Crime and Public Safety
Covington PD Facebook
A Covington police officer’s shooting death Monday death serves as a reminder that when any law enforcement officer heads for work each day, there is no way to know what he or she might face in the hours to follow. WFIR’s Evan Jones spoke with a former police officer and Radford University criminal justice professor:
Photo: HCSO
NEWS RELEASE: On February 18, 2022, at approximately 1:05 am, the Martinsville-Henry County Emergency 911 Center received a call of a subject shot in the abdomen at 964 Southland Drive, Martinsville, Virginia.
Deputies from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and made contact with Ray E. Durflinger Jr, 42, of 964 Southland Drive. Mr. Durflinger had suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was transported to SOVAH Health Martinsville and subsequently
air-lifted to a North Carolina hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. He has remained hospitalized since the shooting occurred.
Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Jacob Raleigh Robertson was at Mr. Durflinger’s residence, where an argument ensued outside near the roadway. Robertson produced a firearm during the argument and shot Mr. Durflinger one time. Robertson fled the scene and was subsequently taken into custody during a traffic stop.
Jacob Raleigh Robertson, 23, of Axton, Virginia, was initially arrested and charged with Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Use of Firearm in Commission of Felony. He was released on bond.
On March 14, 2022, Ray E. Durflinger Jr. succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Baptist Hospital in North Carolina. As a result of Mr. Durflinger’s death, Jacob Raleigh Robertson has been arrested and charged with 1st Degree Murder and Use of Firearm in Commission of Felony. He is currently held in the Henry County Jail with no bond.
This investigation is ongoing, anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2500.00 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid
From Virginia State Police: The investigation remains ongoing at this time into the fatal shootings that occurred Monday (March 14, 2022) in the City of Covington.
The incident began at approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday, when Toney S. Poulston Jr., 42, of Covington, Va., entered a gas station/convenience/hardware store in the 100 block of North Alleghany Ave. A domestic situation ensued between Poulston and a relative who was employed at the store, Randall Lee Paxton, 64, of Covington, Va. The situation escalated to the point of Poulston shooting Paxton.
Upon being alerted to Poulston’s erratic and escalating behavior inside the store, the City of Covington Police and Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to the scene.
When the officers and deputies arrived, they encountered Poulston armed with a pistol coming out of the store. Shots were fired, which resulted in the death of Poulston and City of Covington Police Officer, Caleb Ogilvie, who had responded to the scene.
Once the scene was safely secured, law enforcement made their way inside the store. Inside they discovered Paxton deceased as a result of a gunshot wound. An adult female inside the store was not injured during the shooting. Both the female and Paxton were employees of the business, were married to one another, and related to Poulston.
The remains of all three decedents will be transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy.
No other employees were injured in the shooting; nor were any customers inside or outside the business injured in the shooting.
No additional law enforcement were injured during the course of the shootings.
At the request of City of Covington Police Chief Christopher J. Smith, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office is investigating the line of duty death of his police officer and of Mr. Paxton. At the request of Chief Smith and Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin W. Hall, the VSP BCI Salem Field Office is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
On March 13 at approximately 4:15 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a motor vehicle crash in the 3400 block of Melrose Ave NW. Responding officers located a two vehicle collision. Roanoke Fire-EMS pronounced an adult male passenger deceased on the scene. The deceased has been identified as Anthony Williams, 30, of Floyd. The driver of this vehicle was transported by Roanoke Fire-EMS to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of critical injuries. The driver of the second vehicle stayed on scene and is cooperating with the investigation. This remains an ongoing investigation but speed does appear to be a factor.
MGN
On Sunday, March 13, at 4:26 a.m., Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 700 block of Brownwood Dr. NW for a reported fire. Units arrived to find fire showing from the rear of the home, and smoke showing from the roof. The fire was knocked down by the first-arriving units with no injuries to personnel or the home’s occupants. Salem Fire-EMS provided assistance. Four occupants, two adults and two children, as well as eleven pets, one dog and ten snakes, were displaced by the fire, and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The fire originated in the kitchen, and was determined to be accidental. Total damages to the home and contents are estimated at $40,000. There were no smoke alarms in the home. Roanoke Fire-EMS reminds residents that all homes should have smoke alarms. Three out of five home fire deaths are from fires in properties without working smoke alarms. City of Roanoke residents who need assistance obtaining smoke alarms for their homes may contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 540-853-2795.
From TSA: ROANOKE, Va.– A man from Atlanta, Ga., was cited by police after Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers prevented him from carrying a handgun onto his flight on Saturday, March 12, at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.
