Crime and Public Safety
An independent company has measured how well people are social distancing – and our region did NOT make the dean’s list. WFIR’s Ian Price has details:
(excerpted from Roanoke County release) Roanoke County Police responded late this morning to a call on Blacksburg Rd. involving a male beating a female and forcing her into an SUV. Officers were notified that the male in the SUV was shooting at other vehicle’s tires while driving. On Newport Rd the female was able to get out of the vehicle, which the male drove up on Brush Rd. A multi-jurisdictional chase ensued – even including a state police helicopter and a SWAT team. Finally the male suspect surrendered without further incident around 2:00 p.m. 32-year old Derek Besase has been taken to the Roanoke County Jail. The female victim did not require hospitalization. No word on the charges yet.
NEWS RELEASE: Just before 11 a.m. Tuesday, Roanoke County Police responded to a call in the 8500 block of Blacksburg Rd. involving a male beating a female, and forcing her into an SUV. Officers were notified that the male in the SUV was shooting at other vehicle’s tires while driving. The SUV traveled to a residence in the 9200 block of Newport Rd where the female was able to get out of the vehicle. The SUV then proceeded to drive up and down the road and as officers got closer to the vehicle, the male drove up Brush Rd. which is mountainous terrain. Montgomery County and Virginia State Police also assisted. Roanoke County requested the VSP to use their helicopter and Roanoke County SWAT was notified. The VSP helicopter was able to locate the SUV on Brush Rd and SWAT used their armored vehicle and approached. SWAT bumped the SUV and after a short time, the male complied with officer’s commands and surrendered without further incident. He was taken into custody about 2:00 p.m.
Photo: Chad Erndt Facebook
Roanoke Police have charged a suspect for the October shooting death outside W.R. Brews restaurant on Williamson Road. Police say 34-year-old John “J.C.” Wilson of Roanoke faces charges that include first-degree murder. He is charged with fatally shooting 30-year-old Chad Erndt. Officials say Wilson turned himself in today.
NEWS RELEASE: On April 6, 2020 John “J.C.” Wilson, 34 of Roanoke, was arrested in connection with the October 5, 2019 murder of Chad Erndt. Wilson is charged with First Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the commission of murder, and Possession of a firearm by a felon. Wilson turned himself in at the Roanoke Police Department.
PREVIOUS: The victim in this incident has been identified as Chad Erndt, 30 of Roanoke. No arrests have been made regarding this incident at this time.
PREVIOUS: On October 5, 2019 just before midnight, Roanoke Police responded to a report of shots fired in the 3800 block of Williamson Rd NW. Arriving officers located an adult male with gunshot wounds outside of a business in the immediate area. Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel pronounced the male deceased on scene. This is an ongoing investigation. Police do not believe there is any further danger to the community regarding this incident. No arrests have been made at this time.
Photo: BCSO
Officials say two children who were sitting in a car are hospitalized In Roanoke after at least one gunshot entered the vehicle. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office says it happened Sunday evening along Old County Road south of Bedford. The children are ages 5 and 12, and officials say their injuries may be from broken glass, not from the gunfire itself. 45-year-old Ricky Blake faces multiple charges and is currently jailed without bond.
NEWS RELEASE: At 7:02 p.m. Sunday evening, Bedford County 911 received a call reporting two people had been shot on Old Country Road. Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies, Va. State Police along with Bedford County Fire and Rescue units responded. Two victims, ages 12 and 5, were transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. At this time it appears the injuries sustained by the victims were possibly caused by broken window glass of the vehicle they were sitting in at the time of the shooting.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ricky Blake, age 45. He has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and two counts of felonious malicious wounding. He is being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Bedford Adult Detention Center without bond.
At this time the condition of the victims is not known.
File Roanoke Police photo
As of a week ago today, Sam Roman Jr. is the new Chief of Police in Roanoke City – he spent 25 years previously with the Department before becoming the Chief of Police in Lexington. He spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano last week. Here is a “Longer Listen,” with Chief Sam Roman:
File Roanoke Police photo
The new Chief of Police as of this past Monday in Roanoke steps into that role at a challenging time in the city’s history. But Sam Roman Jr. is no stranger here as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
MARCH 30 UPDATE: Roanoke Police have identified the victim in this incident as Cassandra Pizzi, 33 of Roanoke. This incident is being investigated as a homicide. The investigation is ongoing.
NEWS RELEASE: On March 27, 2020 at about 7:30 am, Roanoke Police responded to a report of a person down in the 1000 block of 4th St SE. Arriving officers located an adult female deceased in a wooded area. This incident is being investigated as a suspicious death at this time. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
From Roanoke County Police Department: On March 24, 2020 at approximately 0106am officers with the Roanoke County Police Department responded to a disturbance with weapons call at 4333 Electric Rd (Copper Croft Apts.). The call was upgraded while officers were en route to a shooting call a single victim had been shot in the leg. Upon officers arriving and securing the scene the victim was treated and transported to a local hospital by paramedics for a non-life threatening wound to his leg. The suspect had already fled the scene before officers arrived in a possible silver sedan or an AUDI.
Police in Richmond sought on Saturday information about a homicide in which a 16-year-old youth died.
Richmond police said officers were called about a shooting reported on the city’s east side and found the male teenager inside a convenience store. He had collapsed there after being shot Thursday evening outside the retailer, police said in a news release.
The teenager, whose name was not released at his family’s request, was pronounced dead about 20 minutes after the initial call. No charges have been filed.
A male adult inside the store at the time was also shot. He was taken to a hospital with a non-life threatening injury, according to the Richmond Police Department.