Crime and Public Safety
PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — A prison inmate in Virginia was set to be released after serving a three-year sentence. But then he was charged with possessing a smuggled-in cell phone.The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Kevin Lavon Smith as a sentencing hearing on Monday that could keep him in jail for many more months toc ome.Prosecutors are asking for an additional year in prison. His lawyer says he deserves time served. Federal sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of six months to 12 months.A female visitor gave Smith a small cell phone during a visit to the Federal Correctional Institution Petersburg in June. He was charged in November, the day before his scheduled release.Smith’s lawyer, Laura Koenig, has argued that he already spent five months in solitary confinement. She said Smith owed a debt to prisoners who persuaded him to smuggle in the phone.Smith was serving time for abusing drugs while on supervised release. He was previously sentenced for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Smith’s lawyer said he was homeless and needed drug money.
MANASSAS, Va. (AP) — The FBI says two suspects in a fatal shooting at a Denny’s in Virginia are also responsible for three other robberies in the Washington suburbs.The FBI said in a press release Friday that the duo robbed a bowling alley, a motel and a convenience store in the days before they robbed the Denny’s.The agency described the men as being in their late teens or early 20s.The FBI said they robbed Bowl America in Manassas on Saturday. One man had a gun while the other wielded a baton. Their next target was a Manassas Comfort Inn on Tuesday. Then they robbed a Woodbridge Walgreens on Christmas Eve.On Thursday, police said the men killed a DoorDash delivery driver and wounded another man at a Denny’s in Manassas.Yusuf Ozgur, 56, of Manassas, was at the restaurant to pick up an order for DoorDash, a food delivery service. He died at a hospital from his injuries.A second wounded man was hospitalized with serious injuries but is expected to survive. Police did not release his name but said he is 34 and from Rixeyville in Culpeper County.Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
FROM Roanoke County Fire and Rescue:The fire on Hollins Road at the Ardagh plant was extinguished early this morning. All crews had cleared at 3:20 a.m. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office has concluded their investigation and found the fire to be accidental. It originated in an “inner bake oven”and traveled along the exterior roof line through the “Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer”before being extinguished. While there is extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the machines, conveyors, and exhaust systems of the building, there is no major structural damage to the building itself. One additional firefighter from the City of Roanoke Fire and EMS was injured and transported to the hospital with smoke inhalation. The previously injured firefighter from Roanoke County was treated on scene for a back injury. Damages are estimated at approximately four million dollars. We would like to thank the City of Roanoke Fire and EMS for all their help on this fire.
Photo: Rockbridge County Jail
State police have charged a 20-year-old Lexington man with hitting a trooper last week in a hit and run incident on Route 11 in Botetourt County. Troopers say Hunter Ruley was arrested after police learned he was trying to sell wheels and tires from the truck on line. Charges include Felony Hit and Run.
NEWS RELEASE UPDATE: Virginia State Police arrested Hunter Lee Ruley, 20, of Lexington, Va. in connection with a hit and run crash which occurred on Route 11 in Botetourt County on Friday, (Dec 20), involving a Virginia State Police Trooper.
The crash occurred at 9:56 p.m. while Senior Trooper R.E. Tackett was investigating a crash with another vehicle and a bear. The trooper was entering his vehicle from the passenger side, when he was struck by a 2004 Chevrolet pickup truck. The Virginia State Police was able to use the video system in the trooper’s vehicle to obtain a description of the vehicle that struck the trooper.
Shortly after the crash, Ruley posted on social media he was selling a set of 4 oversize wheels and tires from a 2004 Chevrolet. Investigators received information on the posting from a citizen, and using the pictures provided by Ruley on the site; was able locate the truck at a residence in Rockbridge County.
Troopers seized the vehicle and Ruley was later arrested at that location.
Ruley was charged with Felony Hit and Run and transported to the Rockbridge County Jail. Mug shot can be obtained from the Rockbridge County Jail.
The crash remains under investigation.
PREVIOUS: The Virginia State Police is investigating a crash in which a trooper was struck. The crash occurred at 10:03 p.m. on Friday (Dec 20) 0n route 11 in Botetourt County. A white Dodge pick-up was traveling north on Route 11, when the pickup struck the trooper on the right side of the of the State Police vehicle. Damage to the suspect vehicle will be on the right side and will include the right headlight and fender. Witness’ at the crash scene stated the pick-up accelerated as it left the scene after striking the trooper and his vehicle. The trooper was transported to Stonewall Jackson Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to assist with the crash. Any information regarding the crash please contact the Virginia State Police at 800-542-5959 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
—
From Roanoke County Fire and Rescue: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at about 10:30p.m., on Monday,December 23,2019 to the 3400 block of Rusty Road,which is located in the Masons Cove area,for the report of a residential structure fire.First arriving crews from Station 10 (Masons Cove)found heavy smoke and flames from a one-story, single family residence. There was no one home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. The fire was brought under control in about 20 minutes.The home is a total loss. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene to investigate a cause and estimate the damages.