The revolver was not loaded, but the man had eight bullets with the gun in his carry-on bag. A TSA officer who was staffing the checkpoint X-ray monitor spotted the weapon and ammunition as they entered the checkpoint X-ray machine. TSA alerted the police who confiscated the handgun and cited the man on weapons charges. He also faces a federal financial civil citation.
This handgun was detected in a man’s carry-on bag at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport TSA security checkpoint on Saturday, March 12. (TSA photo)
Passengers are permitted to travel with firearms only in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared at their airline ticket counter. Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided locked case, and packed separately from ammunition. Then the locked case should be taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared. 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 because TSA 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 because even though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, it does not allow for a firearm to be carried 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.
Last year TSA officers detected 5,972 guns at security checkpoints nationwide and 86 percent of them were loaded.
On March 11, 2022 at approximately 7:06 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 3900 block of Greenlawn Ave NW. Responding officers located two adult males with what appeared to be non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
Roanoke Fire-EMS transported one man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. The other was treated on scene. Details of this incident are limited at this time.
No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made 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.
Photo: LPD
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE: LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Police Department (LPD) has arrested the suspect in a homicide that took place in the 1100-block of 15th Street yesterday afternoon after a barricade lasting nearly six hours.
Shortly after 5 a.m. today, the LPD received a call that Keri Leon Sharpe was located in a house in the 600-block of Jackson Street. Officers responded to the scene and the suspect refused to exit the residence. Members of the LPD Crisis Negotiations Team spoke with the suspect for several hours before he was taken into custody after peacefully exiting the residence.
Sharpe is currently charged with:
- 2nd degree murder
- Use of a firearm in commission of a felony
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
The LPD thanks the Virginia State Police for their assistance today.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Campbell at (434) 455-7267 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Enter a tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3 app on a mobile device.
This is an ongoing investigation. Any additional information will be released as an update to this news release.
PREVIOUS: LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Police Department (LPD) has located the suspect in a homicide that took place in the 1100-block of 15th Street yesterday afternoon.
Officers are currently on the scene of a barricade involving the suspect in the 600-block of Jackson Street. Members of the LPD Crisis Negotiations Team have been attempting to negotiate with the suspect since early this morning. The LPD’s Tactical Unit is on scene as well with assistance from the Virginia State Police.
Residents are asked to avoid the area at this time. The 600-block of Jackson Street is currently closed to all traffic.
PREVIOUS: LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Police Department (LPD) is investigating a homicide that occurred in the 1100-block of 15th Street this afternoon.
On March 6, 2022 at 5:10 p.m., officers responded to the 1100-block of 15th Street for report of man who had been shot. The LPD and Lynchburg Fire Department arrived and began life-saving measures but were unsuccessful and the man died on scene.
Witnesses said the suspect fled to a residence in the 1200-block of 15th Street just after the shooting. At this time, LPD is attempting to locate the suspect who is believed to be a light-skin black male.
The 1100 and 1200-blocks of 15th Street are currently closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic and a large police presence is expected for several hours. Residents are asked to shelter in place and all others are asked to avoid the area.
Anyone who may have captured video of any of this incident on a security or doorbell camera is asked to contact the Lynchburg Police Department at (434) 455-6174 or share the footage on the Neighbors portal.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Campbell at (434) 455-7267 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Enter a tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3 app on a mobile device.
This is an ongoing investigation. Any additional information will be released as an update to this news release.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — The owner of a Virginia auto dealership has been placed on home detention for taking $30,000 in drug-tainted cash for a car, officials said. Abdul Ahad Nahibkhil, 36, accepted the money from Internal Revenue Service agents who led him to believe it was drug proceeds in connection with an undercover investigation of Blue Ridge Auto Sales, The Roanoke Times reported.
U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski said during a sentencing hearing on Friday that the law Nahibkhil broke aims to prevent drug dealers from hiding their money. Nahibkhil, am Afghanistan immigrant, said he was “very, very deeply sorry for what I’ve done.”
Last year, Nahibkhil pleaded guilty to failing to report a 2018 transaction to the IRS after being told that two payments of $15,000 each came from drug trafficking. The undercover exchange was captured on video. Federal law requires the reporting of cash payments of $10,000 or more within 15 days.
On March 3 at approximately 1:15 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired in the 700 block of Hunt Avenue NW. While officers were enroute, the City of Roanoke E-911 Center advised that there was a report of a person with a gunshot wound at the scene. Responding officers located an adult male with a non-life threatening gunshot wound in a nearby residence. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details about what led to the shooting are limited. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This remains an ongoing investigation.