Gleason, who has 36 years of experience in law enforcement, has spent 22 of those years as a trainer and teacher.

“He was doing what he needed to do,” Roslyn Morton said. “He was working; he was getting excellent grades.”

She said the family initially was told that Geo had been in “a bad car accident.” It was not until later that they learned the accident happened during a police vehicular pursuit.

Such bystander deaths are hardly an uncommon occurrence.

According to HG.org, one of the world’s largest legal information and resource sites, more than 5,000 bystanders have been killed during vehicular police pursuits since 1979. PursuitSAFETY, a nonprofit organization that works to “limit vehicular police pursuits,” reports that “more than 1/3 of the people killed (in vehicular police pursuits) are innocent bystanders.”

Bassett and Morton were two of the most recent cases in which bystanders were killed.

Thomas Gleason is a member of PursuitSAFETY, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing fatalities due to police vehicular pursuits.

In March 2021, Kenneth E. Crosby Jr., 61, of Dumfries — a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and 9/11 survivor — was killed when a Richmond motorist fleeing police struck Crosby’s vehicle head-on on Interstate 95 in Prince William County. That same month, the death of Calvin Majette III of Portsmouth, due to a vehicular police pursuit through reportedly “heavily trafficked areas” in Portsmouth, eventually led to an $11 million settlement with the city.

“We could all potentially be innocent victims,” said PursuitSAFETY Executive Director Esther Seoanes, 47, of Austin, Texas.

Seoanes is speaking from experience.

Her husband died in a police vehicular pursuit in Austin in 2012 after police chased the suspect of a car theft at a mall. The suspect was caught on camera, and the officers had identifying information for the vehicle, Seoanes said, but police initiated the pursuit anyway. It ended when the suspect ran a red light and collided with Seoanes’ husband, who was killed instantly.

“It didn’t have to happen,” she said, adding that she was told afterward by police that “nothing wrong was done” and all relevant polices were followed.

“You can never replace someone,” Seoanes said, “and unless it has happened to you, you can’t really know the impact.”

In light of recent deadly incidents, the Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained and reviewed the vehicular pursuit policies of police departments in our region of the state. Here’s how different departments are doing:

Prince George County Police Department’s policy states that police vehicular pursuits are only permissible under one of two conditions: 1) “reasonable belie(f) that the occupant/s of the vehicle has/have committed or attempted to commit a felony crime,” or 2) the existence of an “extreme, unusual situation where human life is reasonably believed to be in imminent jeopardy.”

The policy specifies that “suspect driving behavior” should not be considered grounds to a pursuit.

When weighing whether to initiate a pursuit, Prince George police are required to consider the seriousness of the offense; risks to the public, officers and suspects due to population density, traffic (impacted by the time of day and day of the week), and road and weather conditions; and the “likelihood the fleeing suspect(s) can be apprehended at a later time,” among other factors.

Thomas Gleason trains military police officers on handcuffing techniques in 2020 at then-Fort Polk in Vernon Parish, Louisiana.

There was one death due to a police vehicular pursuit in Prince George County in the 10 years between 2011 and 2021, according to NHTSA data. The pursuing agency was not immediately clear.

In the Bassett case, according to police, the suspect was being stopped for reckless driving by speed, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Since it appears that there was no felony crime involved, this particular pursuit seems to have occurred in violation of department policy. It is not clear why the pursuit was initiated. Prince George police declined to comment and said the investigation is ongoing.

The Henrico County Division of Police’s vehicular pursuits procedure allows Henrico police to initiate a vehicular pursuit if the occupants of a vehicle have committed or attempted to commit a felony, firearm-related offense or violent misdemeanor. Officers are authorized to initiate a chase if “the fleeing vehicle presents an immediate threat of bodily injury or death to any person.”

The procedure does not establish specific safety-related criteria that must be assessed for the initiation of a vehicular pursuit. It does state that officers must terminate vehicular pursuits if safety risks due to population density, excessive speed, roadway conditions and environmental factors “outweigh the danger to the community if the suspect is not apprehended,” or if the suspect’s capture in the vehicular pursuit is unlikely and later apprehension is “feasible.”

