Crime and Public Safety
VSP Arrests 59 Impaired Drivers RICHMOND, Va. – Despite a significant decrease in fatal traffic crashes over the 2021 Labor Day holiday weekend for Virginia, there was still an alarming number of deaths among motorcyclists. Of the eight traffic deaths reported for the holiday weekend to date, four involved motorcycles and one involved a moped. During the 2020 Labor Day weekend, there were a total of 20 traffic fatalities on Virginia’s highways. State police arrested 59 impaired drivers on Virginia highways during the holiday statistical counting period.
“I can only hope that the reduction in traffic deaths during the Labor Day weekend is a sign of continued reductions for the remainder of the year,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We haven’t seen holiday numbers like this since 2017. In order to further reduce and prevent traffic deaths and injuries on Virginia’s highways, we need the public’s help. The decisions are simple: drive smart, safe and sober.”
During the 2021 four-day holiday statistical counting period, the eight fatal traffic crashes occurred in the counties of Bedford, Charlotte, Hanover, Madison, Suffolk, and Wythe, along with the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. State police investigated a total of 778 traffic crashes during the holiday weekend.
The Virginia State Police participated in two annual, traffic-safety enforcement programs over the 2021 Labor Day weekend: Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (CARE) and the Checkpoint Strikeforce, the anti-DUI enforcement and education program sponsored by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP). Operation CARE is a nationwide, state-sponsored traffic safety program that aims to reduce traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries caused by impaired driving, speeding and failing to use occupant restraints. Virginia State Police’s participation in the program began Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., and concluded at midnight Monday, Sept. 6, 2021.
As a result of state police traffic safety enforcement efforts during the 2021 statistical counting period, Virginia troopers:
- Stopped 4,602 speeders
- Stopped 1,591 reckless drivers
- Arrested 59 drivers for DUI/DUID
- Cited 402 seat belt violations
- Assisted 995 disabled/stranded motorists
Area near Mills Lane has now been opened after a chase that reportedly started on I-81
“It is a state police investigation …We are asking motorists to avoid the West Riverside Drive/ Mill Lane area where the investigation is taking place,” says a Salem spokesperson about an incident ongoing as of 3:50 pm. It has also been labeled as “multi-jurisdictional police investigation.” .
On September 7, 2021 at approximately 10:25 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired in the 1500 block of Gordon Avenue SE. Officers responded to the scene but did not locate any evidence of shots fired in that area. A short time after the initial call, officers were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 1600 block of 16th Street SE. There, officers located an adult male outside of a residence with a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details about what led up to the shooting are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made regarding this incident. This is an ongoing investigation.
UPDATE: Roanoke Police have identified the victim of this incident as Poindexter D. Penny, 51 of Roanoke.
(Previously) On September 6, 2021 at approximately 1:00 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of shots fired and a person down in the 1500 block of Downing Street NW. Responding officers located an unresponsive adult male lying in a parking lot in the area with what appeared to be critical injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS pronounced the man deceased on scene. The identity of the victim will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified. Details about what led up to the incident are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made. This remains an ongoing homicide investigation.
BEDFORD CO, Va. – Virginia State Police Trooper M.P. Stafford is investigating a single vehicle crash, which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred on yesterday, (Sept 6) at 4:53 p.m. on Route 122, at the intersection with Hurricane Reef Drive in Bedford County.
A 2020 International MV6 was traveling south on Route 122, when the vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway, lost control and overturned.
The driver of the International was identified as Clark Todd Scully, Jr., 72, of Big Island, Va. Mr. Scully was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
From Montgomery County Sheriff’s office: On 09/04/2021 at 8:13 p.m. we received a request for assistance from the Virginia State Police (VSP) in regards to a pursuit of a stolen vehicle that began on I-81. The information provided to us was that the individuals had been involved in an armed robbery in New Jersey and were considered armed and dangerous. Due to the large number of police vehicles already involved with the pursuit, deputies from our Office followed from a safe distance to provide assistance as needed.
At 8:32 p.m. the subjects abandoned the vehicle they were driving in the area of Benoit Drive (Jefferson Forest area of Montgomery County) and fled on foot. One of the individuals was taken into custody by VSP at that time. At the request of VSP a perimeter was set up to contain the other individuals to the area. They also requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office UAV (drone) Team. The perimeter was set up and maintained by members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, VSP, Blacksburg PD, and Virginia Tech PD. An area search was conducted throughout the night.
At approximately 1:15 a.m on 09/05/2021 VSP closed the command center/perimeter and left the scene. Deputies from our Office maintained a presence in the area throughout the remainder of the morning. At 5:24 a.m. deputies from our Office with the assistance of Blacksburg PD located a second individual who was taken into custody. The search continued until 8:18 a.m. this morning when the remaining two individuals were located and taken into custody by deputies from our Office. We are thankful that all individuals have safely been taken into custody without harm to them or members of the community.
Arrest info:
Tristan W. Difilippo, 18 years old, of New Jersey held on fugitive warrant/no bond
Dajuan K. Pittman, 20 years old, of New Jersey held on fugitive warrant/no bond
Male Juvenile, 16 years old, of New Jersey held on fugitive warrant/no bond
Female Juvenile, 17 years old, of New Jersey held on fugitive warrant/no bond
(from Roanoke PD 9-7) UPDATE: Roanoke Police have identified the victim of this incident as
Hakeem K. Logan, 29 of Roanoke.
(previously) On September 4, 2021 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 300 block of Harrison Avenue NW. Responding officers located an unresponsive adult male in the area with what appeared to be critical injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS pronounced the victim deceased on scene. The identity of the victim will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified.No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This remains an ongoing homicide investigation.
The United States Marshals Service in cooperation with the Virginia State Police recently completed Operation Rundown which resulted in the arrest of 24 registered sex offenders within the Western District of Virginia. Operation Rundown was a 6-week operation conducted from mid-July to the end of August. The targets of Operation Rundown were individuals that had arrest warrants issued for sex offender registry violations as well as other violent offenses within the Commonwealth of Virginia.
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today declared a state of emergency to respond to impacts from Tropical Depression Ida, which is expected to cause heavy rains and flooding along the I-81 and I-66 corridors. Localities in the southwest region have already experienced heavy rainfall in recent days, leading to flash floods and complicating storm preparation efforts. In addition to the flood threat, there is also a risk of tornadoes across the Commonwealth late Tuesday night through Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors say a Buchanan woman was sentenced to two years in prison today for using other people’s credit cards to buy more than $5,000 dollars worth of merchandise at the Valley View Best Buy. 61-year-old Patricia Mosely admitted in February she used credit card accounts of three other people without their knowledge or consent.
NEWS RELEASE: ROANOKE, Va.– A Buchanan, Virginia woman was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in February to multiple credit card fraud charges.
According to court documents, in three separate instances, Patricia Moseley, 61, using credit card accounts opened by three individuals, CS, RC, and PJ, obtained merchandise from Best Buy on Valley View Boulevard in Roanoke, Virginia.
Moseley pleaded guilty in February 2021 to three counts of access device fraud.
Specifically, on June 30, 2016, Moseley obtained $1,368 in merchandise from Best Buy on Valley View Boulevard in Roanoke, Virginia using the credit card account of PJ without their knowledge or consent.
On July 6, 2016, Moseley obtained $2,737 in merchandise using the credit card account of CS, without their permission or knowledge.
Moseley admitted to using the credit card accounts of CS, RC, and PJ to obtain a total of $5,475 in merchandise without the permission or knowledge of the card holders.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar of the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Secret Service, and the Virginia State Police.
Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.