Web Staff
From The Christiansburg Police Department: The Christiansburg Police Department is urging citizens to be vigilant of a recent scam affecting the surrounding area. In this scam, a citizen receives a phone call or voicemail from an individual claiming to be a Deputy Sheriff. The individual states that the citizen is wanted for failure to appear in court or has missed jury duty. These calls appear to come from a 540 area code. The caller provides the citizen with a false case number and may also use the name of a local judge to make the call seem legitimate. Once the citizen returns the call, they are instructed to purchase gift cards and then provide those gift card numbers to the individual. If any citizen receives a call asking them to purchase anything, they should hang up immediately and not comply with the request. No law enforcement agency would conduct business in this manner. If you receive, or have received, a call of this type, please contact the Christiansburg Police Department at (540) 382-3131.
Harry Griego
News release: Harry Griego will file paperwork this month to become a candidate for the U.S. Congress in the Virginia’s 6th district. After nearly defeating Chris Head in the 2015 Republican primary for the nomination in the 17th District House of Delegates, Harry turned his attention to helping fellow Republican Eric Orange campaign for Sheriff in Roanoke County. “Over and over again voters told me they were unhappy with the lack of leadership and the failure of Republican officials to vote for and fight for the Republican principles they campaign on. They want an end to the expansion of the budget and the crippling national debt. They want the border secured, not another promise broken”, Harry said. He continued, “When I joined the military, I took an oath and I kept it. If the voters of the 6th district choose me to take that oath of office, I guarantee I will keep that one as well.” In the coming weeks, Harry will begin to outline issues as he campaigns for the Republican nomination.
From Virginia State Police: COVINGTON, Va. – State Police Trooper C. Montgomery is investigating a single vehicle crash which occurred December 27, 2015 at 11:11 pm on Route 18 approximately one and a half miles south of Route 614 in Alleghany County. A 1999 Ford Explorer was traveling north on Route 18 when it crossed the center line running off the left side of the roadway and strucking a tree. The 1999 Ford was driven by William Austin Childress, 22, of Covington, Va. Mr. Childress was not wearing his seatbelt and was transported from the scene for injuries received in the crash. The passenger in the Ford, Matthew Ryan Long, 21, of Eagle Rock, Va, was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the investigation. Charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
From the Roanoke County Police Department: On 12/17/2015 at approx 1951 hours, Roanoke County Police Department responded to an armed robbery at the Wells Fargo ATM located in the parking lot of Oak Grove Plaza. The victim was approched by an unidentifed black male who displayed a knife and demanded the money that the victim just withdrew from the ATM. The suspect took the money and fled the area on foot. The suspect is described as black male, early to mid 20’s in age, wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers ball cap, jacket and dark pants. Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has any information about this incident are requested to contact the Roanoke County Police Department at 540-777-8640 or 540-562-3265.
From Virginia State Police: BEDFORD, Va. – Virginia State Police Trooper J. H. Wheat is investigating a single vehicle crash which occurred Christmas Eve at 11:10 pm on Route 122, four tenths of a mile south of Route 24 in Bedford County. A 1988 Ford F-150 pick-up truck was traveling south on Route 122, just south of Route 24 when it ran off the right side of the roadway, up an embankment, struck a tree and overturned. The 1988 Ford was driven by Earl Preston Dudley, 55, of Thaxton, Va. Mr. Dudley was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
Orencio Maldonado
From Roanoke City Police: On December 23, 2015 at 12:17 a.m. Roanoke Police responded to the 1900 block of Eastern Avenue NE to investigate a report of a man down with a gunshot wound. The first officers who arrived on scene found the victim, Ancelmo Maldonado Castillo, age 44, of Roanoke inside his residence with a gunshot wound to the upper body. Paramedics from Roanoke Fire EMS pronounced Castillo dead at the scene. Officers located another individual inside the residence, later identified as Castillo’s half brother, Orencio Castillo Maldonado, age 40, of Roanoke.
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From Roanoke City Police: The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office and the Roanoke City Police Department are investigating the death of an inmate. On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 7:11 AM Roanoke City Sheriff’s Deputies, found Inmate Jessica Corinne Carter unresponsive in her cell. Jail staff provided first aid and notified EMS. Miss Carter was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where she was later pronounced dead. An autopsy will be conducted and an official cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s Office. The incident remains under investigation at this time. Jessica Corrinne Carter was arrested and processed into the Roanoke City Jail on December 17, 2015. She was scheduled to appear in Roanoke City General District Court on January 19, 2016 on the following charges: 1. Possession of Schedule IV Drug 2. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia 3. False Identity to a Law Enforcement Officer 4. Fail to Appear
From Virginia State Police: Virginia State Police Sr. Trooper D.E. Rigby is investigating a fatal crash in Botetourt County. At 7:47 a.m., Tuesday (Dec. 22), state police were notified of a crash in the 5700 block of Blue Grass Trail. A 2004 Toyota Tundra pickup truck had been traveling south on Blue Grass Trail when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree. The driver, Howard A. Pohn, 80, of Winchester, Va., was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Pohn’s family had reported him missing overnight. His crashed pickup truck was discovered Tuesday morning by a passerby. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
From The Henry County Sheriff’s Office: Deputies have been searching for a runaway juvenile, Tylea Caroline Niblett, since December 11. 2015. Following efforts by the sheriff’s office to locate Tylea, she contacted her mother and stated she was safe but did not want to come home. Tylea refused to provide her mother her location or where she had been staying. Tylea returned to school today and is safe. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the media and others who disseminated her photograph and provided information as to her whereabouts. Continue reading for the original news release.
From the Botetourt Sheriff’s Office: Fincastle, VA – It was announced at the December 1st meeting of the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) that the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office was successfully accredited for the fourth time. A team of assessors representing the Commission visited the agency during the week of October 19th and found it in full compliance with all standards required for successful accreditation. In order to be accredited, agencies must show compliance with 190 standards relating to law enforcement functions. Examples of areas covered are evidence functions, traffic enforcement, and personnel policies. In the case of agencies seeking re-accreditation they must show proof of compliance for all standards for each year of the accreditation term. There are currently 92 law enforcement agencies accredited by VLEPSC throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office was initially accredited in 2003. The agency undergoes re-accreditation every 4 years and was last re-accredited in 2011. The next assessment will take place in October 2019. Deputy Greg Marshall has served as the agency’s accreditation manager since 2000. Sheriff Sprinkle would like to thank the community, staff, and cooperating agencies that have assisted the Sheriff’s Office with achieving this important goal.