With proper training and supervisory authorization, officers may use techniques such as ramming and the deployment of tire deflation devices.

Gleason

Unlike other policies, which generally stipulate that they are for internal use only and do not enlarge an employee’s civil liability in any way, Henrico’s procedure states that officers and supervisors can be held civilly liable for “damages and injuries that occur during a pursuit.”

There were eight deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Henrico between 2011 and 2021.

Virginia State Police may “initiate a pursuit when a driver fails to stop after the sworn employee has given a lawful order to stop by activating emergency lights and/or siren.” Sworn employees must consider factors like those listed in other policies: the seriousness of the offense, likelihood of apprehending suspects by other means and “potential harm to persons and property” due to traffic and roadway conditions.

Seoanes

The order forbids sworn employees from conducting vehicular pursuits against the lawful flow of traffic, and says that “no vehicle shall be intentionally rammed unless extraordinary circumstances exist.”

It is not clear on how many occasions the Virginia State Police was the pursuing agency in the 135 fatalities due to police vehicular pursuits in Virginia between 2011 and 2021.

A redacted copy of the Richmond Police Department’s vehicle pursuit procedure was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. A FOIA coordinator said the redacted material contained “procedural or tactical information, which, if disclosed, would jeopardize the safety of Richmond Police officers.”

The procedure entitles Richmond police to initiate a vehicular pursuit in the event that a suspect has committed or attempted to commit a felony, reckless driving offense, crime with a firearm or “any misdemeanor that would typically require a full custodial arrest.”

Richmond police officers must evaluate the seriousness of the offense; pedestrian and vehicular traffic conditions and their variance based on location, time of day, and day of the week; visibility conditions; roadway conditions; and weather conditions. They are entitled to disregard posted speed limits and traffic signals “with due regard to the safety or persons and property.”

Richmond police officers are prohibited from deliberately making contact with fleeing vehicles and forcing them offroad.

There were three deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Richmond between 2011 and 2021: Aug. 25, 2015, at the Midlothian Turnpike-East Broad Rock Road intersection; March 1, 2019, at the U.S. 360-East Second Street intersection; and July 15, 2021, on the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike.

Chesterfield County Police Department’s vehicle operations and pursuits policy, provided with redactions, bars vehicular pursuits under several circumstances, including when no “serious or violent offense” has been committed and when suspects pose no “threat to public safety.”

Chesterfield police must account for “all circumstances affecting public and office safety,” including “road conditions, weather and traffic volume”; “speed and/or hazardous maneuvers by the violator”; the “mental condition or possible impairment of fleeing violator”; the presence of “minors or hostages in fleeing vehicle”; and “the officer’s knowledge, training, and experience.”

“Forced termination techniques” are permissible in limited circumstances, although redactions made these circumstances unclear.

There were five deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Chesterfield between 2011 and 2021.

The Roanoke Police Department authorizes officers to initiate vehicular pursuits if they “observe ... violation(s)” or if suspects have “warrants on file.” “Non-hazardous traffic violations” are excluded from the criteria for initiating pursuits.

Roanoke police must evaluate the factors commonly listed in other department policies: the nature of the offense; dangers presented by traffic, road, weather and visibility conditions; the driving behaviors and abilities of the suspect; and the possibility of arrest by other means.

The directive notes that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that forcible stopping techniques, such as ramming, can constitute use of deadly force. Roanoke police may employ such techniques only in circumstances wherein “suspects pose a continued imminent threat” to officers and civilians.

There were two deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Roanoke between 2011 and 2021.

The Lynchburg Police Department declined to disclose its vehicular pursuit policy. A spokesperson said “any policies, procedures or directives that would jeopardize the safety or security of our law enforcement personnel and/or the general public if released will not be disclosed.”

