Web Staff
Here’s the press release from the Roanoke City Police Department: On August 8, 2016 at 5:15 p.m. Roanoke Police charged two adults with trespassing at the office of Congressman Bob Goodlatte. The office is located in the Suntrust Building at 10 Franklin Road S.E. Numerous individuals had conducted a “sit in” starting at approximately 11:00 a.m. today. Roanoke Police had been in constant communication with the group over the weekend and had offered assistance in helping with a safe visit to the downtown area. At the conclusion of the speech outside in the first block of Franklin Road S.E., numerous people entered the Suntrust Building and into the office of Congressman Goodlatte. The group was estimated at approximately 15 persons. Police personnel attempted to resolve this incident without charges being placed against anyone. The group was polite and cordial at all times with law enforcement, as well as the Goodlatte staff. Group members expressed their concerns to Congressman Goodlatte’s staff. At the office closing time of 5:00 p.m., everyone was given multiple opportunities to leave the office area without being charged. Everyone departed the office and building when asked by the staff at the time of the office closing with the exception of Cornell V. Brooks, age 55, of Woodbridge Virginia, and Stephen A. Green, age 24, of Orlando Florida. Both were given the opportunity to sign a summons to appear in Roanoke City General District Court and be released, but both refused to do so. Both were arrested for Trespassing at the office building, and taken before the magistrate. Both were charged and released on their own recognizance.
From Virginia State Police: SALEM, Va. – The Virginia State Police have concluded an investigation in which Brian Lee Wallace was indicted on eight counts of Embezzlement and Obtaining Money by False Pretense from 2014 to 2016 at Chockett Press in Roanoke.
Charges were brought to the Roanoke City Grand Jury Monday August 3, 2016, and Wallace was arrested Tuesday August 4, 2016 by Special Agents with the Virginia State Police.
Wallace was a manager in accounting at Chockett Press until he left the company.
The charges certified by the Grand Jury are four Felony counts of Embezzlement of $200.00 or more and four Felony counts of Obtaining Money by False Pretense.
The Virginia State Police have turned the case over to the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Bokete Ford
UPDATE: State Police say Mr. Ford has been found and transported to a hospital to be checked out.
Previously — From Virginia State Police: State Police and local agencies are looking for Bokete Ford, 71 years of age with Dementia and is also a Diabetic. His vehicle was found on Interstate 81 southbound at the 105.8 mile marker in the Radford area with the hazard lights flashing. Mr. Ford is a black male, 5 foot 10 inches, approximately 196 pounds, black hair and brown eyes, wears glasses and may have been spotted in Radford at 10:00 am this morning getting gasoline. Mr. Ford spoke with his wife this morning at 9:00 am and stated that he was out of gas on the Interstate. Mr. Ford may be trying to make his way back to his vehicle but has lost his way. Anyone having information of a person fitting this description they are asked to call the Virginia State Police at 1-800-542-5959.
Yashua Bruce
Kahlil Weaver-Robinson
UPDATE 08/03/2016: Roanoke County police say Yashua Bruce and Kahlil Weaver-Robinson were apprehended yesterday evening by the U.S. Marshals Task Force and the Roanoke City Police Department.
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Roanoke County Police news release: Roanoke County police have identifed two of the three suspects involved in the robbery/home invasion that occurred in the 1200 block of Wildwood Rd. on 7/19/2016. One of the subjects has been identified as Yashua J. Bruce of Roanoke. Warrant s have been obtained on Bruce for Robbery, Abduction, Grand Larceny, Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, Brandishing a Firearm, and Preventing Person from Summoning Law Enforcement. The second subject has been identified as Kahlil Weaver-Robinson of Roanoke. Warrants have been obtained on Weaver-Robinson for Robbery, Abduction, Grand Larceny, Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, and Brandishing a Firearm. Both subjects are currently at large. Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to please call the Emergency Communications Center at 540-562-3265.
