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From the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: During the course of an investigation being conducted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices’ Special Investigations Unit along with the Virginia State Police,  Alcohol Beverage Control, and the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Investigators of the office of the Sheriff discovered a sophisticated underground Marijuana grow operation. This operation was 10 feet underground in which Investigators had to go down a ladder 10 feet and crawl through a tunnel 10 feet long to reach a 40 foot by 8 foot storage container that had been buried. This container had mutable marijuana plants along with other items to manufacture marijuana. Investigators located multiple firearms which were also seized by the Office of the Sheriff, County of Franklin. Other items seized include a vehicle, 2 four wheelers and a Trackhoe. The Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control seized items consistent with manufacturing untaxed whiskey.

Underground Marijuana

Alvin Murdock

Alvin Murdock

From Roanoke County Police: (Roanoke County, VA) – On Sunday, August 28, just before midnight, Roanoke County Police responded to a call for service in the parking lot of Wendy’s in the 4300 block of Electric Road. It was stated that a gentleman in the drive-through lane of Wendy’s was passed out inside his vehicle, with the engine running and was unresponsive. Roanoke County Fire & Rescue initially responded to the call as it appeared the man may have had a medical emergency. Upon seeing the condition of the man, medics called for Police to respond. After waking him and asking him to step out of the vehicle, it appeared to the officers that the man was under the influence of alcohol and/or some other substance. He presented false identification to the officers. Officers conducted field sobriety tests, during which time the man fled from officers to behind the Enterprise Rental Car building next door. Officers pursued him and during the course of the incident, it was necessary for officers to use force to subdue the man and he was taken into custody. Fire & Rescue personnel returned to the scene and transported him to the hospital where he received medical attention for minor injuries, and was then transported to Roanoke County Jail. The man is identified as 34-year old Alvin Anthony Murdock of Roanoke City. He was charged with DUI-Third or Subsequent Offense, Obstructing Justice, and Giving False Identity to Law Enforcement Officer. Per standard departmental policy, the Roanoke County Police Department is conducting a review of the use of force by police officers.

State-NewsFrom Governor McAuliffe’s office: Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement today in response to the latest Republican lawsuit to strip Virginians of their civil rights: “Fewer than two weeks after Republican Senate Leader Tommy Norment, who was a plaintiff in both of these political cases, said ‘I am pleased Governor McAuliffe has complied with the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia,’ Republicans have fully demonstrated that their sole motivation in these cases is to deny Virginians the right to vote. “Senator Norment is right — Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on my April 22nd order, my team fully complied with the court’s order and established a process that is fully consistent with the ruling as well as the precedent of past governors. “Our ongoing fight to restore Virginians’ rights is about one thing: Moving our Commonwealth into the mainstream of American states where people who serve their time reenter society as full citizens again.

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State-NewsFrom House Speaker William Howell’s office: Attorneys for Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), Senate Majority Leader Thomas K. Norment, Jr. (R-James City), and four Virginia voters will file a contempt motion today against Governor Terence R. McAuliffe (D) with the Supreme Court of Virginia.  The petitioners are requesting an order from the Court requiring the Governor and other respondents to show cause for why they should not be held in contempt for violating the Supreme Court’s July 22 decision in Howell v. McAuliffe. In granting a writ of mandamus against Governor McAuliffe and other respondents, the Court ruled that the governor replaced a general rule with a categorical exception, effectively suspending the constitutional prohibition on felon voting and violating the Constitution of Virginia’s anti-suspension provision.  The contempt motion argues that the effect of the August 22 action is practically the same as the first set of executive orders, resulting in another unconstitutional suspension of the laws.

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salempoliceshieldFrom Salem Police Department: This afternoon at 2:24 p.m., Salem Police Officers and Salem Fire and EMS members responded to the 1800 block of West Main Street in reference to a vehicle collision involving a motorcycle. The call indicated that a motorcyclist had collided with a Roanoke County ambulance that was traveling east on West Main Street. The ambulance, from Ft. Lewis Station Number 9, was transporting a patient to LewisGale Medical Center at the time of the accident. The two vehicles were traveling in the same direction and the rescue vehicle’s emergency lights and siren were being used at the time of the accident. The 50-year-old male driver of the motorcycle, who is a Salem resident, was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in stable condition. No one in the ambulance was hurt. The investigation into the collision is ongoing are charges are pending.

