Chesterfield What started as a handoff of a young child between estranged parents turned into a police chase that ended with the father in custody. Chesterfield County police arrested Jermaine L. Butler, 32, of Georgetown, S.C., yesterday about 7 a.m. after cornering him with a police dog in the woods behind a garage on Jefferson Davis Highway. They charged Butler with eluding police, obstruction of justice and attempted breaking and entering. Authorities accuse Butler of fleeing with his year-old child after police showed up at the mother's request at the planned parental transfer at 2:30 a.m. at the Willis Road exit of Interstate 95. Butler was being held without bond pending a hearing today at 11 a.m. in Chesterfield General District Court.

Henrico Police said they fear for the safety of a man abducted during the weekend from a home in the 100 block of North Mapleleaf Avenue in Highland Springs. Duron Jermel Ferguson was taken from the home Sunday about 1:30 a.m., when one or more people broke into the residence, police said. Ferguson and a female friend hid, and the woman told police she called 911. Anyone with information is asked to call investigator A.J. Stromberg at (804) 780-1000.

Louisa A Louisa County grand jury yesterday indicted a suspended Howard University soccer coach accused of using the Internet to solicit sex from a minor. Joseph Okoh, 41, was arrested in January in an undercover operation. Okoh faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Hanover A Petersburg man is being held at the Pamunkey Regional Jail in connection with a recent robbery at a Pizza Hut restaurant on Mechanicsville Turnpike. Javar D. Ruffin, 20, turned himself in to the Petersburg Police Department on Friday evening, Hanover County officials said yesterday.

Caroline A 42-year-old Ruther Glen man is charged with rape, two counts of sodomy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with a sexual assault involving a family member, according to the Caroline County Sheriff's Office. The investigation began after staff members at Caroline High School contacted a sheriff's deputy last week.

Henrico An animal-protection officer shot and killed a pit bull that lunged at the officer on Sunday afternoon in a new housing development on Kingsridge Parkway, Lt. Doug Perry said yesterday. The dog was one of two that had been sought by officers after the dogs were seen running loose last week in the Fairfield Woods area in eastern Henrico. Officers are still looking for the second pit bull. Anyone who sees the dog is asked to call (804) 501-5000.

Richmond Two members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the first black military aviators of World War II, will speak at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the American Civil War Center, 500 Tredegar St. The free program will showcase the stories of Chief Master Sgt. Grant S. Williams Sr. and Lt. Col. Francis L. Horne Sr. For details, go to: www.tredegar.org. For reservations, call (804) 780-1865, Ext. 25, or e-mail info@tredegar.org.

Chesterfield Kim J. Huntley, Defense Supply Center Richmond's deputy commander, will become director of Defense Energy Support Center at Fort Belvoir on June 30. The Defense Energy Support Center manages energy supplies for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Huntley has been deputy director of the Richmond center since August.

AROUND THE STATE

Danville Averett University will introduce its new president tomorrow at 11 a.m. on the front steps of Main Hall, at 420 W. Main St. The new president will replace Richard A. Pfau, who is retiring.