Crime and Public Safety
(from Roanoke County PD) Just before 1:00 today an employee at Pinnacle Bank, in the 4000 block of Challenger Avenue (Bonsack area) called to report a robbery. Within 20 minutes, Roanoke County Police had the suspect in custody. An officer located the suspect vehicle on Orange Avenue and attempted to make a traffic stop. The suspect continued onto I-581 South where a pursuit ensued. 
(from RoCo Fire and Rescue) Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at 8:38 a.m. on Friday, April 1, to the 8500 block of Bent Mountain Road, in the Back Creek area, for the report of a residential structure fire. Upon arrival Units from Station 11 (Back Creek) found a one story home with heavy fire and smoke showing from the garage and the rear of the structure. The home was occupied by two adults at the time of the fire. The occupants were able to evacuate. Both were treated on scene but did not require transport to the hospital. The fire was knocked down in about 20 minutes. The occupants of the home will be displaced.
The fire caused significant damage to the home. A rural water supply operation using tanker trucks and drop tanks was in use for this fire due to the lack of hydrants in that area of the county. The water supply operation is what necessitated the partial closure of Bent Mountain Road. We appreciate the assistance of The Roanoke County Police Department for providing traffic control. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene to investigate a cause and provide a damage estimate.
Photos: Roanoke County Fire & Rescue
Photo: Va Peninsula Regional Jail
NEWS RELEASE: On March 31, 2022, the Virginia State Police responded to a traffic crash involving several pedestrians on Williamsburg Pottery Road, near the Lightfoot Road intersection, in York County.
Officer Trey Sutton
HENRICO, Va. (AP) – A Virginia police officer who had recently completed his training was killed and another officer was critically injured in a three-vehicle crash. A third person was also critically hurt and a fourth person was treated and released from a hospital following the crash late Wednesday along U.S. 301. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that 24-year-old Trey Marshall Sutton was killed. Sutton was hired by the Henrico County Police Division last June and graduated from the basic police academy in February. He was assigned to the Patrol Bureau and was in field training with his partner.
UPDATE: Roanoke Police have arrested Christopher A. Withers, 33 of Roanoke, and charged him with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Throughout the course of the investigation, Mr. Withers was identified as a suspect. He was located earlier today at a residence in Roanoke and taken into custody without incident. There are no further details to share at this time and this remains an ongoing investigation.
(previously) On March 29, 2022 at approximately 10:30 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by City of Roanoke E-911 Center personnel of a person with a gunshot wound in the 600 block of Orange Avenue NE. Responding officers located an adult
male victim with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries at a business in the area. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment.
(from Roanoke Fire-EMS) No one was injured during a fire at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Valley View Blvd in Northwest Roanoke. When crews arrived on scene yesterday they found heavy smoke coming from the back of the building. The fire was quickly extinguished. Upon investigation, the cause was determined to be smoking materials which were improperly discarded into a mulch bed next to the building. In addition to fire damage, there was also smoke and water damage throughout the structure, and the total cost of damages is estimated at $250,000.
(from Roanoke Fire-EMS) On Wednesday, March 30, at 12:52 p.m., Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to reports of a collision involving a passenger vehicle and a train. Upon investigation, crews found that the driver of the vehicle had become unresponsive at some point while driving. When the subject regained consciousness, they found that their vehicle was on the train tracks, and they had been struck by a train. The driver of the vehicle was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries
MGN
FROM ROANOKE POLICE: Resource Officers were notified by Lucy Addison Middle School Personnel of a situation in one of the school’s restrooms. The responding S.R.O.s located a firearm and property damages related to a shooting. School administration placed Lucy Addison Middle School in a lockdown and the S.R.O.s secured the restroom area. No injuries regarding this incident were reported to police or school administration.
Working with school personnel, Roanoke Police identified the juvenile male student who was involved and detained them for questioning. The child was transported to juvenile intake where petitions for possession of a firearm on school grounds and discharging a firearm on school grounds were obtained. The teenager was transported to Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center.
This is still an ongoing investigation and no further details can be released at this time. We do not believe there is a continued threat to Lucy Addison Middle School or any other Roanoke City School at this time regarding this incident.
FROM ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS: This afternoon, a gun was fired in the bathroom at Lucy Addison Middle School. No one was injured. Police and school administration were on scene. The school was in lockdown during this time. Around 3:15 p.m., the lockdown was lifted, and parents and guardians were able to pick up their students by bringing an ID and coming to one of two entrances. Roanoke City Public Schools also transported remaining students home by bus beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Thank you to our students, staff, and parents/guardians for their understanding. School counselors are available to support anyone who may need assistance, and additional counselors will also be available at the school for students and staff. For immediate assistance, Carilion Connect is available by calling (540) 981.8181.
Lucy Addison staff will be at the school tomorrow bright and early to welcome students back. We want our students and staff to know we are here for them and that their safety is always our top priority. There will also be additional police presence at the school.
Roanoke City Public Schools has a zero-tolerance policy about weapons in school, including anything resembling a weapon. We ask parents and guardians to speak with their children to make sure they understand this policy and that if students see something, to always say something.
PREVIOUS: This afternoon, a gun was fired in the bathroom at Lucy Addison Middle School. No one was injured. Police and school administration are on the scene and are investigating. We are asking parents to please stay where you are and do not come to the school. The school is currently on lockdown while police and administration continue to investigate. We will communicate more information as soon as we know it. Again, no one has been injured.
BEDFORD CO, Va. – Virginia State Police is investigating a single vehicle crash, which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Sunday, (Mar 27) at 2:50 a.m. on Big Island Highway, near Charlemont Drive in Bedford County.
A 2003 Volkswagen Jetta was traveling south on Big Island Highway, when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Nicholas Dean Murry, 23, of Bedford, Va. Mr. Murry was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.