Crime and Public Safety
(From Roanoke City Fire EMS Facebook page)
(Update 4pm) Last night at 11:46 p.m., Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 3700 block of Stratford Park Drive for reports of a structure fire. First arriving units found flames and smoke showing from an apartment building and upgraded the call to a two-alarm response, to which Fire-EMS personnel responded with a full complement within 8 minutes of dispatch. Due to the size of the building and the life safety issues related to the largely senior and disabled population who reside at the location, the call was upgraded to general alarm, resulting in all available Fire-EMS units being dispatched to the scene. Early in the response effort, three individuals in cardiac arrest were rescued from the building; two were resuscitated and transported to area hospitals, and the third was pronounced dead on scene.
Numerous rescues and extractions were performed in addition to the first three. Two patients were transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries related to smoke inhalation, and numerous others were treated and released on scene. No injuries to Fire-EMS staff have been reported. Approximately 100 people and multiple pets have been displaced as a result of the fire. These
individuals are being assisted by the American Red Cross. The Fire Marshal’s Office has determined the fire was accidental, and began as a result of improperly discarded smoking materials. The damages to the building and its contents is estimated to be $1,650,000.
From Roanoke City Fire EMS Department: Shortly before midnight, Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to reports of a structure fire on the 3700 block of Stratford Park Dr. Upon arrival, units found flames showing from an apartment building. Multiple residents were rescued from the building. Five residents were transported to local hospitals. Unfortunately, one fatality has been reported. Crews are still on scene and the fire is under investigation. More information will be released at a later time.
Carilion Clinic assembled a panel today for a virtual town hall meeting on the impacts of gun violence that we’ve been telling you about. Dr. Deneen Evans is a longtime counselor; she says they mean well but white middle class teachers placed in largely minority schools can’t always relate. Evans also says she is concerned about the amount of violence young people see on television; she noted as well during the webinar that suicide by firearm among African-Americans has risen sharply in recent years.
On September 15, 2022, the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office along with the Department of Social Services responded to Jeters Chapel Road to conduct a home visit for an 18 y/o autistic student who was not attending school. Deputies arrived at the home, and it was found to be heavily overgrown, with sounds of dogs barking coming from inside the residence along with extreme odors emitting from the house. During the investigation, we learned that the mother had abandoned the two children at this house. Animal Control responded to the residence and located badly emaciated and deceased animals at and in the residence. Our Criminal Investigation’s Unit responded to assist due to the report of Child Abandonment. Many animals were transported to Riverside Veterinarian Clinic for assessment and care.
The suspect in this case, Colleen Lagines, age 38 was arrested on September 16th, 2022 and charged with 4 counts of Felony Child Abuse and Neglect. She is currently held with no bond. This is an ongoing investigation for all allegations and additional charges may be sought at the completion.
From Roanoke Police Department – On September 17, 2022 at approximately 11:40 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1500 block of Shamrock Street NW. Responding officers located an unresponsive juvenile male outside of a residence with what appeared to be a critical gunshot wound. An officer provided aid until Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel arrived and transported the juvenile male to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The teen succumbed to his injuries a short time after his arrival at the hospital.
Preliminary investigation indicates this incident was accidental/self-inflicted in nature. We are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office, and the results of their investigation will determine an official cause of death. Further details are limited 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.
( Update 9/20 4pm:) The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office reports that the fire
from Sunday morning in the 4700 block of Fort Lewis Church Road remains under investigation and
that the identity of the deceased male is Harry Cunningham Harris who was 82 years old.
(Previously) The fire on Fort Lewis Church Road remains under investigation at this time. The fire did result in one adult male fatality. The single occupant of the home died at a local hospital. Damage estimates are $75,0000.00.
From Roanoke County Fire and Rescue – (Roanoke County, VA—September 18, 2022) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at approximately 4:57 a.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2022 to the 4700 block of Fort Lewis Church Road, in the Fort lewis area, for the report of a residential structure fire. First arriving crews from Station 9 (Fort Lewis) found a two-story wood frame structure that was heavily involved in fire. Neighbors advised the crews that there was possibly someone still in the house. The crew made entry into the house on the rear of the structure and found one subject that they rescued from the burning building. Crews treated the patient on-scene and transported them to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The house is a total loss. The fire was under control in approximately 60 minutes. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene to investigate a cause.
