Web Staff
Roanoke leaders are enjoying the news of the expansion of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. A General Assembly bond and Virginia Tech dollars amount to nearly $68 million. According to the Institute, once fully staffed, it will have an annual economic impact of $191 million. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno has the story.
On-line grocery shopping should be available in the Roanoke Valley sometime next month. Kroger is bringing the service to its Bonsack store, and it plans to add two more in the valley within the next year. It lets you grocery shop from home or anywhere else by selecting the items you want on line, choosing a time to pick them up, then heading for a special drive-up lane. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
(Continue reading for the full Kroger news release.)
Liberty University says a hiker that fell to his death yesterday afternoon was a student named Dylan Engel.
Full release from Liberty University: Liberty University has been notified that one of its own, student Dylan Engel, died after an accident at Apple Orchard Falls in Botetourt County, Va., this afternoon. The family has been notified and no further details are available at this time. The Liberty community offers its condolences to Dylan’s family and friends and will continue to lift them up in prayer through this tragedy. LU Shepherds and Student Leadership are offering their support to the Liberty community through this difficult time and Student Counseling Services are being made available to those in need.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office hopes photos will help them find the person or persons responsible for a series of thefts from vehicles. Information on the photos indicated they were taken at a Hardy bank ATM. Here is the news release: The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of theft from vehicles in the Goodview, Moneta, and Huddleston areas of the county. Between February 18-22, 2016, there were ten reported cases where suspect(s) have entered unlocked vehicles. Items reported stolen from the vehicles include pocketbooks, credit cards, firearms, cash and electronic devises. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is looking to identify the person in these pictures. If you can identify this person please contact 540-586-7827 and speak to Inv. Scott Arney or Inv. Jon Wilks.
UPDATE: Roanoke County Fire & Rescue officials say the cause has been determined as a failure of electrical wiring in the basement. Damage estimates are $100,000. Roanoke County Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to the 700 block of Olney Road in the Town of Vinton at about 7:30 last night for a reported structure fire. When the first crews arrived, they reported a one-story brick house with heavy smoke showing from the eaves as well as garage area. It was reported that an older woman lived in the home and may be inside. Firefighters searched for the woman but could not find her. It was then confirmed that the she was at church. The fire started in the basement and that is where most of the fire damage occurred, however there is significant heat and smoke damage throughout the rest of the home. Fire investigators are working to determine what caused the fire. One woman is displaced and has somewhere to stay. Two cats are unaccounted for at this time. Caller was a Good Samaritan passing by who noticed smoke coming from the home and called 911, then stopped to alert anyone who may be inside. No injuries reported.
The Roanoke County Police department says it understands the concerns raised by the local NAACP chapter concerning the death of Kionte Spencer – but certain details will remain underwraps for now as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
——————
Roanoke County Police statement: In response to the NAACP press conference Tuesday afternoon, the Roanoke County Police Department is offering this statement. We acknowledge and appreciate the concerns of President Brenda Hale of the Roanoke Branch of the NAACP. We also acknowledge that a tragic event such as the one that occurred last Friday night raises concerns within our community.
In the course of any criminal investigation, there is information that can be publicly provided and some that cannot. In Roanoke County, when information is withheld from the public, it is done so in the interest of ascertaining facts in an environment free of speculation and opinion. The Roanoke County Police will, without question, complete a thorough and unbiased investigation into the circumstances that resulted in the death of Kionte Spencer. Further, the results of this investigation and all the materials relevant to the investigation will be delivered to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for his independent review.
(Continue reading for the rest of the statement)
Roanoke County police have confirmed the suspect in Friday night’s officer-involved shooting is dead. Police received a 9-1-1 call on Friday night around 7:15 pm about a black male wearing a bandanna and hoodie waving a gun walking in the Walgreens pharmacy parking lot at the Cave Spring Corners intersection of Electric Road and Brambleton Avenue in southwest Roanoke County. After police arrived on the scene shots were fired. It is unclear how many shots or if the officers fired first. None of the officers were injured.
Officials say the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as is normal policy following an officer-involved shooting. The suspect died in the hospital following the incident and has not been identified.
Joseph Meade
From the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office: On 2/23/2016 at approximately 8:09 p.m. a Deputy assigned to the eastern portion of Montgomery County encountered a vehicle traveling in excess of 100 mph. The vehicle was originally observed on RT 460 (Roanoke Rd) in the area of Eastern Montgomery High School. In attempt to stop the violator, the deputy activated his emergency lights and siren. The suspect, later identified as 31 year-old Joseph Meade of Elliston, attempted to elude the pursuing deputy by accelerating. Through a series of turns, Mr. Meade led deputies on a pursuit lasting several minutes. During the course of this incident the violator made several evasive maneuvers which included changing directions. On two occasions, as a result of these maneuvers, the suspect struck the pursuing deputies patrol vehicle. The pursuit concluded with a head-on collision of a deputy’s vehicle by the suspect. The Deputy’s vehicle was stationary at the time of the collision.
(Continue reading for the rest of the news release.)