Police

Family remembers Xavier McClanahan

The first thing Xavier McClanahan’s family says is that everyone loved him. As they gathered in a meeting room at the Praise Fellowship Bible Church in Richmond after Sunday services, his mother Ligé spoke of his magnetic personality—people just wanted to be around him. His cousin Daniel, wearing an “R.I.P Xavier” t-shirt, said that he was always the happy kid and never wanted to see anyone else sad. His Aunt Katina called him bubbly, funny, vivacious, positive. His father Rufus…

Richmond city council meeting discusses investigating the death of Richard “Pedie” Perez

Talk about policing dominated the Richmond City Council meeting on Tuesday, as councilmembers and citizens discussed amending the Richmond Police Commission enabling ordinance, initiating a police commission investigation into the death of Richard “Pedie” Perez following a settlement between the city and Perez’ family earlier that day, and investigating all cases in which individuals are seriously injured by Richmond police. At the meeting’s beginning, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt proposed moving these three agenda items to a future meeting, based on…

Spike in homicides adds to unfinished agenda awaiting Magnus successor

It wasn’t quite dark in central Richmond, a little before 5 p.m. the day before Thanksgiving. A 13-year-old girl was walking down a flight of stairs, two people were driving north in a white sedan on Carlson Boulevard “when they shot into the direction of the Pullman Townhouses, and kept on driving,” police said. The 13-year-old was shot in the leg, just above the knee. Police said the girl, treated and released at a local hospital, “was not the intended…

Departing police chief built Richmond legacy on trust

Editor’s note: This is Part One in a two-part series on the departure of Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus, who leaves after this month to become police chief in Tucson, Arizona. In Part Two tomorrow, staff writer Matt Beagle looks at a recent rise in Richmond homicides and the unfinished agenda facing Richmond’s next top cop.       When Chris Magnus came to Richmond in 2006, gun violence by all accounts was out of control. Many people considered Magnus an unlikely choice to do much…

Magnus emerges as favorite for Tucson police chief position

Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus appears to be the top choice to become police chief in Tucson, Arizona, after a search committee voted to recommend him as the best fit for the job. Representatives of a citizen’s panel in the Arizona city interviewed finalists on Thursday, voting 11 to 2 for Magnus over two other top contenders. Tucson city government department heads, police union and city manager will weigh in next, before the selection process goes to Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild…