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The Regional Shelter for Animal Care and Protection says it has has reached full capacity for large dogs, and both strays and others available for adoption. Shelter officials suggest this is a good time to come out to the facility on Baldwin Avenue if you have thought recently about pet adoption.

News release: Roanoke, VA – The Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection has reached capacity for large dogs. Kennels for both stray dogs and dogs available for adoption are full at this time. If you are missing your dog companion, please visit the shelter located at 1510 Baldwin Ave. NE, to see if your dog is at there. Anyone interested in adopting a dog is also encouraged to visit the shelter so that the kennel space can be made available for the additional dogs that are brought in. The RCACP is your local, tax-funded intake shelter. Dogs that are brought into the shelter must be kept by law for the required stray hold time, which is either five or 10 days, depending on the information that is brought in with the animal. If you are missing your pet, now is the time to come to the shelter to ensure that your pet is safely reunited with you.
Additionally, if you are looking for a new best friend, please come to the shelter and let us help you find that match. By adopting the dogs that are available, it frees up space for stray dogs that are off their stray hold to be made available for adoption as well. The animals at RCACP are our community animals that need the community to help them. Please show your support by either claiming your lost pet or adopting those animals that are available.

UPDATE from Roanoke Police: We have positively identified the body found on Delaware Avenue as Atlante’ McArthur Dent, age 18, of Roanoke. No arrests at this time and investigation is ongoing.

Previously: Thanks to your help, we were able to identify this individual this morning. We will release his full identity after we properly notify his family.

Previously: Police need your help in identifying the body of a homicide victim found on the lawn of a residence in the 2400 block of Delaware Avenue NW on November 27th. At this point detectives have not been able to positively identify the body. The male does not match any of the department’s current missing persons cases. The male’s fingerprints did not match any prints in the state and federal database. According to the state medical examiner’s office the male’s cause of death was a gunshot wound and the manner was a homicide.

The male’s physical characteristics are below: Black male, 5’9″ in height, 125 lbs in weight. Possible age range between mid-teens to early 20s. No tattoos, scars, or piercings. Small amount of facial hair on his chin.

The male was wearing the following: Black hoodie sweatshirt with a Washington Wizards [NBA franchise] logo on it. Black pullover sweatpants that have the zippers on the cuffs. Size 8 red Air Jordan shoes.

Anyone with information that might help detectives identify the deceased male should call our tip line at 540-344-8500. Callers can choose to remain anonymous. The investigation is ongoing.

Previously: On November 27, 2017 at 7:13 am Roanoke Police were called to the 2400 block of Delaware Avenue NW to investigate a report of a person down. The individual was found lying in the yard of a residence and was pronounced dead at the scene. Evidence Technicians collected potential physical evidence from the scene. The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The individual’s identity will be released after proper notifications have been made. The incident is a death investigation at this time. Anyone with information can call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500.

From Virginia State Police: RICHMOND – With overall traffic fatalities already on the increase, the 2017 Thanksgiving holiday weekend proved to be a deadly one for 10 individuals traveling on Virginia’s highways. During the holiday statistical counting period, which began Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017, at 12:01 a.m. and continued through midnight Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, traffic crashes claimed the lives of eight drivers, one passenger and a pedestrian. As of Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, there have been 737 reported traffic deaths in Virginia, compared to 664 this date last year.

“The increase in fatal crashes throughout this year is troubling and should be of serious concern to all Virginians,” said Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Tragically, there will be at least 700 families heading into the holiday season mourning the loss of a loved one because of a traffic crash on a Virginia highway. Let’s make these remaining weeks of 2017 safer for everyone by buckling up and driving smart, safe, sober and distraction-free.”

The Thanksgiving fatal crashes occurred in the City of Richmond and the counties of Appomattox, Augusta, Bedford, Caroline, Fairfax and Spotsylvania. Two of the crashes, including the pedestrian crash, occurred in the City of Richmond, and two other fatal crashes occurred in Fairfax County. Two drivers lost their lives in a two-vehicle, head-on crash in Augusta County.

In an effort to prevent traffic deaths and injuries during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Virginia State Police participated in Operation C.A.R.E., an acronym for the Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort. Operation C.A.R.E. is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by speeding, impaired driving and failure to use occupant restraints.

During the 2017 Thanksgiving weekend, Virginia State Police troopers:

  • Cited 8,016 speeders
  • Cited 2,465 reckless drivers
  • Arrested 102 drunken drivers
  • Cited 589 safety belt violations & 205 child restraint violations
  • Investigated 998 traffic crashes, in which nine were fatal
  • Assisted 2,635 disabled motorists

The Virginia State Police will also this year be participating in the annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) “Tie One on for Safety” campaign, which discourages drunk and drugged driving during the winter holidays.

