Crime and Public Safety
Michael Connors (Photo: Richmond PD)
Vincent Martin (Photo: VaDOC)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A man who served decades in prison for the killing of a Richmond police officer and whose parole grant sparked a still-continuing investigation by Virginia’s government watchdog agency has been released from prison.
Vincent Martin, who had been held at the Nottoway Correctional Center, was released on parole, Virginia Parole Board chair Tonya Chapman told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Martin, who was serving a life sentence for the 1979 killing of Richmond patrolman Michael P. Connors, had been scheduled to be paroled May 11, but his release was halted at the last minute.
A temporary 30-day hold was put in place “pending the conclusion” of an administrative investigation by the Office of the State Inspector General into the Virginia Parole Board, Chapman said at the time.
Chapman, who assumed her role after the decision had been made to grant Martin parole, said the inspector general’s office was investigating whether the board followed state law and other policies and procedures in its decision-making process, but not the board’s ultimate decision.
Chapman wrote in an email Wednesday that the 30-day hold had ended and Martin was released in accordance with state code that says “the final decision to grant release on parole rests solely with the Parole Board.”
The announcement of the inspector general’s investigation came amid a push by the board to speed up its work because of the coronavirus pandemic and amid news reports from across the state about parole decisions in which both prosecutors and victims’ families said they were not notified or given a chance to provide input as required by law.
Martin’s parole grant sparked an uproar in the law enforcement community, and both Connors’ family and Richmond’s top prosecutor, a Democrat, asked the board to rescind its decision. Connors’ family was contacted for input but has raised concerns about the process.
Republican lawmakers asked for Martin’s release to be delayed at least until the inspector general’s findings were complete.
Former parole board chair Adrianne Bennett, who recently left that role to become a judge, released a lengthy statement defending the board’s decision to release Martin. In it, she wrote that Martin “has demonstrated himself over the decades to be a trusted leader, peacemaker, mediator and mentor in the correctional community” and has been infraction-free for more than 30 years. Martin has always maintained his innocence, wrote Bennett, who has not responded to interview requests.
She wrote that his conviction was based “primarily upon the conflicting testimony of the three cooperating co-defendants,” who were also convicted but completed lighter sentences in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Martin previously declined an interview request from The Associated Press sent through the Department of Corrections.
Connors, who was raised in Buffalo, New York, and the surrounding area was the oldest of five siblings in a close-knit family, his sister Maureen Clements said. He started his law enforcement career in Richmond and had been on the force for about a year, she said, when he was fatally shot in November 1979.
State Sen. Ryan McDougle, chairman of the Senate Republican caucus, called Martin’s release before the completion of the investigation “outrageous.”
“Mr. Martin’s early release is an affront to the rule of law, an insult to law enforcement and a tragedy for the family of the police officer he executed, Michael Connors,” McDougle said in a statement.
Senate Democratic leadership, meanwhile, said they believed the process had played out fairly and they supported the board’s decision.
“We are truly dismayed that Mr. Martin’s case has been hijacked for the purpose of clickbait and scoring political points,” Majority Leader Dick Saslaw and Caucus Chair Mamie E. Locke said in a statement.
Photo of one sign at a protest in Roanoke on the afternoon of June 7th, 2020
The presence of Veterans groups at recent Roanoke protests shows why NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem was not about disrespecting our country. That’s what a protest organizer tells WFIR’s Ian Price:
(Update June 11) On June 7th Roanoke City Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Williamson Rd NW. Arriving officers found an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds; he went to the hospital for treatment. Police have now arrested two men regarding this incident: Robert St. Clair, 56 and Alexander Arrington, 29, both of Roanoke, are charged with attempted malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.
(from Roanoke PD) On June 7, 2020 just after midnight, Roanoke Police responded to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Williamson Rd NW. Arriving officers located an adult male with multiple gunshot wounds. The male was transported by Roanoke Fire-EMS to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries. All parties involved have been identified. This 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.
(VSP release) The Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian which was struck in the City of Roanoke. At 12:51 a.m. the Virginia State Police was called to assist the Roanoke Police Department with a crash in the 2800 block of Williamson Road. A 62 year old male was struck by a 2014 Chevrolet Sonic while crossing Williamson Road. The pedestrian was stationary in the left lane when he was struck. The pedestrian was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
State Police are working to notify the next of kin, and more information will follow once that is completed. The driver of the Chevrolet was not injured. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the crash. No charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation.
(from VSP Virginia State Police Trooper T.M. Wertz is investigating a two vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred on Friday, (Jun 5) at 10:53 p.m. on Route 460, two tenths of a mile west of Dixie Lane in Bedford County. A 1993 Toyota Corolla was traveling east in the westbound lanes on Route 460, when the vehicle struck a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu head-on.
The driver of the Toyota was identified as Tyler Jacob Little, 23, of Hurt, Va. Mr. Little was wearing his seatbelt and was transported to Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital, where he later died. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash.There is no information on the driver of the Chevrolet at this time.The crash remains under investigation.
Update 6/6: As of June 6th, 2020, The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and The Commonwealth Attorney’s Office with the help of other jurisdictions to include Georgia, Tennessee, FBI, and the US Marshalls have arrested Dalton Holbrook on the Grand Larceny charge and also 2nd Degree Murder. Holbrook is being held in Chattanooga Tennessee and bond is being determined at this time.
NEWS RELEASE: On Thursday, June 4, 2020, the Bedford Emergency 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a citizen that a male was located in his residence with what appeared to be serious injuries. Bedford County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 6000 block of White House Road in Moneta and located the victim whom was deceased. There, deputies found the homeowner, 72 year old John Menna, deceased in his residence.
This investigation is still ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office is trying to locate the victim’s car a 2014 White Hyundai Sonata with a VA tag of WNG- 9916. Please do not approach vehicle subject should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on this crime can call the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or go online to wwwcvcrimestoppers.org. You may also 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.
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE: The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia has determined the cause of death to be gunshot wound and the manner of death has been ruled homicide.
Two male juveniles have been charged in relation to the death of Skyler Derrick Bryant.
The first male juvenile, age 17, has been charged with the following:
- Felony Homicide
- Robbery
- Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
- Use of a Firearm in Commission of Robbery
The second male juvenile, age 15, has been charged with the following:
- 2nd Degree Murder
- Robbery
- Conspiracy to Commit Robbery
- Use of a Firearm in Commission of Robbery
- Use of a Firearm in Commission of Murder
- Possession of a Firearm by an Adjudicated Juvenile Felon
Both juveniles are in the custody of W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Facility.
Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
PREVIOUS: On June 2, 2020 at 11:53am the Martinsville-Henry County 9-1-1 center received a call in reference to shots fired and a vehicle crash on Erwin St., Martinsville, VA. Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsville Police Department, Henry County Public Safety and Fieldale-Collinsville Rescue responded to the scene located at 205 Erwin St., Martinsville, VA. Upon arrival deputies found an individual in a silver 2008 Ford Focus unresponsive. The victim in the vehicle had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Skyler Derrick Bryant, 20, of 140 Primrose Dr., Bassett, VA has been identified as the victim in the vehicle. Bryant will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
(VSP release) Virginia State Police are investigating a single vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Monday, (June 1) at 10:02 p.m. on Interstate 581 in Roanoke County (near Valley View Mall). A 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse was traveling north on Interstate 581, when the vehicle lost control, ran off the left side of the roadway, ran through the median and overturned. The driver of the Mitsubishi was identified as Brittany Kay Underwood, 27, of Vinton. Ms. Underwood was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene. Speed and alcohol are believed to have been a factor in the crash. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team assisted with the crash. The crash remains under investigation.