Virginia Beach Daily Local Headlines: Seahawk Circle Arrest, I-264 Crash Verdict, and Curfew Update
Virginia Beach, VA – February 24, 2026 – Curfew change details, a drug-and-gun arrest, rainbow crosswalk thanks, and a major crash case verdict.
Top headlines
- Police say a search warrant on Seahawk Circle turned up drugs and a firearm.
- A jury convicted a driver in a deadly 2023 I-264 crash; sentencing is set for late May.
- The city posted new details on a 10 p.m. curfew for unaccompanied minors starting March 19.
- City workers were publicly thanked after cleaning graffiti from the Rainbow Crosswalk in the ViBe District.
Seahawk Circle search leads to arrest
Officers said they executed a search warrant in the 700 block of Seahawk Circle after suspecting an illegal marijuana distribution operation. Police reported recovering a large amount of marijuana along with psilocybin mushrooms, THC edible products and concentrates, and a firearm. A Virginia Beach man was taken into custody and faces multiple drug and firearm-related charges.
Double manslaughter crash case heads to sentencing
The city’s prosecutor announced a jury found Maxwell J. Schaefer guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, along with drug possession and reckless driving-endangerment, tied to a May 7, 2023 crash on I-264 westbound. Authorities said the vehicle was traveling at extreme speed before leaving the roadway and hitting a tree, killing one passenger at the scene and another later after an extended hospitalization. A judge is scheduled to sentence Schaefer on May 27.
Earlier youth curfew outlined ahead of March start
A city post spells out how the updated curfew is expected to work once it takes effect March 19. The rule applies to unaccompanied minors under 18 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and is intended to help reduce late-night incidents and discourage unpermitted gatherings that can quickly swell. The city notes there are exceptions for certain situations and emphasizes compliance-focused enforcement.
Rainbow Crosswalk cleanup recognized
A local gathering in the ViBe Creative District thanked public works employees who scrubbed offensive graffiti from the Rainbow Crosswalk. The crosswalk, at the intersection of Cypress Avenue and 19th Street, is designed as public art meant to signal inclusivity. The appreciation event also highlighted new art now surrounding the intersection.
Neighborhood note: Bayfront beaches and Shore Drive work
In the Ocean Park area, a community update said a recent Bayfront Advisory Commission briefing included a positive condition report on Ocean Park beaches following 2022 restoration work, with dune grass being replanted this week. The update also flagged ongoing Shore Drive Phase III construction, much of it at night, and urged extra caution through changing traffic patterns.
Sources
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/drugs-firearm-recovered-seahawk-circle-142050603.html
- https://virginiabeach.gov/connect/news/commonwealth-v-maxwell-j-schaefer-man-convicted-in-double-manslaughter-crash
- https://virginiabeach.gov/connect/blog/curfew-change-for-minors
- https://www.whro.org/2026-02-24/thanking-those-who-removed-offensive-graffiti-from-the-rainbow-crosswalk-in-virginia-beach
- https://opcl.org/2026/02/23/bayfront-advisory-commission-updates/
