Crime and Public Safety
Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 200 block of Summit Way SW at the Summit View Apartments just off US220 for a structure fire today around 2:30. Units arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from a multi-family residential structure. It was designated as a Second Alarm and units were working to extinguish the flames at last word.
MGN
(Roanoke PD) On August 9, 2021 at approximately 4:40 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a deceased person in the 800 block of 8th Street NW. Responding officers located an adult female in a residence who was pronounced deceased on scene by Roanoke Fire-EMS. Due to the extent of the victim’s injuries, we are investigating this incident as a homicide. The victim of this incident has been identified as Joann Jones, 60 of Roanoke.
Detectives and officers are working to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident. More information will be released as it becomes available. 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.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. (AP) — A Virginia prisoner killed in his cell during an apparent attack by another inmate has been identified as a former Suffolk businessman.
Mark A. Grethen, 63, was the victim of an apparent homicide late Tuesday at Lawrenceville Correctional Center, according to the state Department of Corrections.
Grethen was about two decades into his 26-year sentence for sexually assaulting children when he was attacked, The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reported. His name wasn’t immediately released at the time of his death while officials contacted his family.
Grethen was convicted in 2001 for two counts each of forcible sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a child, the newspaper reported.
The other inmate in the cell attack is serving a 22-year sentence for crimes including robbery, malicious wounding and assault by an inmate or probationer on an employee. The Department of Corrections has not named the apparent assailant.
After his conviction, Grethen was selected briefly by a national Republican group for an award based on his donations. But the award was rescinded when his crimes were made known, according to the newspaper.
Lawrenceville Correctional Center is Virginia’s only privatized prison.
On August 8, 2021 at approximately 12:10 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 600 block of Orange Avenue NE. Responding officers located an adult male victim outside of a business in
the area with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details about what led up to this incident are limited due to the victim’s
lack of cooperation. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made regarding this incident. This is 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.
From Roanoke City Public Schools: The CDC recently updated guidance for schools for the 2021-2022 school year to now recommend universal masking of students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. In accordance with this new guidance, as well as Senate Bill 1303 and the Virginia Department of Health’s recommendations, face coverings will be required for all Roanoke City Public Schools students and staff regardless of vaccination status, where medically and developmentally appropriate. This requirement will be effective beginning Monday, August 9th and through the first nine weeks of school or until further notice.
When exercising, eating, or when outdoors, face coverings will not be required. RCPS will continue to follow health mitigation strategies, including handwashing, use of hand sanitizing stations, and social distancing when possible. We have also invested in air purification and filtration systems, and we will continue to engage in contract tracing. We encourage anyone in our RCPS family who meets the age requirement for vaccinations to please get vaccinated if you can do so safely.
To protect in-person learning, safety-optimized instruction must be prioritized. We will do this by continuing to follow our health mitigation strategies, carefully considering events and how we gather safely, and by remaining flexible and diligent.
We thank our School Board, and we also thank our Roanoke City Public Schools family and the community, for their continued support.
On the heels of yet another non-fatal shooting in Northwest Roanoke today, a video message from Amir Tyson, boxer Mike Tyson’s oldest son. Amir Tyson made that video at the request of Shawn Hunter, founder of the Peacemakers, who tells WFIR today he’s gotten past all his legal issues and plans to reactivate the Peacekeepers in Roanoke again soon. Here’s an excerpt:
Here’s the video from Amir Tyson:
(from Roanoke PD) On August 6 at approximately 12:45 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot would in the 1200 block of Moorman Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult male in that area with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Preliminary investigation indicates the incident happened at the intersection of 12th Street and Moorman Avenue NW. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This remains an ongoing investigation. Details about what led up to this incident are limited due to the victim’s lack of cooperation.
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.
Roanoke Police say a boy under the age of ten has died after going to the hospital yesterday for a serious gunshot wound. Police say it happened during an incident in the 1600-block of Queen Anne Drive Southeast. The name and specific age of the boy have been released. Investigators believe this is an isolated incident and no arrests have been made at this time.
(from VSP) THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE HAS ISSUED A SENIOR ALERT ON BEHALF OF THE HARRISONBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT ON AUGUST 1, 2021 AT 1445 HOURS.
THE HARRISONBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR RODNEY DWIGHT TURNBOO, RACE: WHITE, SEX: MALE, AGE 79 YEARS OLD, HEIGHT 5 FEET 9 INCHES, WEIGHT 247 LBS., WITH HAZEL EYES, AND GRAY HAIR. HE WAS LAST SEEN ON AUGUST 1, 2021, AT 0700 HOURS ON EAST ROCK STREET IN HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA. HE IS POSSIBLY WEARING A BROWN/BLACK PLAID SHIRT WITH TAN SHORTS. HE IS POSSIBLY DRIVING A 2016 DARK GRAY JEEP PATRIOT DISPLAYING VIRGINIA REGISTRATION (UND9050).
THE MISSING SENIOR SUFFERS FROM A COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, AND THE DISAPPEARANCE POSES A CREDIBLE THREAT TO HIS HEALTH AND SAFETY AS DETERMINED BY THE INVESTIGATING AGENCY.
PLEASE CONTACT THE HARRISONBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT [24/7 DISPATCH] WITH ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HIS WHEREABOUTS AT (504) 434-2002, OR YOU MAY FIND COMPLETE INFORMATION AT Twitter.com/VSPalerts.
(update as of 3:30pm) The Lynchburg Police Department has arrested one man in connection with a homicide that occurred on Park Avenue overnight. Alfonzo Spinner, 36, of Lynchburg is charged with second degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. The deceased has been identified as Gary Douglas Braxton, 65, of Lynchburg.
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Lynchburg Police Department is investigating after a homicide that occurred on Park Avenue overnight.
On August 1, 2021, at 3:40 a.m., officers responded to the 1800-block of Park Avenue for a report of shots fired. When they arrived on scene, officers located a man with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Anyone who may have captured video of these incidents on a security or doorbell camera is asked to contact the Lynchburg Police Department at (434) 455-6065 or share the footage on the Neighbors portal. Additionally, anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. Dubie at (434) 455-6102 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.