There were three deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Lynchburg between 2011 and 2021.

The Charlottesville Police Department’s general order on emergency operation of police vehicles permits officers to initiate a vehicular pursuit in the event that the “stop(ping of) a vehicle is deemed necessary due to the nature of (a) violation or suspected violation.” The order instructs officers to weigh “weather road conditions, time of day, location of pursuit, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, etc.” in making a determination as to whether to initiate pursuits.

According to the order, officers driving most departmental vehicles in a vehicular pursuit are “temporarily relieved of the obligation to comply with certain traffic regulations.” Both sirens and emergency lights must be activated during vehicular pursuits.

There were no deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Charlottesville between 2011 and 2021.

The Fredericksburg Police Department declined to disclose its vehicular pursuit policy. Lt. Ben Johnson, speaking on behalf of the department, said the “pursuit directive contains specific tactical plans” that, if released, could “endanger officers and citizens.”

There were no deaths due to police vehicular pursuits in Fredericksburg between 2011 and 2021.

The Virginia lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the internal process of drafting police vehicular pursuit policies and the perspectives of law enforcement officers on the topic.

Thomas Gleason, 68, of Tallahassee, Florida — a 36-year veteran of law enforcement departments in Alabama and Florida — said police “need to take an honest look at how we do things and (whether) it’s benefiting or harming the public.”

Gleason currently works with PursuitSAFETY. He has 22 years of experience training officers in vehicular pursuit techniques and Stop Stick deployment, has served as an officer driving instructor and has taught through the Florida Public Safety Institute and the Department of Justice’s VALOR Officer Safety and Wellness Initiative.

Gleason said issues with police vehicular pursuit policies can exist on multiple levels; those issues can either be present in the policies themselves, he said, or can be related to training, adherence and accountability.

“You should only pursue for forcible felons,” Gleason said of department policies, adding that procedures that allow for the vehicular pursuit of nonviolent offenders or misdemeanor suspects can be overbroad and lead to “more chases than necessary.”

“If the risks outweigh the outcomes,” he said, “pursuit is not called for.” In other words: If the hazard of a vehicular pursuit to the public outweighs the risk posed by the escape of a nonviolent violator, the pursuit fails to serve the public adequately.

But even when a more “restrictive policy” is in place, Gleason said, it is “only as good as it is trained and adhered to.

“We’ll have the policies, and then we’ll have what is actually going on. And what is actually going on is completely different.”

Gleason said officers need to be thoroughly trained on and familiar with the vehicular pursuit policies of their departments. When a vehicular pursuit occurs, he said there should be a rigorous case review process in which all dashboard or body-worn camera footage, audio recordings, witness testimony and other evidence is collected and analyzed by a pursuit review board, which should produce a corresponding report that evaluates the pursuit against the policy.

“If you don’t have a policy review process, the policy is not any good,” Gleason said.

If and when vehicular pursuits violate that policy, he said “everybody has to be held accountable all the way up the chain of command.” This can include additional training, referrals to internal affairs and sometimes disciplinary action, according to Gleason.

“We serve the public,” Gleason said, “and we need to be looking out for them.”

Organist Eddie Weaver at the Miller & Rhoads Tea Room

Lunches in the Miller & Rhoads Tea Room with Eddie Weaver at the organ have been so popular that he cut his own record.

The recently closed Venice Restaurant at the Corner of W. Cary and Thompson streets in Richmond. The Venice had operated since 1958; the owners recently decided to retire.

The new Julian's - Julian's, an Italian restaurant that has been operating for 40 years, has moved to larger quarters on West Broad Street. The restaurant left 2529 W. Broad St. and is leasing space in the former Automobile Club of Virginia headquarters, a block to the west. The restaurant has about 50 percent more space, with seating for about 200 people on the main floor. In addition, a wine cellar has been installed in the basement, private dining areas have been set up, and office space is available on the upper floor. The vacated property may become part of a redevelopment project involving the William Byrd Motor Hotel.