Jackie Vasher

Salem City news release: This afternoon, at approximately 12:41 p.m., the Salem Police Department along with Salem Fire & EMS, responded to the 1700 block of East Main Street in reference to a call of a structure fire.  Upon arrival, officers observed a white male subject fleeing the 7-Eleven store on foot. Store employees told the officers thatthe male, identified as Jackie Vasher, 33, of Roanoke, entered the store and began pouring gasoline from a container onto the floor near the counter. Vasher then ignited the gasoline and exited the building. All five employees were able to exit the building and no one injured. No customers were inside the store at the time of the fire. Salem Police Officers pursued Vasher on foot and took him into custody a short distance from the store. Vasher has been charged with five counts of Attempted Malicious Injury by Fire and one count of Arson. Currently, he is being held at the Roanoke County/Salem Jail without bond. The incident is still under investigation and detectives are still trying to determine a motive for starting the fire.

Previous: The  Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a structure fire today at the 7-Eleven/Liberty Gas Station, 1715 East Main St., at approximately 12:41 p.m. All of the people in the store were able to escape without injury, but the fire caused significant damage to the building and its contents. The first unit arrived within three minutes of receiving the call and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front of the building. Due to the type of structure and the amount of fire, the Roanoke Fire & EMS Department also responded. It took firefighters approximately 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control. Approximately 30 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Truck 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Medic 802, Medic 803, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1), Roanoke Fire & EMS Department (Engine 4, Engine 5, Ladder 5, Medic 5 & Battalion 2) responded to the call. The Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department (Engine 3) provided assistance covering additional calls. The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office and Salem Police Department are still investigating the fire and there is no damage estimate at this time.

Update from Roanoke Police Nov 27:  The deceased individual found with a gunshot wound on Thanksgiving Day at a residence in the 200 block of Liberty Road has been identified as Morgan Nino Stamper-Dizon, age 19, of Roanoke. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital on November 23rd. Update  from Roanoke Police Nov 27:

The individual who was shot in the 1600 block of Eastern Avenue NE on that same day has been identified as Evgeniy Aleksander Prokopchak, age 20, of Roanoke. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Detectives and evidence technicians are continuing to analyze physical evidence recovered from the investigations, as well as interviewing potential witnesses to establish a timeline of events.

The home invasion on Eastern Avenue and Stamper-Dizon’s subsequent death are being investigated as potentially being related at this time. Anyone with information can call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500.

Previously: At 11:48 a.m. on November 23, 2017, Roanoke Police were called to the 1600 block of Eastern Avenue NE to investigate a report of a shooting. Upon arrival officers located one adult male victim. The victim had apparent gunshot wounds and was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. While at the scene, officers developed information that the incident was possibly a home invasion and the victim might have shot one of the suspect(s). The suspect(s) had left the scene by the time officers arrived.

Approximately 15 minutes later, officers were called to the corner of Kennedy Street NE and Liberty Road NE where an adult male was found with an apparent gunshot wound. Witnesses told officers two other individuals who were with the adult male ran away before officers got there. The adult male was found outside a residence at the corner of Kennedy and Liberty Road. He was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The adult male’s identity will be released after proper notifications have been made.

Detectives are investigating to see if both incidents were related or the result of two separate sets of circumstances. No arrests have been made in either incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.  Continue reading

Amtrak photo

From Amtrak: WASHINGTON – Amtrak and Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge have teamed up to offer a new display at Virginia’s Blue Ridge Visitor Center. Amtrak invites the public to view a display of newly-refreshed seats that have been installed on Business and Coach Class cars operating in the Northeast. The crisp, new interior seats are now on the Northeast Regional that provides daily service to Roanoke, Va. This upgrade is part of Amtrak project to overhaul its Amfleet I train interiors on more than a dozen popular services operating in the Northeast and Midwest. The result will be a modern and comfortable experience for customers. During the next few months, more than 450 coaches will undergo a series of improvements including installation of brand new seat cushions, carpeting, LED lighting, flooring and refreshed restrooms.
WHAT: Free tour of Amfleet I newly-refreshed seats.
WHERE: Virginia’s Blue Ridge Visitor Center, 101 Shenandoah Ave., NE., Roanoke, Va.
WHEN: The visitor center is open daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

From Roanoke Fire-EMS: Around 2:33pm today firefighters responded to a structure fire in the 500 block of Bullitt Ave., SE. When crews arrived they were met with heavy flames, heavy heat and heavy wind conditions. The fire was elevated to a second alarm due to the amount of fire and wind conditions. The house where the fire started was vacant and no one was inside. 4 additional houses were also damaged. 3 of those houses were vacant and 1 was occupied. No one was displaced. No injuries were reported. The cause and damage estimates are under investigation.

From Virginia State Police: Virginia State Police Trooper B.M. DeLoatch is investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash in Henry County. The crash occurred Nov. 18, 2017, at 6:50 p.m., on Route 220 less than a mile south of Route 674. A 1989 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck was traveling along Route 220 when it ran off the left side of the highway and struck an embankment. The pickup then struck two highway signs and the embankment a second time before finally coming to a stop. The driver, Fletcher L. Ross, 52, of Bassett, Va., was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the pickup truck during the course of the crash. Ross was transported to Martinsville Memorial Hospital where he died later that same night. The crash remains under investigation.