Crime and Public Safety
Virginia State Police is investigating a single vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Thursday, (Apr 13) at 7:20 p.m. on Route 608, one half of a mile west of Route 689 in Rockbridge County. A 2017 Can-Am Spyder was traveling north on Route 608, when vehicle swerved to miss a deer. The passenger was thrown from the vehicle, then the vehicle struck a tree. The passenger, Trena Louise Booth, 40, of Afton, Va. was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she later died.
UPDATE 4/15/22: Friends and family have posted on Facebook that 29-year-old Sheldon Stacey has passed away. Police have not released a statement yet. We’ll have more details when they become available.
Update 2/18 3 pm: An update for the missing 29-year-old Roanoke County man we’ve been telling you about. A Facebook post says Sheldon Stacey was sighted this Friday morning around the Arby’s in Southeast Roanoke City. He was wearing a bright blue T-shirt, pajama pants, and black shoes – but no coat. The post says he may be acting “erratic” from a mental breakdown. Do not approach him, but call his mother or fiance at 519-6170 or contact the police for assistance. Sheldon Stacy is a white male about 6-1 and 200 pounds with a tattoo on his right forearm
Previous update – The search for a 29-year-old man missing out of Roanoke County continues on Saturday. Sheldon Stacey was last seen Monday evening on Bent Mountain. The AWARE Foundation posted that volunteers are meeting at 7632 Berganblick Lane in Roanoke tomorrow morning at 10 am.
Roanoke County Police is searching for missing 29-year-old Sheldon Lee Stacey. He was last seen by family on Monday at 5:00 pm in the area of Berganblick Lane on Bent Mountain. He is described as a white male, approximately 6 ft tall and 186 lbs. He has brown hair and green eyes. If anyone has seen a person fitting this description, please call the Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center at (540) 562-3265.
Paul Jordan II
In April 2012, 22-year-old Heather Hodges was reported missing from her home on Shady Lane in Rocky Mount, Virginia. At the time, Ms. Hodges was living with her boyfriend, Paul “Scooter” Jordan II. Heather was reported missing, by Jordan, two days after she was last seen alive. Investigative efforts have included extensive searches, including the use of helicopters and canines, as well as interviews with countless friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances. The case quickly turned from a missing person investigation into a criminal investigation and Paul “Scooter” Jordan II was identified as the primary person of interest. Over the next several years, a tremendous amount of time and effort was invested by numerous investigators and deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, as well as assistance from numerous other law enforcement agencies. Heather’s disappearance has always been an active investigation and has never been considered a cold case. Although much information and evidence was gathered, no criminal charges were made related to the case.
In July of 2017, Paul Jordan II was arrested on unrelated charges. Since that time, the investigation has continued, yielding significant additional evidence of Jordan’s involvement in Heather’s disappearance and death, although her body has not yet been located. Today, the Franklin County Circuit Court Special Grand Jury issued indictments for 49-year-old, Paul R. Jordan II. Jordan has been indicted on felony charges of second-degree murder and concealing a body. He is currently incarcerated at the Green Rock Correctional Center on unrelated charges, including seven years on an abduction by force conviction. Sheriff Overton would like to express gratitude for the members of the Office of the Sheriff, past and present, who have worked diligently over the past 10 years on this case to bring justice and provide closure for Ms. Hodges’ family and loved ones.
This remains an ongoing investigation and case, with no further details being released at this
time.
ROCKY MOUNT, Va. (April 14, 2022) – Rocky Mount Police responded to a shots fired call at 3:22 p.m. Thursday afternoon in the area of North Main Street and Circle Drive. Officers were notified that subjects had been shot. Upon arrival, officers discovered that two individuals had gunshot wounds. One gunshot wound victim was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The second victim was pronounced deceased on site and transported to the medical examiner’s office. Authorities have the suspected shooter in custody. It is believed that this is an isolated incident, and the community is not in any danger. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. There are no other known suspects at this time. Responding agencies were Rocky Mount Police Department, Franklin County Sheriffs Office, Virginia State Police, and Franklin County Public Safety.
(update 4/21 PM)The Medical Examiner has confirmed the remains found are those of Sheldon Lee Stacey, 30, of Roanoke County. Investigators are awaiting the final autopsy report. Mr. Stacey was reported missing on February 16, having last been seen by his mother on February 14 at
5 p.m. On February 16, Roanoke County Police requested assistance from a local bloodhound and the
Police Department’s Drone Unit conducted an area search; both were unsuccessful in locating Mr.