Miller & Rhoads Corner Shop, T-D Mag. Camera Quiz.

Byram's Restaurant, 3215 West Broad Street.

March 16, 1967 ( Staff photo - Netherwood ) Collector's Corner is between the Tea Room and Ladies Room on Miller & Rhoads 5th Floor

Charles Wood on ladder. Jimmy Aldred climbing down. Talley Neon takes down Julian's Restaurant sign

Little remains besides the brick walls at the Capri Restaurant (right) and a chiropractor's office. July 4, 1983.

A Julian's Restaurant menu from the early 1950's.

In January 1975, shoppers passed by “the clock” at Miller & Rhoads in downtown Richmond. The distinct timepiece with four faces was installed in the department store in the mid-1920s; it can be seen today at the Valentine Richmond History Center.

The new Kelly's Jet System restaurant which is due to open in mid-August on the northwest corner of Fifth and Broad sts. is shown above.

Where's the engine? The caboose traveling on the bed of a truck along West Broad Street yesterday wasn't part of a new rail line in Richmond, but part of a remodeling project at the old Clover Room restaurant. Owner John Dankos plans to open the new restaurant, Stanley Stegmeyer's Hodgepodge, on July 1. Part of the decor will include two cabooses, each of which will seat 16 persons. May 3, 1978

This January 1952 image shows the intersection of West Broad and Lombardy streets, home to a White Tower restaurant and a Firestone automotive service center. White Tower restaurants were a rival of White Castle eateries. The Firestone site is now home to a Dollar Tree store. Lombardy & Broad St.

This January 1952 image shows the intersection of West Broad and Lombardy streets, home to a White Tower restaurant and a Firestone automotive service center. White Tower restaurants were a rival of White Castle eateries. The Firestone site is now home to a Dollar Tree store. Lombardy & Broad St.

A view of the water at Chesdin Restaurant, 629 River Road, Matoaca.

A dish from the the Chesdin Restaurant, 629 River Road, Matoaca.

In the small kitchen of Jumpin J's Java, owner Je Depew (right) creates unique entrees with chef Gene Smith (center) and Chris Pierson. Sept. 25, 2004

At Jumpin J's Java, owner Je Depew (left) shares a laugh with customers Denise Lawus and Melvin Carter. Sept. 25, 2004

Je Depew, outside her cafe' and restaurant, Jumpin J's Java, at 2306 Jefferson Avenue (corner of Jefferson and Leigh streets) in Church Hill.

Exterior of Six Burner Restaurant on Grace Street in 2010.

Roasted Red Pepper appetizer at Six Burner Restaurant. Roasted Red Peppers, local goat cheese, roasted garlic and shallots seved with grilled bread.

One of the many seating areas at the Mexico Restaurant in Mechanicsville on May 17, 2004.

The Upper East Side Restaurant Jazz Lounge and Sports Bar allocated at 7103 Brook Road March 30, 2004.

The Upper East Side Restaurant Jazz Lounge and Sports Bar allocated at 7103 Brook Road on March 30, 2004. Grilled mushroom melt burger, (left) Upper East Side hot wings, and grilled chicken wrap.

Kobe Japanese Steaks & Sushi. March 24, 2004

Ancho chile strip (front plate), Coconut jumbo shrimp (back plate), creme brule cheesecake (right plate) and Firebirds 2000 Napa Valley Red are some of the items on the Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill. Photo taken Monday, March 1, 2004,

Bookbinder's Grill in Alverser Plaza in Midlothian in 2004.

Bella Arte on Bellevue Ave. in 2004.

Sushi from the Young Bin Restaurant in Chippenham Square Shopping Center February 24, 2004.

Shrimp and Scallop Scampi with linguine at Portabella's Restaurant & Pizzaria

Paxton Campbell, owner of The Oak Leaf sandwich shop on West Franklin, holds a picture of his grandmother Pearl Campbell, who had a restaurant called The Oak Leaf at 307 North Boulevard in the 1920's.

The "Plato Gordo" at Rio Grande Cafe at Stony Point Fashion Park.

George Porcella, general manager of Pasta Luna restaurant in Richmond, VA, holds a menu as he talks about how the mad-cow scare has affected their business Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003.

El Azteca Mexican Restaurant in Ashland . December 22 , 2003

Valentino's Italian Pizza and Restaurant, December 2, 2003.

Interior of Valentino's Italian Pizza and Restaurant. Photo taken Dec. 2, 2003

Coctel De Camaron, (Shrimp Cocktail) at Los Rios Mexican Restaurant on Tuckernuck Road, November 12, 2003.

Satoru Sato, head chef at Hana Zushi Japanese Restaurant, prepares a variety of sushi delicacies February 18, 2004

Anthony Clark, a host at Croaker's Spot in Jackson Ward, waits to greet guests as they enter the restaurant on December 19, 2003.

The Edible Garden, 12506 River Road, Goochland County. Phot o taken June 17, 2005

Harold Thomas III, 14, works at Harold's Kitchen every day after school. The restaurant has been in the family since 1971, when the first Harrold, Harrold III's grandfather, opened it.

La Casita's home made sauces - Red, (Medium) White, (Hot) and Green, (Very hot) compliment the restaurant's Shrimp Quesadilla, served with guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo.9/6/05-

Diners munch under the festive lights strung over the dining room at La Casita Restaurant in Richmond Tuesday.9/6/05

Joe and Camilia Trak (center) with their children John and Mona, with some of the items on their extensive Greek-Italian menu, including Greek and Italian wines. Trak's Greek and Italian Ristorante

Visitors to Trick Dog Cafe in Irvington, Virginia, can rub this trick dog statue for good luck. Photo taken Wednesday, July 19, 2005.

Smoked Salmon in a crepe with flower petals with chives, cr me frais, microgreens accompanied by caper berries, chopped white onions, parsley and quail eggs. 1 North Belmont Restaurant on North Belmont Road in the fan. May 13, 2005.

Chef Matthew Tlusty with two Rock fish at Limani Fish Grill on W. Cary St. July 14, 2005

Isabel and Mehmet Akpinar, owners of Zorba's Restaurant June 1, 2005.

Homard en Poche, Rock Lobster Tail & Oyster Mushroom Duxelle baked in a Beggar’s Pouch. 1 North Belmont Restaurant on North Belmont Road in the fan. May 13, 2005.

Smoked Salmon in a crepe with flower petals with chives, cr me frais, microgreens accompanied by caper berries, chopped white onions, parsley and quail eggs. 1 North Belmont Restaurant on North Belmont Road in the fan. 5/13/05

Thyme crusted rack of veal served with asparagus flan and prosciutto wrapped asparagus is one of the entrees served at Bistro R, on W. Broad St.

Bryn Purser (foreground) and Adam Schumm (background) working in their restaurant, Zuppa, at 104 N. 18th St. in Shockoe Bottom in 2005

Bottoms Up staff prepares for dinner customers beneath a reminder of Tropical Storm Gaston's flood damage on August 11 , 2005

Brasilian Cafe owner Rogel Venson and employee Isabel Gonzalez inside the restaurant on April 14, 2005.

Contractor W. Samuel West, West Builders LLC, (right) was instrumental in rebuilding many flood-damaged restaurants in Shockoe Bottom including the River City Diner in which this photo was taken.

Mr. Bojangles restaurant is located at 550 E. Marshall Street.

A wooden casket containing a dummy corpse is brought into O'Toole's Restaurant as part of a "wake" that harks back to a centuries-old papal dispensation that allowed Irishmen normally abstaining from drink during Lent to drink in the event of a wake for the dead. The ritual with the dummy corpse is a tradition of many years at the restaurant/bar on Forest Hill Ave.

Wingstop Restaurant featured a variety of wings for every palate. From left: Lemon Pepper, original hot wings, and a mild variety. They are served here with fresh-cut seasoned fries.

