Crime and Public Safety
MGN
Roanoke Police say two men are charged after officers seized more than 40 containers of illegal fireworks. Police say 45-year-old old Roy Abbott of Roanoke and 65-year-old Mark Burnette of Salem were selling the fireworks from a vehicle. Officials say the investigation started when someone reported a complaint to the city Fire Marshal’s office.
NEWS RELEASE: On July 2nd, the City of Roanoke Fire Marshal’s Office, in cooperation with the Roanoke Police Department and City of Salem Fire Marshal’s Office, seized over 40 containers of illegal fireworks. Mark Burnette, age 65, of Salem was charged with possession of illegal fireworks and sale of fireworks without a permit. Roy Abbott, 45, of Roanoke City was charged with possession of illegal fireworks. More charges may be forthcoming. In Virginia, it is illegal to possess, use, store, sell, or handle any firework that explodes, rises into the air, travels laterally, or fires projectiles into the air. The City of Roanoke Fire Marshal’s office received a complaint of the distribution of illegal fireworks earlier this week. After an investigation, in coordination with the Roanoke Police Department, officials witnessed the subjects distributing illegal fireworks. This gave officials reasonable suspicion to interrogate and search the subjects vehicle in which they were distributing from. Upon the initial search 40 containers of illegal fireworks were recovered. This is an ongoing investigation.
NEWS RELEASE: On the morning of June 26th, Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to five dumpster fires in the SE area of the City of Roanoke. The cause of the fires was deemed incendiary, and these fires are believed to be related.
The City of Roanoke’s Fire Marshal’s Office and Roanoke Police Department are searching for a suspect in the investigation and are looking to identify the man pictured.
The subject is a White male, medium build, between 5’10 and 6’0 in height. The subject was driving a White Hyundai Elantra, year 2011 – up.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call either the City of Roanoke’s Fire Marshal’s Office at (540) 853-2795 or the Roanoke Police Department at (540) 344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text RPD at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
(UPDATE 7-1) — The juvenile male involved in this incident has passed away from his injuries. This is now being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made at this time. This remains an ongoing investigation. 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.
(previously) From Roanoke Police Department: On June 27, 2020 right after 3:00 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a shots fired call in the 5000 block of Valley View Blvd NW. Responding officers located a juvenile male with a critical gunshot wound. He was transported by Roanoke Fire-EMS to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
As of today, possession of an ounce or less of Marijuana is a civil offense punishable in Virginia by only a $25 fine — no more arrests or criminal record. But the head of Virginia NORML says that does NOT go far enough as WFIR’s Ian Price reports:
Almost 4-and-a-half years after 18 year old Kionte Spencer was fatally shot by Roanoke County Police during an encounter on Electric Road, family and friends are again asking the police department to release raw video footage from that night. Justice for Kionte is also asking Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring to issue a formal opinion on the 2016 incident. Roanoke area delegate Sam Rasoul spoke as well and said he would introduce a General Assembly bill stripping law enforcement officers of “qualified immunity.” Meanwhile a Roanoke County police department spokesperson says “all public information about the officer-involved shooting was made available in 2016.” At Washington Park in northwest Roanoke today, Kionte’s brother Carl Spencer was one of the speakers:
Roanoke County police say a domestic assault in the Bonsack area led to the lengthy standoff in Roanoke City that ended with the suspect’s surrender. Police say 51-year year old John Burch assaulted a woman Sunday, and when they attempted to serve warrants at a Roanoke home, Burch barricaded himself for almost 20 hours. He faces multiple charges.
Update From Roanoke County Police Department:One victim from the two vehicle crash at US220 and Yellow Mountain Road later died from injuries suffered during the crash.
Previous:Today, 6/21/2020, at approximately 3:02pm Roanoke County Officers responded to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of US220 and Yellow Mountain Road. One vehicle had overturned and all lanes of traffic were temporarily blocked. Three individuals were transported to the hospital in stable condition. The accident is still under investigation. All lanes of US220 are now open.
A man barricaded himself inside a home yesterday in Northwest Roanoke leading to a close to 12 hour stand off. The standoff began around 3pm yesterday at the home on Grandview Ave. NW near the intersection with Edinburgh Dr. NW. when officers attempted to serve felony warrants. Police say they have reason to believe the man is armed with two guns. The situation is ongoing and we will provide updates when they become available.
Photo: BCSO
UPDATE: On June 21,2020, The Bedford County Sheriff’ Office obtained warrants on and arrested the following:
Dustin R. Holdren 34yoa of Roanoke Va. for:
Aggravated Malicious Wounding
18.2-51.2
Aggravated Malicious Wounding in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-51.2) is the malicious shooting, stabbing, cutting, or wounding of another person with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or kill resulting in severe injury and permanent and significant physical impairment.
Holdren is being held at the BRRJA under no bond.
This incident is still under investigation and more charges may be pending.
PREVIOUS: On Saturday, June 20, 2020, at 1:53pm, the Bedford Emergency 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a person stating they had been assaulted.
The victim was a Realtor showing an open house at Mariners Landing Subdivision [along Smith Mountain Lake] in Huddleston VA.
Victim was transported to the hospital.