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Jeffrey Woodrow Pruitt
From The Henry County Sheriff’s Office: The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the assistance of the public in locating a runaway juvenile that has been missing since February 1, 2016. Jeffrey Woodrow Pruitt, 16, was reported missing on February 1, 2016 by his aunt, Kimberly Marclay Pruitt Haley, who is his guardian. He was last seen at a relative’s home located at 2915 Stoney Mountain Rd., Martinsville, VA. Since running away, he was spotted in the area of his residence located at 179 Winnie Ln., Martinsville, VA.
Pruitt was last seen wearing a black or camouflage color hoody and blue jeans. Pruitt is 6’00”, 170 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes. He has ties to the Reidsville, NC area. Deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office along with members of his family and North Star Bloodhounds have made numerous searches of the surrounding homes and area of his home on Winnie Ln. attempting to locate Pruitt.
Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of Jeffrey Woodrow Pruitt is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 638-8751 or the Crimestoppers Program at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
Frank Dent
From Roanoke County Public Schools: Citing personal and family reasons, Frank Dent, principal at Northside High School, has requested to be relieved of his principal duties, effective immediately. Additionally, Mr. Dent has announced he will officially retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year. Mr. Dent, 56, joined Roanoke County Public Schools in 1998 as the assistant principal at Northside High School. He became principal of the school in 2003 and has served in that role until his retirement this year. Prior to joining Roanoke County Public Schools, Mr. Dent was a teacher and athletic director for Roanoke City Public Schools from 1983-1994. He also served as an assistant principal in Springfield, VA from 1994-1998.
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From The Salem Fire & EMS Department: Fire & EMS responded to a fire tonight at approximately 7:37 p.m. at Salem Frame Company, which is located at 1972 Industrial Dr. The fire was contained to a piece of equipment inside the building, but the structure did sustain moderate smoke damage. There were no injuires. The first units arrived within seven minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke throughout the building. Crews located a piece of equipment that was on fire at the back of the building and they were able to quickly extinguish the fire. It took crews several hours to remove the smoke from the building. Approximately 18 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 3, Tower 1 & Medic 803) and the Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department (Tanker 9 & Air 9) responded to the call. Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department Wagon 5 provided staffing to cover additional calls. The fire remains under investigation by the Salem Fire & EMS Fire Marshal’s Office. At this time, there is no estimate on the amount of damage the business sustained.
From Virginia State Police:Boones Mill, Va. – Virginia State Police is searching for the 15 year old driver which led police in a pursuit Wednesday evening in Franklin County.
On Wednesday February 10, 2016 at 9:04 pm, Trooper C. N. Lynch observed a white Chevrolet Impala enter his RADAR in the town of Boones Mill. The vehicle was traveling north on Route 220 at a speed of 67 mph in a 45 mph zone. As the trooper attempted to stop the vehicle it sped away. The trooper followed at a safe distance as the vehicle continued in a reckless manner. Just after the vehicle crossed into Roanoke County, the vehicle lost control and struck a 1992 Honda Accord in the rear. The 2001 Chevrolet then ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned.
The 2001 Chevrolet Impala was driven by a 15 year old male juvenile which fled the scene on foot. There were four passengers in the Chevrolet. Allen Wayne Wright, 19, of Wirtz, VA, Amber Marie Smith, 18, of Roanoke, VA, Kevin Rashawn Townes, 18, of Rocky Mount, VA and a 17 year old male juvenile. All the passengers were transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for injuries from the crash.
The 1992 Honda Accord was driven by Aaron Lee Chance, 23, of Boones Mill, VA. Mr. Chance was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured.
The Virginia State Police used police K-9’s and Virginia State Police Aviation to search for the 15 year old male driver which fled the scene. He was believed to be armed with a small hand gun, but is believed not to be a threat to the public. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans and was not wearing shoes.
The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to assist with the investigation.
Any information that the public may have regarding the whereabouts of this subject, please call State Police Dispatch at 1-800-542-5959. The crash remains under investigation.
Joseph Gabris
From Salem Police: On Saturday, February 6, the Salem Police Department responded to the 1600 block of Reece Road in reference to a suspicious subject entering an abandoned structure. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a resident on Reece Road who advised them that she had observed a white male enter an abandoned building on an adjoining property. As officers approached the structure, the man immediately fled on foot. The subject was detained a short distance from the structure and at the time he was carrying a bottle containing a liquid substance. The subject advised officers that he had been manufacturing methamphetamines in the building before their arrival. Evidence of the manufacturing process was confirmed inside the structure and materials were seized. After further investigation, Joseph S. Gabris, 28, of Salem was taken into custody and charged with possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing of methamphetamine and trespassing. The suspect was transported to the Roanoke County/Salem Jail where he was released after posting a secured bond.
Virginia State Police have issued a Senior Alert on behalf of The Luray Police Department. 73-year-old Leonard Charles Fox was last seen on Horsepen Road in Luray on Monday evening. He has a cognitive impairment and his disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety. He may be driving a green 1999 Ford Ranger pickup with the registration number ZVY-3503. Fox is a 5’5″ white man with brown eyes and gray/black hair. He weighs around 233 lbs. Do not approach him. If you see him call 911 or 540-743-5343.
Virginia’s 4 p.m. Burning Law goes into effect Feb. 15, 2016 – the start of spring fire season in the Commonwealth. This law prohibits burning before 4 p.m. each day (Feb. 15 – April 30) if the fire is in, or within 300 feet of, woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. A violation of this law is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine. In addition to the criminal violation, those who allow a fire to escape are liable for the cost of suppressing the fire as well as any damage caused to others’ property.
Joy Lynn Kent
A woman is charged with malicious wounding after a stabbing Sunday night in Roanoke County. Police say officers found Jeffery Lynn Brock in the living room floor at 6946 Goff Rd holding down 49-year-old Joy Lynn Kent. Brock had an apparent stab wound to his side and was transported to the hospital where he was treated for non life threatening injuries. Kent was placed under arrest and is currently held without bond in the Roanoke County Jail on Malicious Wounding Class 3 Felony.
With Virginia’s presidential primary now just over three weeks away, a statewide poll shows Democrat Bernie Sanders with the highest favorability rating at 40%; Republican front-runner Donald Trump has the highest unfavorable rating with 61%. More from WFIR Intern Reporter Clark Palmer:
Byron Hamlar
Byran Hamlar Statement:” After prayer and thoughtful consideration, I have made this difficult decision. With great intentions, I entered the race because I felt I could make a difference for our community. However, realizing the importance of the council and its commitments, I am concerned that I would be unable to fully devote myself at this time. My wife and I are expecting our first child in the upcoming months. Although I feel strongly about serving the community, my first commitment must rest with my family. I would like to thank all of my supporters and friends for their encouragement. Please know that this will not be my final involvement. I will look for future opportunities to enthusiastically serve the great people of the Roanoke Valley.”