Darryl and Pramvdee U. McGuire owners of Thai Country Resturant on Staples Mill Rd. .

A list of restaurants supposedly available at the Sixth Street Marketplace, but alas, several are closed down and one whole block of restaurants listed has been demolished.

Rod Bennett (right) a partner in the Martini Kitchen & Bubble Bar venture, said that the 1911 West Main Street restaurant will boast 85 martinis on the menu. It will also offer certified black angus beef, duck, and lobster.

Lois McCarn of Richmond (center) eats lunch with her daughter Carolyn Barker of Richmond in Brio Tuscan Grille at Stony Point Fashion Park

Little Europa Strogonoff (stroganoff) at Little Europa Restaurant and Gourmet Deli in the Gayton Crossing Shopping Center on 11/5/03. Flambe version.

From left, Thomas Haskins, Andrew Williams, and Fred Middleton preparing food in the kitchen of the Positive Vibe Cafe in the Stratford Hills Shopping Center.

Chef Peter Caserta is opening a second Pasta Luna restaurant in addition to the West End location. The new location is in the Commonwealth Center at 288 and Hull Streets.

Chicken Biryahi, adorned with egg, is available at Curry House restaurant on West Broad Street. Photo taken October 7, 2003.

Gade Reddy, of Wilmington, Delaware, eats a meal at Curry House restaurant on West Broad Street Tuesday, October 6, 2003.

The bar at the Grafiti Grille in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center. Feb. 27, 2005

Marie Antoinette Elbling grew up on a farm near the village of Thanville in Alsace, France. Her family ate seasonal food only at three meals. After moving to Richmond 34 years ago where she and husband, Chef Paul, opened La Petite France, she eats the same way. She doesn't exercise because she is in constant motion. Life is her exercise. If a light bulb needs changed in the restaurant, she'll grab a ladder and do it.

Luna Grove Restaurant

Chef F. J. Sabatini, with his Seafood Bouchee, in the restaurant in the Henry Clay Inn in Ashland on March 28, 2005

The Brasilian Cafe is located in the basement of Stuart Circle Apartments on Monument Avenue. Photo taken Sunday, January 20, 2005.

Among other dishes, guests at Can Can, a brasserie on Cary St., can savor the roasted salmon served with lentils, wild mushrooms and red wine shallots. April 20, 2005.

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The bar area of Shula's 2 restaurant at the Sheraton Richmond West November 6, 2004.

Guests dining at Cielito Lindo who might be in the mood for something sweet can try the flan de calabaza, the pumpkin flan. March 15, 2005.

Christopher Bak, chef at Fusion, watches over chocolate truffle cake. Photo taken Monday, March 7, 2005.

The Lucky lounge, located on E. Cary St., opened December 28, 2004. This restaurant/bar also offered live music, including Jazz on Thursday nights.

Lunch crowd at Perly's on Grace St. March 11, 2005

A fire broke out at Firebirds in the Short Pump Town center on December 20, 2005.

India Garden & Grill WAS a family-owned Indian restaurant off of Midlothian Turnpike. Pictured here in 2005 were masala dosa (front), an Indian-style thin pancake served with onion and potato stuffing, curry and coconut chutney sauce, and vegetable jalfrezi (behind), a mix of cauliflowers, carrots, beans and green peppers sauteed in ginger, garlic, dry fruits and authentic Indian spices.

Looking out of the front window into the "sidewalk cafe" portion of Escabar at 5806 Grove Ave. December 21, 2005

Kevin Brown (left) and Nancy Cohen in the kitchen at Cafe Mandolin Feburary 18 , 2005

Using savory custard with dijon mustard in filo shells as the base , David Shannon of Dogwood restaurant created seven holiday party foods using leftovers . December 20 , 2005

Cluck Bucket (left), Gravy Fries and Perogies from The Pour House om 2005. Photo taken Dec. 3

Martini Kitchen and Bubble Bar. Rack of Lamb, field greens and shrimp cocktail. November 28 , 2005

Beverly Mazursky, owner of Bev's Homemade Ice Cream shop in Carytown in the Carytown store on Thursday, February 10, 2005.