RC-FireRescueFrom Roanoke County Fire & Rescue: Roanoke County Fire & Rescue responded to a structure fire in the 4900 block of Fort Lewis Church Road at 6:30 this morning. First crews responding could see smoke showing as the left the Fort Lewis Station, and once on scene found a shed that was about 30′ by 30′ and completely engulfed in flames. Career and volunteer firefighters from the Fort Lewis and Masons Cove stations contained the flames to the shed but some of the vinyl siding on the house did melt. The occupant of the home reported being able to feel the extreme heat from the house when they first called 9-1-1. No injuries were reported. Cause of the fire is undetermined. Estimated damages to structure and contents are $10,000.

James Hancock

James Hancock

George Cobbler III

George Cobbler III

From Henry County Police: On August 25, 2016 at approximately 8:56am, the Martinsville/Henry County Emergency 911 Center received a call of an assault and abduction that took place at 296 Friendship Circle, Bassett, Virginia. The caller advised that 2 male subjects had broken into the home and Michael Harold Nunn, 41, of 1215 Elf Trail, Bassett, VA had been assaulted by the 2 male subjects and taken from the home against his will. Deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office located and stopped the suspect’s vehicle on Archway Rd.in Bassett at 9:18am. Michael Nunn was located inside the vehicle being driven by the 2 suspects. While being held, property was taken from Nunn and he suffered wounds to his legs and head; he refused to seek medical treatment. The incident stemmed from a dispute over illegal narcotics. James Brandon Hancock, 29, of 282 Woodberry Rd., Bassett, VA was arrested and charged with Breaking & Entering, Abduction, Malicious Wounding and Robbery; all charges are felonies. He is jailed in the Henry County Jail without bond. George Wilson Cobbler III, 32, of 2433 Carlsbad Circle, Roanoke, VA was arrested and charged with Breaking & Entering, Abduction, Malicious Wounding and Robbery; all charges are felonies. He is jailed in the Henry County Jail without bond.

wfir-defaultFrom Christiansburg Police: August 24, 2016 – Christiansburg Police responded on Tuesday night to a two-vehicle wreck near the Interstate 81 overpass on Virginia 8.  According to the preliminary investigation, at 7:17 p.m., a 2009 Chrysler sedan made a left turn from the south I-81 Exit 114 off-ramp onto Virginia 8. The sedan collided with a 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was travelling toward downtown Christiansburg on Virginia 8.  The motorcycle driver, Timothy Harold Roberts, 54, of Christiansburg, was airlifted from the scene but died en route to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.  The driver of the sedan, Marjorie Kaye Cromer, 64, of Christiansburg, was not injured. The incident is under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time.
Wasil Farooqui

Wasil Farooqui

UPDATE – From Roanoke County Police: Witnesses told police that during the attack, Mr. Farooqui was yelling “Allah Akbar.” Roanoke County Police immediately contacted the FBI. “The FBI is working with the Police Department following the incident that occurred on Saturday evening,” said Adam Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “While I cannot discuss details of the investigation at this time, I do want to reassure the community that we are working to determine the nature of the incident.” This is all of the information that will be released at this time.

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Roanoke County PoliceFrom Roanoke County Police: On Monday August 22, 2016 at 2:06 p.m., Roanoke County Police responded to the 3500 block of Brambleton Avenue in South Roanoke County to investigate an armed robbery. Witnesses say a white male, approximately 5’08” to 5’10”, with short hair, wearing dark shorts and a dark hooded sweatshirt entered the business, armed with a handgun. The suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash, exited the business, and then ran south along Brambleton Avenue. No one was injured during the incident. No arrests have been made. Anyone with additional information should contact the Roanoke County Police Department at 540-562-3265.

(Police did not identify the agency, but WDBJ7 reports it was the Don Hodson Nationwide Insurance Agency)