From Roanoke County Police: Tuesday, August 02, 2016 – Roanoke County Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying who may have damaged sports fields at Starkey Park on Crystal Creek Drive, off Merriman Road.
It is believed that the incident occurred sometime between Sunday evening, July 31, and early Monday morning, August 1. The damage was discovered by Parks and Recreation staff Monday morning and police were called.
The damage includes the grounds after a vehicle drove in circles across the fields, and wood fencing, likely broken by a vehicle entering the field.
It is estimated that $2,000 in property damage was done which, if charged, is a felony offense. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer C. Brown at 777-5208 or through the Emergency Communication Center at 562-3265.
From Salem Fire & EMS: On Saturday night at approximately 10:03 p.m., the Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a fire at a small commercial building located at 1832 Apperson Drive. The Initial emergency call reported a brush fire in the area, but the units that were dispatched quickly discovered that the fire was coming from a vacant structure.
The first units arrived within six minutes of receiving the call and found heavy fire coming from the building. It took crews approximately 20 minutes to bring the blaze under control. There were no injuries.
Approximately 16 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Truck 1, Medic 802 & Command 1) responded to the call. Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Wagon 9 covered additional calls while Salem apparatus were assigned to the fire.
The fire remains under investigation by the Salem Fire & EMS Fire Marshal’s Office, and there is no damage estimate at this time.
From Senator Mark Warner’s office: U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today that Total Action for Progress (TAP), a local non-profit community action agency, will receive $2,717,445 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support Early Head Start programs in the Roanoke Valley. TAP’s Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) program provides comprehensive high-quality child care services to up to 148 income-eligible children, up to age three, in partnership with 11 community childcare centers in the Roanoke and New River Valleys, the Alleghany Highlands, and the Rockbridge area. The programs work to ensure that income-eligible children receive education and child care in partnership with existing child care providers, and families receive comprehensive family and health services. Through this grant, TAP and local community partners will provide ongoing intensive support to center directors and teachers in areas such as curriculum, assessment of children’s development, professional development, and recruitment of eligible children.
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Adam Ward
From the City of Salem: Salem High School, the Western Virginia Basketball Officials Association and the City of Salem have joined forces to honor the memory of Adam Ward by establishing a Basketball Classic in his honor. The 2007 Salem High School alumnus, who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011, played football at Salem High School, but was an avid fan and supporter of all types of athletic events his entire life. “Adam Ward personified the true meaning of a student-athlete,” says Grant Smythers, Salem High School Teacher and Tournament Co-Founder. “He was a huge sports fan who loved high school basketball and the Adam Ward Basketball Classic will highlight some of the best teams in the state of Virginia each season.
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UPDATED Friday 10:55 am — Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle has identified the victim of yesterdays tree trimming accident in Troutville as Darrell A. Crews, age 45 of Roanoke VA. There are no additional details on this incident at this time.
PREVIOUSLY: From the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: Botetourt County Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle reports that the Botetourt County 911 Communications Center received a call for service today at approximately 11:42 am to the 100 block of Taylor lane in Trouville in reference to a man having fallen about 30 feet out of a bucket truck. The man was trimming trees when he fell and was pinned by several logs that had fallen on top of him. Botetourt County Fire, EMS and Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and found the subject was deceased. The initial report says that the tree trimming crew was on the scene to trim trees that were damaged by lightening yesterday. The investigation is still ongoing but at this time it appears to be an accident. The body has been transported to the medical examiner’s office in Roanoke. The name of the deceased will not be released until the man’s family has been notified.
Here’s the press release from the Salem Police Department: On July 28, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Salem Police responded to the 200 block of Chestnut Street in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a wounded victim lying outside of a home. The male victim, who had been shot several times, was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in serious condition. Police were able to quickly locate the suspect in an unoccupied apartment on the same street and take him into custody. Darel A. Callands, 49, of Salem, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Callands was taken to the Roanoke County/Salem Jail where he is being held without bond.