Web Staff
Former Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie holds an early lead among all Republican contenders in the 2017 Virginia governor’s race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today but Virginia Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam edges Gillespie in a general election matchup. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
Click here for full poll results
From Virginia Tech: Three cases of a sudden decrease in liver function in previously healthy individuals under the age of 25 are being investigated in Blacksburg. The New River Valley Health District of the Virginia Department of Health is working in collaboration with community partners, including Virginia Tech, and health care providers in this investigation. To date no clear links have been identified between the cases. The illness is not thought to be one that can be passed from person to person.
(Continue reading for the rest of the Virginia Tech announcement.)
Brianna Hedrick
From Town of Bedford Police: – The Bedford Police Department is asking for help locating a missing 16-year-old girl. Brianna Nicole Hedrick was last seen at home Monday at about 9:30 p.m. She is 5′ 1″ tall and weighs about 130 pounds. Police said she has several tattoos and piercings; a tattoo of the Italian flag with two black butterflies on her forearm, a tattoo on her left hand that reads “end of the road,” and her ears, nose, and upper right lip is pierced with an older piercing in her eyebrow. She has blue eyes and brown, long, straight hair. Her ears, nose and upper right lip is pierced with older piercing in her eyebrows. If you have any information about Brianna, please call the Bedford Police Department at 540-586-7827 or the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 and www.cvcrimestoppers.org.
From the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: Over the last few months, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Christiansburg Police Department VICE unit, the Montgomery County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Marshal’s Service have conducted extensive operations and investigations into the use, manufacture, and distribution of methamphetamine. From September 15, 2016 through December 5, 2016, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has targeted meth related offenses with the culmination of those investigations being concluded on December 5, 2016 with a warrant round up being conducted in Montgomery County. On December 5, 2016, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Christiansburg Police Department VICE unit and the U.S. Marshal’s Service arrested 10 people on 84 felony warrants. During the targeted enforcement from September 15, 2016 through December 5, 2016, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office located 10 methamphetamine lab sites, conducted 4 search warrants, and identified 22 people involved with the use, manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine.
(Continue reading for the rest of the news release, including the names of those arrested to date.)
From the Henry County Sheriff’s Office: On December 5th, 2016 at 2:51pm the Martinsville / Henry County 9-1-1 Center received a call of shots fired at the Cloverleaf Shopping Center / Family Dollar located at 2410 Greensboro Rd. Deputies arrived at 3:01pm. Through the course of the investigation it was reported that 3 individuals arrived in the parking lot to sell shoes. After their arrival, a light blue Ford Taurus occupied by 3 black males pulled into the parking lot and attempted to rob the subjects who were there to sell the shoes.During this attempted robbery, at least 1 of the suspects from the Ford Taurus fired multiple shots from a handgun. The victim’s vehicle was hit by multiple bullets and 2 bullets entered the front of the Family Dollar. The 3 suspects fled the scene in the light blue Ford Taurus. The identity of the suspects is unknown at this time.There were no injuries reported. There are indications this incident may be drug related.Anyone having information regarding this robbery is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
Dustin Moseley
From the Franklin County Sheriff’s office: – On 11/29/2016, at 4:43 PM, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 9-1-1 call at 25 Ronnies Lane in Rocky Mount, in reference to a home invasion robbery. Subjects at the residence reported that a male subject came to the residence armed with a handgun. An elderly man at the residence was forced into the residence and in to a bathroom. The suspect took a safe containing US Currency and jewelry from the residence and fled. Investigators collected evidence and were able to identify a suspect through interviews. A search warrant was executed in the City of Roanoke with the assistance of the Roanoke Police Department. Dustin Lewis Moseley, W/M, 23 YOA, of Ferdinand Av. , Roanoke, VA has been arrested and charged with Robbery. The investigation is continuing.
From The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: The victim has been identified through the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office as Charles Edward Hodges IV, 34 years of age. The cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation.
Previously: The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office 9-1-1 center received a call for a fully involved structure fire at approximately 8:30 am this morning (November 28) from residents near 330 Crafts Ford Court, which is located in the Wirtz community at Smith Mountain Lake. Original reports stated that there may be a person inside the home. The Franklin County Sheriff’s office as well as fire departments from Scruggs, Burnt Chimney, Glade Hill, Smith Mountain Lake Marine, and Franklin County Public Safety responded and found a single story structure with heavy flames and smoke coming from building. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by 9:30 but the home was a total loss. Fire Investigators did locate and recover a body from the home at 12:25 today. The identity of the victim is being withheld until the medical examiners can confirm the victim’s identity and determine a cause of death. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the death of the victim. Franklin County Public Safety is investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
Roanoke County Police today released bank surveillance photos of last week’s holdup at the Carter Bank and Trust in Hollins. Police say he was a passenger in a car that pulled up the front door. Here is the earlier news release: On 11/23/2016, at 4:21 PM, a blue 4 door vehicle, possibly a 90’s model honda civic, pulled up to the front of the Carter Bank and Trust at the intersection of Plantation Rd. and Hollins Rd. A white male subject wearing a dark colored ski mask, dark jacket, tan/gray pants and white sneakers, exited the fron passenger seat of the vehicle. The subject went into the bank carrying a black back pack and removed what appeared to be a semi automatic style firearm. The subject began demanding money from the bank personnel. Personnel gave the subject money and he then exited the bank and got back into the vehicle. The vehicle was last seen traveling on Hollins Rd. towards Botetourt. If anyone has any information about who the subjects are, or the incident in general, they are asked to contact the Roanoke County Police Department at 540-562-3265 This case is still under investigation.
COVINGTON, Va. (AP) – Students and teachers at Alleghany High School in Covington are mourning the death of the school’s girls’ basketball coach. Principal Dwayne Ross tells local media that coach Danny Keene died Sunday in a two-car crash near Caldwell, West Virginia. Ross says police told him another driver crossed the line and hit Keene’s car. He did not provide further details. Keene was a special education teacher at Alleghany and coached the girls’ varsity program for 24 years. The team was scheduled to open the 2016-17 season Monday against James River High School, but the game has been postponed.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – Virginia Tech has signed a new agreement with defense industry giant Lockheed Martin that the school says will allow for more research collaboration and recruitment. Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in a statement that the agreement will allow the school and company to work together more efficiently. Research subjects will include microelectronics, power electronics and cybersecurity. The school says Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin has hired more than 80 Virginia Tech graduates and provided internships to more than 100 students over the past four years.