Web Staff
From the Virginia Department of Health: (MONETA, Virginia) – The West Piedmont Health District (WPHD) will offer free seasonal flu vaccine at a special drive-thru clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 25th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Scruggs Fire, Rescue, and Dive Squad (2180 Bluewater Drive, Moneta, VA 24121). Only 300 doses of injectable vaccine will be available and will only be offered to adults 18 years and older on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to wear clothing that is loose around the arm so that a public health nurse can give you the flu shot in your upper arm, while you enjoy the comfort and convenience of your vehicle. Please do not have pets in the vehicle (controlled service animals are allowed).
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John Chumbley
UPDATE From Roanoke County Police: John Chumbley has been located and he is uninjured.
PREVIOUSLY: (Roanoke County, VA) – Roanoke County Police need help in locating John Alexander Chumbley, 15 years of age. He was last seen on October 14, 2016. John is believed to be in danger due to some statements he made to his parents. Please call the Emergency Communication Center if you know his whereabouts. Emergency line is 911, Non emergency is 540 562-3265
From Roanoke County Police: (Roanoke County, VA) – Roanoke County Police arrested Mark Andrew Edwards, 44, of Roanoke, on an outstanding warrant on 10/13/2016. Detectives were conducting follow-up investigations related to the string of southwest County burglaries. Mr. Edwards was known to the detectives and at that time for being wanted on an arrest warrant for larceny from the City of Roanoke. After Mr. Edwards was recognized in a vehicle, the vehicle was stopped. Mr. Edwards was arrested on the City warrant. Subsequently, property found in the vehicle was later connected to a burglary that had occurred on Cotton Hill Rd earlier in the day. Edwards has been charged with one count of Breaking and Entering and one count of Grand Larceny. Police are investigating whether or not Edwards is connected to other burglaries in the area.
Bryan Skinnell
From the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office: On August 10, 2016, Bedford County Sheriff’s Animal Control Deputies received a complaint regarding an incident that occurred at the Bedford County Animal Shelter. Animal Control Deputies were informed that a shelter worker, identified as a Bryan Skinnell, had injured a cat while performing cleaning maintenance at the facility. Upon investigation, it was found that Skinnell had injured the cat after he grew frustrated because it kept escaping its cage. The cat was taken to a local veterinarian clinic where it had to be euthanized due to its injuries. The cause of death was consistent with blunt force trauma. Skinnell was terminated immediately and has been charged with felony Animal Cruelty. On September 26, 2016, Skinnell was arrested and transported to the Bedford Adult Detention Facility. He was released on a Personal Recognizance bond.
From the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office: At 12:30 p.m. today, Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call from the 4500 block of Dickerson Mill Road, Bedford. The caller said he heard gunshots come from a house on Wheatland Road and that the young man that lived there has a history of mental issues. The caller also called the stepfather of the male subject and told him that he saw his stepson walking up the road with a rifle. The step father called 911 and advised that there were two rifles in the house and one of them was loaded. He also said both guns were supposed to be locked up. Dispatchers also received a call from 5301 Wheatland Road and the caller said a subject with blond hair was ringing his door bell and holding a rifle. He then said the subject had run down there the woods. Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies along with Bedford Town Police officers and Conservation Police responded to the area and attempted to locate the subject.
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From the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: On Thursday October 12, 2016 at approximately 11am, the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a threat at Read Mountain Middle School. School officials reported discovering a statement written on a restroom wall, indicating that a bomb was on school grounds. The Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene immediately with law enforcement personnel & explosives K-9 units from the Virginia State Police, Roanoke County Police Department & the Virginia Tech Police Department. School officials activated their emergency operation plan placing students and faculty in a lockdown while a thorough search of the building was conducted. At this time no threat has been discovered, however the sheriff’s office in cooperation with the school division is continuing to investigate this matter.
Alexis Coward
Kayla Swortzel
Jordan Twiggs
From the Christiansburg Police Department: We are searching for three missing juveniles October 5, 2016 – The Christiansburg Police Department received a report on October 3 at 7:15 p.m. in reference to three Christiansburg High School students who had not returned home from school that day. Jordan Twiggs, 14, Alexis Coward, 14, and Kayla Swortzel, 14, left school after classes were dismissed on a school bus and got off the bus in the area of Swallow Lane in Montgomery County. The parents of the high schoolers told the Christiansburg Police Department the juveniles had talked about living together near a river. The Christiansburg Police Department has several officers and detectives searching various areas in the County, including locations the juveniles may be familiar with. Twiggs is described as 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds with brown eyes and sandy hair. Coward is described as 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. Swortzel is described as 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Anyone with information is being asked to call Sgt. Randall Womack at the Christiansburg Police Department at (540) 382-3131 or after hours at (540) 382-4343.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office received information that there were lewd sexual acts along with the displaying of obscene motion pictures taking place at Passions Video located at 6535 Greensboro Rd., Ridgeway, Virginia. Passions Video is advertised as being an adult video store with movie arcade and adult novelties. Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the operator of Passions Video was charging a fee to allow customers to enter the rear area of the business. In the back portion of the business, there were multiple televisions playing obscene pornographic videos. It was in this area that customers were engaging in sexual acts. While investigating the allegations, it was discovered that the business was owned and operated by Randy Dell Corns, 51, of 7804 Maplewood Rd., Waxham, NC.
From Roanoke Police: Officers responded to a shots fired call and observed approximately ten individuals in the parking lot where the caller said the shots were heard. While investigating, officers heard several more shots fired on the property. One of the officers observed a male, later identified as Rodney Ray Dunn, age 32, of Roanoke running from the scene. Officers observed Dunn holding a handgun and issued clear commands for him to stop but he refused. One of the officers tackled Dunn. The handgun he was holding was recovered. Dunn was arrested and charged with public intoxication. He was taken to Roanoke City Jail. The gun was seized and will be forensically tested to cartridge casings recovered at the scene.
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From Roanoke Police: Officers were called to Jack Brown’s to investigate a robbery. Upon arrival officers found three people on scene, two of them were Jack Brown employees, the other was a friend of one of the employees. Officers arrived within one minute and both suspects were gone by the time officers got there. One of the victims said that while they were taking out the trash, the victim was approached by the two suspects wearing ski masks. One of them was armed with a handgun. The victim said he told the suspects the back door to the business was locked so they could not get in. The armed suspect fired a shot at the back door handle to try and force it open but it remained locked. The other victim came to the back door and, fearing for their safety and the other employee, let the suspects into the building. Once inside, the suspects took the business’s safe and ran out the back door. No one was hurt during the robbery. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500. Callers can choose to remain anonymous. Anonymous text messages can also be sent to the number 274637 [crimes]. Please start any text message with the keyword “RoanokePD:” to ensure that it’s properly sent.