According to press reports and the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star’s police blotter, former Stafford Board of Supervisors Chair and former candidate for Lieutenant Governor and Delegate Susan B. Stimpson was arrested for allegedly trespassing at Wegman’s grocery store on Tuesday, April 5th.
Witnesses described her as appearing “unstable,” and a police spokesman stated to the Free Lance-Star that Stimpson was approaching patrons of Wegmans and providing them with what was described as “personal information.” It is not clear what this information was, and Fredericksburg Police spokeswoman Sarah Kirkpatrick declined to elaborate.
After being approached by Wegmans’ staff and asked to leave, she refused, at which time the police were called. After acknowledging the trespass notice, she refused to leave the premises, at which time she was taken into police custody.
Stimpson, a former Chair of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, most recently challenged Speaker William Howell for the Republican nomination in the 28th House District. Her bid was unsuccessful, but she was still widely viewed as a rising star in Virginia Republican politics, after both this campaign and a statewide campaign for Lieutenant Governor in 2013 had widened her name identification across Virginia.
This incident comes less than a day after Stimpson announced to her supporters that she was leaving politics “to pursue ministry.” In an email sent out in the early hours of April 5, under the subject line “Decision Made,” Stimpson outlined her intention to leave politics and focus on her faith.
“I have decided that I’m not running for Delegate. I’m not running for Lt Governor. I’m actually not going to run for any office. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve just written those words but I am quite sure of my decision.
So why am I telling you this now? Because I think that there will soon be changes in the House of Delegates and over the past few months I have struggled to come to a decision as to whether or not my path is to pursue politics or to pursue ministry. Over the years I have felt very called to speak God’s truth into government. And I’m pretty amazed at what God allowed me to do while serving in office. It was both fun and exhausting.
But the greatest tug on my heart is for God’s kingdom as a whole, not just in government. As someone once said to me, government is just downstream of the culture. And our culture seems to be confused.
I’m 45 years old. How will I spend the last half of my life? Will I spend it in a political whirlpool that pretty much seems to be a black hole or will I do everything I can to further God’s truth to as many people as I can? When I think of it in those terms, it’s an easy decision. And there’s no looking back, just looking ahead in excitement as to what God has in store.
And as for the election to replace Bill Howell when and if he retires from House District 28 — I hope Supervisor Meg Bohmke runs for the seat and I hope she wins. I think Meg will fit nicely into Richmond.
And I want to thank each of you for how you have shaped me into the person I am today. No matter what we do in life, no matter where we are, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.
I hope to see and speak with each of you sometime soon.”
Trespass is a first degree misdemeanor in the Commonwealth of Virginia, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of no more than $2,500.
UPDATE: OCIS data from the arrest.
UPDATE #2 – Based on the above “custody” status and reporting from the Stafford County Sun, Stimpson remains in custody at the Rappahannock Regional Jail after failing to cooperate with the magistrate in order to have bond set.
UPDATE #3, April 7 – Stimpson has been released from the Rappahannock Regional Jail after posting a $500 bond this morning. Her court date is set for May 26. Here’s more information from RTD’s Markus Schmidt.
