Web Staff
UPDATED Friday 4:05 pm: From Roanoke County Fire and Rescue: The Office of the Medical Examiner has identified a man whose body was recovered from a burned out house on Amanda Lane as that of 49-year-old Robert Lee Hypes, Jr. Hypes lived in the house. According to the medical examiner, his death was caused by inhalation of products of combustion. Due to the amount of destruction, the cause of the fire is undetermined; however investigators believe it to be accidental in nature.
UPDATE: Roanoke County officials confirm one person died in the fire.
From Roanoke County Fire and Rescue: At about 6:45 p.m., the incident commander marked the house fire under control. The intense flames coming from a single story house did spread to an outbuilding in close proximity to the home. Flames also sparked a small brush fire that crews were were able to quickly extinguish. The patient who was transported to a local hospital was an adult male. Some crews will remain on scene to douse the hot spots. Fire investigators are beginning their work to determine what caused this fire.
Crews were dispatched to a structure fire in the 5300 block of Amanda Lane at about 5:00 p.m. A caller reported to the 911 center that a house near his was “fully involved.” When the first fire crews arrived, they entered the structure to begin their primary search of the residence. Soon, the incident commander advised firefighters to evacuate because of a fully involved structure and unsafe conditions. Crews from the Clearbrook, Cave Spring, Back Creek and Bent Mountain Stations responded to this fire. We have transported one patient to a local hospital with what seems to be non-life threatening injuries.
Shaqueena Chambers
From Salem Police: This morning, at approximately 3:45 a.m., officers from the Salem Police Department responded to IHOP Restaurant located in the 200 block of N. Electric Road in reference to a reported armed robbery. Upon arrival , the officers were advised by employees that an unknown black female had entered the restaurant, walked to the cash register, brandished a firearm and demanded money. The clerk complied with the demand and the suspect left the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of currency. There were no injuries related to the incident. After a subsequent investigation, 32-year-old Shaqueena Chambers of Roanoke was arrested at approximately 11 a.m. today by Salem Police Officers in connection with the armed robbery. Chambers has been charged with Robbery, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Possession of an Illegal Firearm and Grand Larceny. Chambers is currently being held in the Roanoke County/Salem Jail without bond. The investigation is ongoing.
Charles Bunn
UPDATE: The Sheriff’s office says Mr. Bunn has been located and is safe.
PREVIOUS: The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Alert Bedford notification in the Thaxton area. Charles E. Bunn, 80, is missing from his home at 1864 Johnson School Road, Thaxton. Mr. Bunn suffers from dementia and Parkinson’s disease. At this time Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, the Va. State Police and Bedford County Fire and Rescue units are searching the area for Bunn. Anyone who comes in contact with Mr. Bunn should call 911.
From Central Virginia Crime Stoppers: The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the use of counterfeit currency in the Montvale area of Bedford County. On March 20, 2016, the three females pictured in the attached surveillance photo used counterfeit one-hundred dollar bills to purchase items at three businesses. The businesses are Family Dollar, Dollar General, and the Stop-In Food Store on Rt. 460. Anyone who can identify these suspects is asked to contact Sgt. J. D. Wilks with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-586-4800 Ext 4045, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900. Visit the Central Virginia Crime Stoppers website at www.cvcrimestoppers.org to enter a web tip, or text “CVCS” plus your message to 274637.
(Left) Col. Steven Flaherty, (Right) Chad Dermyer
Virginia State Police have announced funeral services for the trooper who was killed by a gunman at the Greyhound bus station in Richmond. Trooper Chad P. Dermyer’s funeral is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton. A private burial will follow in Gloucester County. Visitation is scheduled form 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the church in Hampton. Authorities say Dermyer was fatally shot by 34-year-old James Brown III of Illinois, during a state police training exercise at the bus terminal Thursday. Two other troopers returned fire, killing Brown. Two women were wounded by gunfire. Their injuries were not life-threatening. The 37-year-old Dermyer, a Marine veteran, was the married father of two children.
