Crime and Public Safety
Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Department’s Emergency Services Division advises motorists to be aware of areas in Roanoke County that are subject to possible flooding. These areas are:
- Areas of Bottom Creek
- Crystal Creek and Merriman
- Garst Mill Road at the Roanoke City line
- Green Ridge and Woodhaven
- Masons Creek at Thompson Memorial and Catawba Valley
- Poages Mill Road and Bent Mountain Road
- Roanoke River at the Montgomery County line
- Starlight Lane
- Williamson Road and LaMarre Drive
“Turn around don’t drown” when coming across deep standing water on local roads
(update 11:42 am)
Situation
As expected, heavy rain and gusty winds from the remnants of Hurricane Ian caused damage in parts of Appalachian Power’s Virginia service area late Friday night, which left more than 29,000 customers without electric service.
Outages
Most outages are in the company’s Virginia service territory in areas east of Interstate 77. Counties most affected include Patrick (3,700 customers), Carroll (3,494), Bedford (2,659), Henry (2,248) and Botetourt (2,132).
Weather
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va., expects the continuing rain could lead to flash flooding of streams and creeks, which could lead to additional outages or create difficulty accessing damaged areas.
Storm Response Efforts
Appalachian is implementing its plan to move crews from unaffected areas into areas where damage and outages occurred. Damage assessors and line workers from West Virginia are traveling to assist local crews with service restoration. Restoration estimates will be made available when the extent of damage is more completely assessed.
(update from ApCo 10:05) At the moment, we have 26,000 customers without power across our Virginia service territory. Of that number, about 2,500 are in Roanoke City and Roanoke County. A news release with updated numbers and info will be issued later this morning.
(previously) several thousand Appalachian Power customers are without power in the Roanoke area as of 9:50am today. Another 400-plus are also without power in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area. We will update and advise on expected power reconnection as that information comes in. See a link to the ApCo power outage map below. Heavy, steady rain last night from the remnants of Hurricane Ian led to the outages.
(from State Police) ROANOKE, Va. – At the request of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) of the Western District of Virginia, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office is investigating a death that occurred during a felony traffic stop in Roanoke County.
On Sept. 27 the USMS Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force was conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into a fugitive suspect known to be in the area of Route 220 in Roanoke County [near Hunting Hills]. Task force members identified a passenger in a Toyota pickup as the wanted individual and initiated a traffic stop at approximately 9 p.m. Task force members activated emergency lights and siren to initiate the traffic stop and the Toyota turned off Route 220 and stopped on Crossbow Court.
As the USMS members approached the Toyota, they heard a single gunshot. When the Marshals and task force members got to the vehicle, they found the passenger suffering from what appears to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Law enforcement on scene immediately rendered aid to the passenger, who was later identified as Joshua R. Donahue, 47, of Roanoke. Donahue was transported by EMS to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died. The remains were transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke for examination and autopsy. No law enforcement on scene discharged their weapons. The adult male driver of the pickup truck was not injured in the shooting.
Check out the link below for information on Hurricane Ian’s impact in Florida, from the Department of Emergency Management.
Federal prosecutors are looking to seize control of a Roanoke County motel they say was a haven for drugs and commercial sex trafficking. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has that story.
Robert Weiss VT photo
Its final pathway before hitting landfall in Florida along the Gulf Coast may still not be finalized yet, but Hurricane Ian is expected to bring significant flooding and damage from high winds – and the tornadoes it may also spawn. WFIR’s Gene Marrano spoke with a Virginia Tech expert on coastal hazards.
A documentary called “Sextortion – the Hidden Pandemic” has a free showing this Thursday night at the Grandin Theatre, followed by a panel discussion. Its a fast-growing crime and involves compromising photos sent online to someone who then uses them to extort money or even more-revealing photos. WFIR’s Gene Marrano spoke with the husband and wife film-making team – and he has more, “In Depth.”
Virginia State Police are investigating a crash in Henry County involving a Henry County school bus and another vehicle. The crash occurred at 8-15 a.m. on River Road. There were two minor injuries on the bus and the driver and passenger of the other vehicle involved were transported to the hospital in Martinsville.
Charges are pending on the driver of the vehicle that struck the bus.
September 22, 2022 – Roanoke County Chief of Police Howard B. Hall today announced he will be retiring, effective January 1, 2023.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Chief of the Roanoke County Police Department for the past decade,” said Hall. “Everyone in our agency should be proud of the work that has been done and the accomplishments that have been achieved towards keeping our communities safe. I am confident that the leadership within the department will carry on this proud tradition as we move towards the future.”
Hall has worked in law enforcement for nearly 40 years, serving 26 in Baltimore County, MD prior to coming to Roanoke County. He was sworn in as the Roanoke County Police Chief in August 2012 and led a nationally accredited agency of 140 sworn and 16 civilian personnel. In his time with Roanoke County, Hall is credited with development of an officer wellness program; construction of the Roanoke County Criminal Justice Academy; incorporation of a data-driven approach to crime and traffic safety; officer training for response to individuals in mental health crises; and working alongside the school system to increase safety measures.
Roanoke Police have sought a petition for Threat by Writing or Electronic Message to Kill or do Harm (class six felony) on a fourteen-year-old juvenile female regarding threats made against William Fleming High School staff and students. The petition has been served and the teen will be transported to the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Center. Thank you to all our public safety partners and Roanoke City Public Schools personnel who worked with us diligently on this case. We greatly appreciate your commitment to helping us keep the schools in Roanoke safe.
Reminder to our Roanoke City Public Schools students — your words have consequences. Things you say or text can hurt and scare others, and there can be serious repercussions. These are not funny jokes. If your words are alarming enough to rise to the attention of law enforcement, you could face misdemeanor and/or felony charges. These are consequences that will follow you for the rest of your life. Please remember to take a step back and think before you say something or send a message you might regret.