Stacey at that time.
-Thursday, April 14, 2022 — At 12:20 today (yesterday), Roanoke County Police responded to the 7500 block of Old Mill Rd (off Bent Mountain Rd) after a citizen called to report a human skull had been discovered. The Criminal Investigations Division responded with additional resources and conducted a search of the area. They were able to locate the rest of the human remains. This case remains under investigation, pending the identification of the remains by the Medical Examiner’s Office and notification to next of kin
MGN
Roanoke Fire-EMS crews responded to a two-alarm house fire this morning at the intersection of Greenland Avenue NW (the 3700 block of Greenland Ave around 7 a.m) and Broad Street NW. One person was located inside the home is deceased. The identity of the individual will be released once their next-of-kin is notified.
NEWS RELEASE: PATRICK COUNTY, Va. – The incident originated in Halifax County, when a female subjectwas located by Park Rangers inside an unoccupied, unrented cabin in Staunton River State Park. The female suspect fled the cabin, and was able to get into her vehicle. She sped away from the scene, pursued by the park rangers. As the vehicle left the state park, Halifax County Sheriff’s Office pursued the vehicle and attempted a vehicle containment, but suspect vehicle forcefully exited the vehicle containment, striking a deputy’s vehicle.
Multiple agencies were notified of the pursuit, and the vehicle was again located at 12:52 p.m. traveling in the City of Martinsville. Martinsville Police Department attempted to stop the suspect vehicle and it again, would not stop. The pursuit continued through Henry County, entering Patrick County and multiple attempts were made to contain and stop the vehicle.
At 1:18 p.m., while being pursued west on Route 58 in Patrick County, the 2010 Corolla crossed the median into eastbound lanes of travel and struck a 2005 Toyota Corolla head-on.
The suspect in the 2010 Toyota was identified as Christine S. Barnette, 41, of Cary, NC. Barnette was injured and flown to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the 2005 Toyota was identified as Bobby Wayne Gammons, 81, of Mount Airy, NC. Mr. Gammons was wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene.
Barnette is facing charges of Breaking and Entering, Reckless Driving, Defrauding an Inn Keeper, Felony Eluding Police, Trespassing, and Vehicular Homicide.
The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team and the Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted with the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
MGN
NEWS RELEASE: A Buchanan County woman has been charged after a shooting incident involving a Town of Grundy Police Officer Saturday night (April 9, 2022). Virginia State Police charged Melissa M. Trammel, 46, with one felony count of assault on a police officer. Trammel is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.
From Roanoke Fire-EMS — On Friday, April 8, at 11:36 p.m., Roanoke Fire EMS was dispatched to the 2200 block of Garstland Drive NW for a reported fire. Crews arrived to find smoke showing from a two-story residential structure and marked it a working fire. Crews found the fire on the second floor of the home, which was extinguished and marked under control by 11:54 p.m.
One person was transported to the hospital for a non-fire-related complaint. The residents of the home have been displaced and will be assisted by the American Red Cross. Upon investigation, the fire was determined to be accidental and electrical in nature. Damages to the home and contents are estimated at $65,000.
MGN
(from Roanoke County PD) Friday, April 8, 2022 — Following the completion of the investigation by the Roanoke County Police Department, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office conducted an independent review to determine if the use of force was legally justified or not. Roanoke County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Holohan has completed his review of the November 26, 2021 officer-involved shooting and notified the Chief of Police of his findings.
“I have thoroughly reviewed the facts and evidence of this case,” said Holohan. “I find that the police officer’s fear of death or serious injury at the hands of Mr. Smith was reasonable under the circumstances and, therefore, pursuant to the criminal laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia governing the use of deadly force, the police officer’s use of deadly force was justified.” “We appreciate the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s independent review of the investigation,” said Chief Howard Hall. “A separate administrative investigation into the use of force was conducted by the Police Department’s Professional Standards Unit and found that the officer had complied with policy,” added Hall.
INITIAL NEWS RELEASE Saturday, November 27, 2021 — At approximately 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 26, officers responded
in the 4900 block of Lantern Street (North Lakes area) in reference to a domestic dispute with weapon. While on-scene, officers set up a perimeter and made multiple attempts to communicate with a male subject inside the residence. He was non-compliant. At one point, the male unexpectedly exited the residence, engaged with an officer and two shots were fired. The male was fatally wounded. He is identified as Shawn Alan Smith, 52, of Roanoke County. The officer was not injured. Per department policy, the officer was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.