Crime and Public Safety
US Senator Tim Kaine has co-sponsored a bill that would stop the publication of 3-D gun blueprints. A federal judge has issued temporary restraining order by Kaine wants to make that stoppage permanent as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
Roanoke Police say shoplifting suspects tried to run over an officer with a vehicle — then took off until state police later took them into custody. Officers were called today to the Towne Square Shopping Center, and police say that’s where a juvenile pushed one to the ground and 28-year-old Fuquan Goode of Bedford tried to run her over. Both face various felony charges, as does 18-year-old Brenda Stout of Roanoke.
News release: On Thursday August 2, 2018 at around 10:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Towne Square Shopping Center on a shoplifting call. The responding officer was able to identify and locate the suspects – 28-year-old Fuquan Goode of Bedford, 18-year-old Breana Stout of Roanoke and a juvenile male.
As the officer attempted to arrest Goode, the juvenile suspect assaulted her. The three suspects then fled to a vehicle in the parking lot. The officer attempted to stop and arrest the suspects again, when Goode pushed her to the ground, assaulted her again and then attempted to run her over with the vehicle. The vehicle then fled the scene and other responding officers started a pursuit. The officer who was assaulted was not seriously injured.
We ended the pursuit when the suspects’ vehicle headed into Roanoke County’s jurisdiction. At that time, the Virginia State Police took over and arrested the suspects.
Goode is facing charges of obtaining merchandise under false pretenses, petty larceny, grand larceny, assault and battery, attempted aggravated assault on law enforcement, assault and battery on law enforcement, fleeing from law enforcement and felony eluding. Stout is facing grand larceny charges. The male juvenile is facing charges of assault on law enforcement, felony obstruction of justice with force and petty larceny.
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a Flood Warning for Urban Areas and Small Streams in Eastern Roanoke County in west central Virginia, The City of Roanoke in west central Virginia and Northwestern Franklin County in west central Virginia until 700 PM EDT. At 303 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain which will cause flooding. Some locations that will experience flooding include Roanoke, Vinton, Boones Mill, Hollins and Poages Mill. This includes The following location: Roanoke Regional Airport.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.
John Wimbush
UPDATE: Police say 88-year-old John Wimbush has been found safe in the Washington, D.C., and a woman is custody awaiting extradition to Virginia. Wimbush is under evaluation at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in Washington D.C., but officials say he appears to be in good health. Valerie Condell will face charges in Martinsville for his abduction.
Previous news release: The Martinsville Police Department is looking for John Alee Wimbush, an 88-year-old, black male, height 5′ 06″, weight 176 lbs, with brown eyes, and black/gray hair. He was last seen wearing, a blue shirt, jacket and blue jeans. He also uses a cane to walk. He is believed to have been abducted and in danger. He was last seen on Aug. 1, 2018 at 10:28 a.m. on Forest Street in Martinsville, Virginia. He is believed to be with Valerie Vianna Swinson (AKA Valerie Vianna Condell), a 59-year-old, black female, height 5′ 08″, weight 167 lbs, with brown eyes, and black/blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black and white striped tank top.
They are believed to be traveling in a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder with an unknown registration. Their possible direction of travel is I-81 north to I-95 north to Fort Washington, Maryland. Please contact the Martinsville Police Department at 1-276-403-5328 if you have seen Mr. Wimbush or have information about his whereabouts. Complete information on this alert can be found at http://www.vasenioralert.com/
Virginia Senator Mark Warner says effectively dealing with foreign countries’ efforts to impact America’s election process is a constant — and growing challenge. This seems to be one area where both parties appear to be in general agreement. Warner is the senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which heard yesterday from social media experts, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
Gordon Goff
A Bedford County man faces child pornography charges as part of the Bedford County Sheriff’s ongoing efforts to investigate sexual exploitation of children. Officials say 24-year-old Gordon Goff was arrested after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his Thaxton-area residence.
From the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office: On July 30, 2018, Gordon Matthew Goff, 24, of Rocky Ford Rd, Bedford, was arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into the sexual exploitation of children. Investigators with the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, from both the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Bedford Police Department, participated in the investigation, and execution of a search warrant at his residence.
As a result of the investigation, Goff was arrested on two counts of violating the Code of Virginia statute 18.2-374.3, Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses against children, and one count of violating the Code of Virginia statute 18.2-374.1, Production, publication, sale, financing, etc., of child pornography.
This investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be pending. If anyone has any information related to this investigation, please contact the SOVA ICAC at 434-534-9521.
(Update from Roanoke City) In regard to the July 27, 2018 homicide, Roanoke Police have identified the victim as Cedric Bernard Gillum, age 30 of Salem. Roanoke Police have obtained a warrant for Shaniqua Aaliyah Hundley, age 30 of Roanoke, for Second Degree Murder in connection with this incident. If anyone has information about this case, they’re asked to call our tip line at (540) 344-8500 and share what they saw. Callers can remain anonymous. You can also send an anonymous text message to 274637. Please use the keyword “RoanokePD” at the beginning of the text to make sure it’s properly sent. Reference case number 18-084612. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
From news release: On July 29, 2018 at about 6:30 p.m., Roanoke Police responded to a report of a victim with a gunshot wound in the 4500 block of Melrose Ave NW. On arrival, officers located an adult male from Salem with gunshot wounds. The victim was transported by Roanoke Fire-EMS to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Detectives and Forensics Investigators are currently investigating this incident. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Police do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the community at this time.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Police in Virginia’s most populous city are set to get body-worn cameras over the next two years.
The Virginian-Pilot reports the Virginia Beach Police Department will be the last department in the Hampton Roads area to adopt the technology. The department announced Friday that officers began wearing cameras this month. Capt. Todd Jones says camera distribution will be done in four phases with about 110 officers getting cameras in each phase.
The department is the region’s largest police force with nearly 800 sworn officers. Jones said the department moved slowly to adopt the technology to avoid making any mistakes. The cost of using the Axon cameras, including the technology and office space, is expected to cost around $4.4 million. The department received a $302,000 grant to help cover the cost.
Christopher Garrison
STANARDSVILLE, Va. (AP) – A jury has recommended nearly 300 years in prison for a Virginia man convicted of dozens of child pornography-related charges. The Daily Progress reports that 48-year-old Christopher Mark Garrison was convicted of 43 counts in all this week, including soliciting a minor, producing child porn, distributing it and possessing it. He was arrested last July after the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office forwarded a tip to Greene County authorities. The jury recommended a 291-year sentence, which a judge may not exceed. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30. The newspaper did not include comment from Garrison or a representative.