Crime and Public Safety
(Roanoke County, VA—May 29, 2022) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at 6:00a.m. on Sunday, May 29, 2022 to the McAfee Knob summit in the Masons Cove area of Roanoke County for the report of a male in his 20’s who had fallen from the top of the mountain. The subject fell approximately 50 ft. Three all-terrain vehicles, and about 30 fire and rescue personnel and 3 police officers were used in this rescue operation. The rescue team reached the injured subject at about 6:54 a.m., rendered aid and began to carry him back up to the top of the summit. The terrain in that area is extremely steep and rocky. Initial rescuers were joined by a wilderness medicine doctor from Carilion and other rescuers who helped to carry the subject to an all-terrain vehicle and ultimately to a waiting medical helicopter for transport to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The subject’s injuries are believed to be life threatening. The hikers and the rescue team were off the trail at about 9:30 a.m.
(from Henry County Sheriff’s Office) On May 25 at 7:00 pm, deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office went to 244 Grassy Creek Rd., Martinsville, VA, in an attempt to arrest Ronald Gene Edwards Jr. (pictured) Mr. Edwards was wanted on felony drug indictments. When deputies approached the residence, Edwards retreated into the home.
Deputies were able to make contact with Edwards, and he stated he was armed with a knife and refused to come out. Negotiators from the Sheriff’s Office responded and made continuous attempts to contact Edwards without success. A search warrant was obtained to enter the residence.
At approximately 11:00 pm, a tactical unit from the Sheriff’s Office made entry into the residence; after a comprehensive search of the home, it was discovered that Edwards was located in the attic. Deputies made contact with Edwards, and he again advised he was armed with a knife and refused to come out. At approximately 11:50 pm, deputies were able to remove Edwards from the ceiling of the home, and he was taken into custody.
Ronald Gene Edwards Jr, 33, of 1805 Eggleston Falls Rd., Ridgeway, VA, was taken into custody on the following charges.
- Distribution of Fentanyl (felony)
- Distribution of Tramadol (felony
In addition, he was charged with Obstruction of Justice (misdemeanor) for failing to exit the home. He is currently held in the Henry County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help in locating a stolen 2005 Ford F-150, VA plate 1513XJ, along with a black 18 foot Proline/Nexhaul Trailer, VA plate 55171TM (similar to pic). It was taken from the 200 block of Bowles Street in the Stewartsville area early this morning. The truck should have a sticker in the middle of the back glass that says “Modern Muffler Custom Exhaust”.
Anyone with information please contact Investigator Burnette at 540-586-4800, dispatch at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or enter your tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3TIPS app on your mobile device. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00.
Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 2500 block of Creston Ave SW at 9:14 a.m. for a report of a tree falling on a house. Crews arrived to find major structural and property damage. Fire-EMS personnel performed hazard and structural stability assessments before turning the property over to the property owner. Two residents have been displaced. No injuries were reported.
(No cause given yet, although prolonged heavy rain can uproot trees from saturated ground and bring them down)
FINCASTLE, VA – On May 23, 2022, at 7:22 P.M. The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center received a 911 call from an employee at the Daleville Kroger reporting a robbery. The clerk reported a man approached one of their cashiers carrying a bag reportedly containing an explosive device and demanded that the clerk give him money. The man then fled the store with an undisclosed amount of cash leaving the bag behind inside the store. The suspect was seen leaving the parking lot in a gray colored sedan described by witnesses as possibly being a BMW without a front license plate. The suspect was described as wearing dark sunglasses with a white bandana covering his face, a light gray sweatshirt, and black pants. Deputies arrived within minutes of the call. Because the reported device was left behind, the store was evacuated as a precaution until the Virginia State Police Explosives Unit could examine the bag. Currently deputies and investigators are still on the scene. This incident is currently under investigation and anyone who may have information or witnessed the vehicle or subject in the Kroger parking lot is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Hosey at 540-928-2243.
You’ll have to take action to be enrolled in the replacement for the now-defunct reverse 9-1-1 alert system. You can get alerts for Roanoke City and County, as WFIR’s Ian Price reports.
Photo: BCSO
A Vinton-area father is charged with killing his two-month-old baby child. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office says 20-year-old Jordan Scheffler is jailed without bond. Officials say help was summoned this week to a home on Saunders Road, where responders found the infant not breathing. Efforts to resuscitate the baby were not successful.
NEWS RELEASE: On May 17, 2022 the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2000 block of Saunders Road in the Vinton area of Bedford County in reference to a 2 month old infant that was not breathing. Deputies arrived on scene and attempted to resuscitate the child. Bedford County Fire/ EMS arrived on scene and the child was pronounced dead.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office along with the Bedford County Child Protective Services began investigating the death. During this investigation, the father of the child, Jordan Cody Scheffler, 20 years of age, of Vinton, Virginia was arrested on one count of 2nd degree murder and one count of felony child neglect.
Mr. Scheffler was transported to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail – Amherst and is currently being held without bond.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Bedford County Child Protective Services as well as Bedford County Fire/Rescue for their assistance during this tragic incident.
We would like to also extend our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to all the family members dealing with this tragic loss.
Roanoke County Police Chief Howard Hall says many of the public expressions regarding law enforcement in recent years continue to impact the department’s hiring efforts. Chief Howard Hall says in a typical year, attrition on the force would be about 10%, but in 2020, it was about double that. Hall says while COVID-related circumstances were responsible for much of that attrition, the many nationwide calls to “defund the police” have significantly contributed to the shortage of qualified applicants ever since. .More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
On 5/17/2022 the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 2700 Block of Saunders Rd. in reference to an unresponsive 2-month-old. Despite all efforts by Deputies and EMS, the child was pronounced deceased on scene. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Medical Examiner are reviewing the circumstances of the child’s death.