Roanoke Police have named a suspect for a weekend shooting, and now they are trying to find him. Police say 30-year-old DeShawn Johnson fired shots Sunday into a building in the 1500 block of Abbott Street. There are no injuries reported.
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE: On December 22, 2019 just before 12:30pm Roanoke Police responded to a report of shots fired in the 1500 block of Abbott St NW. Officers located damage to a residence on Abbott St NW and a vehicle alleged to be driven by the suspect that had crashed in the area. Through investigation, DeShawn Johnson, 30 of Roanoke, was identified as the suspect. Johnson is currently wanted on the charge of shooting into an occupied dwelling. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this case or Johnson’s whereabouts 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.
PREVIOUS: On December 22 [today] at about 12:20 pm, Roanoke police responded to the area of Cove and Abbott NW in reference to shots being fired. On arrival they confirmed shots had been fired and located witnesses who are cooperating with police to help determine what happened. At this time there are no known injuries to anyone. This is 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.
In response to an inquiry from a House of Delegates member, Attorney General Mark Herring released a statement today declaring that localities in Virginia that have passed resolutions declaring themselves Second Amendment Sanctuaries “have no legal effect.” In all localities says Herring, local constitutional officers and other local officials “are obligated to follow duly enacted state laws.” Local governments do not have the right to declare state statutes unconstitutional or decline to follow them says the Democratic Attorney General. See a link to Herring’s full statement below:
https://www.oag.state.va.us/files/Opinions/2019/19-059-Jones-issued.pdf
A Danville man was sentenced today in federal court to 54 years and seven months in prison for a series of armed robberies. 34-year-old Justin Stallings was convicted in March for the holdups, which included the Dollar General stores in Bedford and Rocky Mount. The feds say the case is part of federal efforts to prosecute serious firearms offenses.
NEWS RELEASE:
Lynchburg, VIRGINIA – Justin Stallings, a Danville man who was convicted in March of committing seven armed robberies of businesses in Danville, Bedford, Rocky Mount, and Prospect Hill, N.C., was sentenced today to 54 years and 7 months incarceration in U.S. District Court in Lynchburg. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement today as part of the Western District of Virginia’s ongoing Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to reduce violent crime.
A jury convicted Stallings, 34, in March, following a three-day trial of six counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, six counts of using a firearm in commission of a Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of being a convicted felon illegally in possession of a firearm.
“This case illustrates our commitment to prosecuting violent offenders and serious firearms offenses in federal court,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today. “I am grateful for the hard work and continuing support of our many state and local partners in helping us to identify violent offenders in specific communities and hold them accountable under federal law.”
“The FBI is fully committed to identifying violent offenders who prey on our communities and removing them from our streets,” Special Agent in Charge Archey said today. “Mr. Stallings robbed multiple businesses and victimized employees during his crime spree, and the sentence handed down today is just. This investigation was conducted by the FBI Richmond Safe Streets Gang Task Force, who along with our state and local partners, will continue to utilize our manpower and resources to protect the communities we serve.”
A jury found that Stallings committed seven armed robberies between December 2016 and February 2017. At each location, Stallings entered a store near closing time and pointed his firearm at employees. Through fear and intimidation of the employees, he then proceeded to steal cash from the register and goods from the store. All told, Stallings used a firearm to commit robberies at each of the following businesses in Virginia and North Carolina:
- Dollar General located on South Main Street in Danville, Va., on December 8, 2016;
- Dollar General located on Westover Drive in Danville, Va. on January 8, 2017;
- KFC located on Memorial Drive in Danville, Va., on January 11, 2017;
- Charlie’s Stop N Shop located on Westover Drive in Danville, Va., on January 20, 2017;
- Dollar General located in Caswell County, North Carolina, on January 25, 2017;
- Dollar General located on Blue Ridge Avenue in Bedford, Va., on February 5, 2017;
- Dollar General located on Pell Avenue in Rocky Mount, Va., on February 6, 2017.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Danville Police Department, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Caswell County (N.C.) Sheriff’s Office, the Bedford Police Department, the Rocky Mount Police Department and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Bedford County. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Kavanaugh and Rachel Swartz prosecuted the case for the United States.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.