From Salem Fire & EMS: The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a fire at the Big Lots retail store located at 1227 West Main Street this morning, at approximately 10:39 a.m. The fire was contained to a storage room in the back of the building, however, the store did sustain some smoke damage. The first units arrived within four minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke in the back of the structure. The majority of the fire had been extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system and crews were able to bring the fire under control within five minutes of arrival. It took crews approximately 30 minutes to remove the smoke from the building. Approximately 17 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Tower 1, Medic 802, Medic 803 & Command 1) responded to the call. The fire remains under investigation by the Salem Fire & EMS Fire Marshal’s Office, and there is no damage estimate at this time.
Here’s the press release from Roanoke Fire-EMS: On April 1, 2016, Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to a fire in the 1500 block of Sherwood Ave. The call was received in the E-911 Center at 12:20am and was under control at 12:45am. When crews arrived they found smoke coming from the eaves of a two story duplex. When firefighters entered the second floor apartment, they found an unconscious victim. The victim was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where they were pronounced dead. A cat also perished in the fire. Two residents in the downstairs apartment were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Damage estimates are approximately $34,500. The fire started in the upstairs apartment kitchen and was contained to the kitchen. The cause of the fire was combustibles too close to the stove and has been ruled as accidental. The apartment did have a working smoke alarm. The identification of the victim will not be released until a positive identification is made and the next of kin are notified.
UPDATE FROM THE VINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: On March 31, 2016, at 5:08 PM the Vinton Police Department was notified that a wanted person was located at a residence in the 1200 block of Ruddell Road. Two Vinton officers responded to the residence and encountered a female occupant and an armed male subject inside the residence. The female occupant was safely removed from the home by the officers. The armed suspect, James Robert Vermillion, age 37, who was wanted on outstanding warrants, approached the officers with a gun to his head while moving to his vehicle parked adjacent to the residence.
The subject then fled the residence in his vehicle at which point Vinton officers engaged in a pursuit into Bedford County on Hardy Road. The pursuit was terminated in the area of Timberline Road when officers lost sight of the suspect vehicle. Officers were notified a short time later the vehicle was at the intersection of Rt. 24 and Beagle Club Rd where the vehicle had crashed. The suspect, still armed, carjacked a citizen’s vehicle and again fled in the stolen vehicle. A Vinton officer observed the stolen vehicle on Rt. 24 traveling toward Vinton and reinitiated the pursuit. Contact with the suspect was then lost due to traffic; however, the vehicle in question was later located abandoned near the intersection of Jefferson Ave. and Chestnut St. in Vinton. Officers from Vinton, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Virginia State Police, and members of the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force determined the suspect was located in a private residence on Pine Street. A perimeter was formed by responding officers, and the Roanoke County Tactical Team activated.
From Roanoke City Police: On March 29, 2016 at 11:21 p.m. Roanoke Police were dispatched to Lewis Gale Hospital after a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen area came into the emergency room. Officers determined an acquaintance of the victim had driven him to the hospital after being shot at a residence in the 2600 block of Fairway Drive SW. The victim, Dustin Ray Parker, age 23, of Roanoke was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Officers and detectives interviewed witnesses and collected potential physical evidence from the Fairway Drive scene. After further investigation, detectives obtained warrants on Jared Ryan Ford, age 23, of Roanoke for the shooting. Ford was charged with malicious wounding and using a firearm to commit a felony. He was taken to Roanoke City Jail. At this time it appears the victim and Ford were familiar with each other. Officers and detectives are continuing to investigate.
Joseph Swain
From Henry County Sheriff’s Office: The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching for Joseph David Swain, 33, of 760 Mica Road Ridgeway, Virginia. Swain was incarcerated on June 5, 2015 for felony Probation Violation and misdemeanor Failure to Appear. He was placed on the Electronic Incarceration Program (EIP) on July 9, 2015. Swain has been on EIP for 9 months and there have not been any issues during this time. Until this incident, Swain has complied with all orders and instructions by EIP personnel.
While an individual is on EIP, he is required to stay at his residence or attend authorized activities such as work, school, etc. On March 29, 2016 at approximately 9:31pm, Swain cut the ankle bracelet off and his whereabouts are unknown at this time. Swain is not believed to be a threat to the public. It is unknown at this time why he removed the ankle bracelet.
Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of Joseph David Swain is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463).