The driver of this pickup truck was taken into custody on Dec. 9, 2005 after Hanover authorities and patrons at Mulligan's Sports Bar said he drove into the restaurant after being kicked out.

“To the dining community: Don’t forget to bring joy wherever you can; it will go a long way.”

Stella Dikos, namesake of Stella’s and Stella’s Grocery

French artist Gilles Cheramy, right, poses beside the butterfly-shaped bar he has created for The Can Can restaurant at 3120 W. Cary St. in Richmond, VA, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004, as his assistant, Bruno Perrigouas, left, polishes the edge.

A table set in front of the fireplace at Azzurro Restaurant in 2004.

Vitello's is located at 101 N. Fifth Street Sept. 22, 2004.

Peter J. D'Amelio, president and chief operating officer ot the restaurant division at The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, photographed at their Short Pump restaurant Monday, September 27, 2004.

Cheesecakes and desserts are ready to be served up on Monday, September 27, 2004, at The Cheesecake Factory restaurant in Short Pump.

The Tavern salad in The Veranda at Michelle's Tavern in Hanover Courthouse . September 21 , 2005

Barbara Roll is one of the items on Ichiban's menu. Photo taken Friday, October 21, 2005.

Avenue 805 features Sunday brunch. This is French Toast with fresh local figs, toasted almonds and maple syrup. The Rail Bloody Mary is a signature brunch beverage. Photo taken Sept. 18, 2005.

This sushi and sashimi combo plate is one of the items on Ichiban's menu. Photo taken Friday, October 21, 2005.

Interior of Avenue 805 restaurant on September 18, 2005

Vinny Sanzone of Carini's Restaurant with a large pizza, in the newer section of the Italian restaurant in 2005. Photo taken Oct. 12.

Sosie Hublitz outside her Gaston-damaged Shockoe Bottom restaurant "The Kitchen Table" on October 6, 2004.

Sosie Hublitz's Gaston-damaged Shockoe Bottom restaurant "The Kitchen Table." Photo taken October 6, 2004.

Jen Clayton, a manager at Gutenberg Cafe', explains the flow of the high water which severely damaged the restaurant in September of 2004, when remnants of Hurricane Gaston flooded Shockoe Bottom. Photo taken Sept. 29.

5/10/04 - Diners prepare to order while enjoying their cocktails at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at Stony Point Fashion Park in Richmond Monday.

Carolyn and Bob DeCapri in their restaurant, Cafe' di Pagliacci, in the Fan District.

Lynn Cochran and Jim News, the owners of Mr. Patrick Henry's Inn on Church Hill, are selling the place. The stand in the restaurant's lunch room. The restaurant also had formal dining rooms. Photo taken November 15, 1999.

Dennis Hickman at the new Julian's at 1129 Three Chopt Rd. He is holding a framed 1947 menu from the restaurant's earliest days in downtown Richmond.

H.L. Reed Design Inc. decorated the Main Street Beer Co. with a poured concrete bar. Photo taken Tuesday, August 3, 1999.

Edward Martin calls himself 'The Drink Man' at his job with Cafe Mosaic. He moves quickly through his work filling water pitchers, and other drink related tasks.

The Jade Elephant RESTAURANT

Folks come to the Texas-Wisconsin Border Cafe, shown Aug. 24, 1995, in Richmond, Va., for its mix of Tex-Mex and hearty Wisconsin fare. Or maybe it's because of all the memorabilia from its namesake states, including stuffed animals, football helmets and license plates.

John Felico, owner of Dominic's of New York, will soon sell his sausage products at selected Ukrops. He is shown in his Willow Lawn Food Court location.

Watchful Waiter Awards Acacia Restaurant on Cary St. View from the porch on December 21, 1998

Samuel B. Parker (804) 649-8450

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