MGN
NEWS RELEASE: Investigators with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Vice/Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the United States Marshal’s Service, conducted a drug round up resulting in the arrest of eight individuals. The following individuals were charged and arrested on a series of charges consisting of Distribution of Illegal Narcotics, or Possession of Illegal Narcotics, within the County of Bedford:
Bruce Skelton of Bedford – Possession of a controlled substance schedule I or II
Timothy Fizer of Bedford – Distribution of a controlled substance schedule I or II
Jonathan Sorber of Huddleston – Distribution of a controlled substance schedule I or II
Jackie Meador of Vinton – Distribution of a controlled substance schedule I x 4
John Channey of Staunton – Distribution of a controlled substance Schedule I or II x 2
Ameral Mckee of Vinton – Possession of a controlled substance schedule I or II
Jack Evans of Bedford – Distribution of a controlled substance schedule I or II x 4
Mackton Saunders of Lynchburg – Distribution of a controlled substance I or II
A ninth subject has been charged and is currently wanted: George Perdue of Bedford – Possession of a controlled Substance schedule I or II (Not InCustody / Warrant still outstanding)
With the exception of Perdue, all of these subjects have been taken into custody.
PHOTO: TSA
TSA NEWS RELEASE: ROANOKE, Va.—Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers stopped a Roanoke County man with a loaded handgun in his carry-on bag yesterday (Sept. 14), just one day after they caught a Pulaski County, Va., woman with a loaded gun in her carry-on bag.
Wednesday’s catch of a loaded 9mm gun marks the seventh gun detected by TSA at theRoanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport so far this year. This is the highest number of guns caught at the airport in a single calendar year with three months remaining in 2022.
The TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray monitor on Wednesday spotted the weapon among the man’s carry-on items as they entered the checkpoint X-ray machine. TSA alerted the police who confiscated the handgun and cited the now detained traveler on a weapons charge. The man told officials that he forgot that he had his loaded gun with him.
The Vinton, Va., man now faces a stiff federal financial civil citation for bringing a loaded gun to a security checkpoint.
“Firearms are not allowed at a security checkpoint at any airport,” said Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for the airport. “We are proud of our officers for ensuring prohibited items are not making it through checkpoints. We much prefer that travelers adhere to checkpoint protocols and either pack their firearms properly and declare them or leave them at home.”
TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website.
Bringing a gun to an airport checkpoint carries a federal civil penalty becauseTSA reserves the right to issue a civil penalty to travelers who have guns and gun parts with them at a checkpoint. Civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on mitigating circumstances. This applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits. Possession of a concealed carry permit isn’t permission to carry a firearm onto an airplane. The complete list of civil penalties is posted online. Additionally, if a traveler with a gun is a member of TSA PreCheck®, that individual will lose their TSA PreCheck privileges.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality and passengers should do their homework to make sure that they are not violating any local firearm laws. Travelers should also contact their airline as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Firearms caught by TSA officers at the ROA Airport checkpoint, 2016 to 2022
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022
(As of 9/14/22) |
| Guns caught at ROA checkpoint | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
Last year TSA officers detected 5,972 guns at security checkpoints nationwide and 86 percent of them were loaded.
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State police say a motorcyclist they were pursuing died in a head-on crash with a truck late Tuesday night on US 29 between Lynchburg and Danville. Troopers say 37-year-old James Holley of Graham, North Carolina attempted to elude them by driving south in the northbound lanes when he collided with the semi. Police say they were attempting to stop Holley for reckless driving.
NEWS RELEASE: PITTSYVANIA, Va. – Virginia State Police is investigating a motorcycle pursuit, which ended with a fatal crash. The crash occurred on Tuesday, (Sept 13) at 11:41 p.m. on Route 29, one tenth of a mile south of Route 29 business in Pittsylvania County.
The traffic pursuit began when a Virginia State Police Trooper in Campbell County on Route 29, attempted to stop a Suzuki GSXR 600 for Reckless Driving. The Trooper activated his emergency equipment and the motorcycle refused to stop and sped away. The pursuit continued into Pittsylvania County, where the motorcycle crossed into the northbound lanes of Route 29. The motorcycle was traveling south in the northbound lanes at a high rate of speed, when it struck a 2018 International tractor-trailer, head-on.
James Lee Holley, 37, of Graham, NC, drove the Suzuki. Mr. Holley was wearing his helmet and died at the scene.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured and the roadway was closed for an extended period due to a fuel leak from the truck.
The Virginia State Police Crash Investigation and Motor Carrier Teams responded to assist with the crash investigation.
The crash remains under investigation.
ROANOKE, Va.– A woman from Pulaski County was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented her from carrying her loaded handgun onto her flight on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. The .380 caliber handgun was loaded with six bullets. A TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray monitor spotted the weapon among the woman’s carry-on items as they entered the checkpoint X-ray machine. TSA alerted the police who confiscated the handgun and cited her on a weapons charge.
The Fairlawn woman also faces a stiff federal financial civil citation for bringing a loaded gun to a security checkpoint. 6 firearms have been confiscated at ROA this year, one more than in all of 2021. Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are unloaded and properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter.
(from Roanoke PD) On September 12 at approximately 5:10 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified that a person with a gunshot wound had arrived at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital via personal vehicle. Officers responded to speak with the adult male victim, who had what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries.
Details about this incident are limited. At this time with the limited information available, a crime scene has not been located. 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.