Crime and Public Safety
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Democratic lawmakers say a Virginia woman who has spent weeks up in trees protesting a natural gas pipeline that would cross her property is being treated inhumanely by authorities, who have cut off her deliveries of food and water.
Around a dozen Democratic members of the Virginia House and Senate held a press conference in Richmond to protest authorities’ response to the 61-year-old Mountain Valley Pipeline protester.
They also raised a host of other concerns about that multistate project as well as the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and called on Gov. Ralph Northam to impose further conditions on both.
Developers of both projects say they can be built in a way that’s protective of the environment and pledge they will help lower energy costs and boost the economy.
From Roanoke County: Just after 530 p.m on Wednesday April 18, 2018 police were dispatched to a Death Investigation in the 3000 block of Bandy RD. Upon arrival of the Roanoke County Police, a deceased male was located with a gunshot wound to the head. There is no threat to the public at this time.
Detectives were called to process the scene.
This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information in reference to this case is asked to the call the non-emergency number 540-562-3265
A drive-by shooting today in northwest Roanoke has two men under hospital treatment. Police say several people fired shots at a vehicle parked in a lot near Cove Road and Lafayette Boulevard. That vehicle then took off, but officers soon found it not far away in the 2700-block of Shenandoah Avenue. The victims’ injuries are described as non-life threatening. Police are looking for a silver Chrysler SUV.
From Roanoke City Police: At 1:56 pm, , Roanoke Police responded to a report of shots fired near the intersection of Cove Road and Lafayette Blvd. An officer was close by and arrived on scene in a short period of time, but was unable to locate the individuals involved in the incident. The officer spoke with witnesses who advised there was a vehicle parked in a parking lot when a silver Chrysler SUV traveling north in the intersection occupied by multiple individuals began shooting at the parked car. Additional responding officers located the vehicle that was shot at in the 2700 block of Shenandoah Avenue. Officers located two adult males with non-life threatening gun shot wounds. Both were transported by Roanoke Fire and EMS to Carilion Roanoke Memorial for treatment. The silver Chrysler SUV was last seen traveling Northbound on Cove Road. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the RPD tip line at 540-344-8500. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.
Roanoke Police say a man who was accidentally shot Monday night has died from his injuries. 21-year-old Tevin Mason died the Tuesday evening under hospital treatment. Officials say two men were handling firearms in a breezeway at an apartment complex off Cove Road when one of them accidentally fired a handgun. Police say alcohol appears to be a factor in the case. Officers are working the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office to determine what charges might be filed.
From Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: On April 17th at approx 1345 units responded for a motor vehicle crash on Jennelle Rd near the intersection of Rocky Acres Rd.
Preliminary investigation by deputies showed that a 2001 Mazda Miata, operated by David Bryan Smith age 60 of Christiansburg, ran off of the roadway and overturned multiple times down an embankment. Members from Blacksburg Fire and Rescue were able to pronounce the driver who was ejected from the vehicle, deceased at the scene.
It is believed that speed was a contributing factor, however the crash is still under investigation.
Four people are displaced after a Roanoke County apartment fire. Crews were called this afternoon to the Copper Croft Apartments across Electric Road from Tanglewood Mall. Officials say the first arriving crews found flames that started from the stove and had spread to some adjacent cabinetry. Firefighters made quick work putting it out, but the Red Cross is assisting the family that lived there.
News release: Roanoke County Fire & Rescue was dispatched at about 4:30 p.m. for a structure fire in the 4000 block of Electric Road at Copper Croft Apartments. The first crews arriving discovered flames in the kitchen originating from the stove and spreading to the cabinetry . Crews were able to extinguish the flames within a few minutes. Four people live in the apartment and are displaced. The Red Cross has been called to assist this family. Total damages are estimated to be $5,000. No injuries were reported.
Appalachian Power says some customers in Lynchburg, Amherst County and Campbell County are likely to remain without service until late Wednesday – and in some very isolated cases with extreme damage, it may be longer. Crews must repair damage that includes broken poles and crossarms while dealing with trees that fell across power lines. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Amherst Co. (Photo: State Police)
A tornado touched down Sunday in Craig County. The National Weather Service says it was 150 yards wide, had estimated top wind speeds of 105 mp and was on the ground for less than one minute over a half mile. Six New Castle area homes were damaged.
This comes as a large-scale cleanup and recovery effort is underway across hard-hit parts of the Lynchburg region, and it is clear that in some places, the work has a long way to go. Appalachian Power says some customers there are likely to remain without service until late Wednesday – and in some very isolated cases with extreme damage, it may be longer. Yesterday’s storms caused severe storms in parts of the city along with some nearby parts of two counties. Governor Northam has declared a state of emergency “to help local and state agencies respond to damage” from the storms. Along with Lynchburg, the Danville region was also especially hard hit.
courtesy photo
The new president of the Peacemakers chapter in northwest Roanoke is no stranger to the concept of working within minority communities to promote peace and safety – he’s done it on a global scale as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports:
click below to hear an extended conversation with Dennis Muhammad:
A powerful storm caused extensive damage in parts of the Lynchburg and Danville areas late Saturday afternoon and early Sunday evening. In the Lynchburg region, close to 19,000 Appalachian Power customers were without service at one point, and many Lynchburg-area schools are closed Monday. Along with significant damage to some buildings, downed trees and power lines are forcing road closures in parts of Lynchburg and nearby Campbell County.
The Danville area is also reeling from the severe weather. City Manager Ken Larking has declared a local state of emergency. Many Danville residents are without power, and officials there say outages may last into Tuesday.
Amherst Co. (Photo: State Police)
Amherst Co. (Photo: State Police)
While damage in some areas appears consistent with a tornado, there is no official word yet whether any of these storms were in fact tornadoes or whether the damage was caused by straight-line winds. It is typical in such situations for National Weather Service personnel to make in-person visits to determine an official evaluation. As of late Monday evening, there are no reports on serious injuries.
From State Police: Virginia State Police troopers and supervisors have been responding throughout the evening to communities across western and Southside Virginia, as well as the Lynchburg region, that have been impacted by Sunday’s severe storms. Fortunately, at this time, only minor injuries are being reported in those communities impacted by the storms. State police have also been busy responding to reports of downed trees and power lines across numerous roadways. For their safety, Virginians are reminded to never come in contact with downed power lines. Utility crews are responding as quickly as they can to attend to downed lines.