Crime and Public Safety
MGN
(Update 7-28) Roanoke Police have arrested James Edward Lee, 53 of Roanoke, for the
assault of a Roanoke Police K-9 Officer/Roanoke Police K-9 and for his
involvement in numerous property crimes.
NEWS RELEASE: A Roanoke Police K-9 Officer was patrolling the Downtown area on Friday night when he located a subject believed to be involved in numerous property crimes that had recently occurred in the City of Roanoke. The K-9 Officer stepped out to speak with the male subject, and confirmed that the man was the suspect in the crimes. At that time, the suspect attempted to flee from the K-9 Officer. After a brief foot pursuit the Officer deployed his K-9 partner, who chased and engaged with the male suspect. The male
suspect proceed to assault both the K-9 Officer and the K-9 with a cutting instrument and several other weapons. After a brief struggle, the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of the injuries he sustained during his apprehension.
In addition to the numerous charges this individual is facing regarding the property crimes, this man will be charged with assault on law enforcement officers. He will be charged and his identity will be released when he is discharged from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The individual also has outstanding charges from another jurisdiction that will be served upon his
release from the hospital.
The K-9 was taken to the emergency vet for treatment and is expected to fully recover. The K-9 was wearing his protective vest during the incident and did not suffer serious injuries. The K-9 Officer was also treated for minor injuries. Both are commended for their bravery, dedication and service to the Roanoke Police Department and City of Roanoke.
More details regarding this incident will be released as they become available.
Photo: BCSO
NEWS RELEASE: The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office has been attempting to identify a person suspected in passing counterfeit currency on the southside of Bedford County. Investigators have identified the suspect as Melissa Ann Parks, age 33 of Roanoke, Virginia. The Sheriff’s Office holds an arrest warrant for forging coin or bank notes. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Parks, please notify our dispatch at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or enter your tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3TIPS app on your mobile device. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00.
MGN
UPDATE 7/26 5pm: Roanoke Police have determined that the teenage victim located on Cherry Avenue NW was injured in a shooting that occurred at approximately 1:45 a.m. in the 100 block of Campbell Avenue SE. No other injuries have been reported to police at this time regarding this incident. No arrests have been made and there are no further updates available.
NEWS RELEASE: On July 24, 2021 at approximately 2:00 a.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 200 block of Cherry Avenue NW. Responding officers located a juvenile male outside of a residence with what appeared to be a serious injury from a gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the teenager to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting did not occur at the Cherry Avenue NW address. Details about what led up to the shooting are limited at this time. No arrests have been made regarding this incident. 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 thetext with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
A month out from Virginia’s first gun buyback event in Roanoke, everyone from local non-profit leaders and lawmakers to concerned citizens is trying to get the word out. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Catherine Koebel Stromberg wrote the grant securing money for the gun buyback event. She says the goal is having guns more scarcely available second-hand:
Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal crash in Franklin County. The crash occurred July 20, 2021 at 10:30 p.m. on Truevine Road, less than a mile north of Snow Creek Road.
A 2008 Nissan Quest was traveling along Truevine Road when it ran off the right side and struck an embankment. The vehicle then crossed back over the roadway, ran off the left side and overturned.
The driver, Marcus N. Pritchett, 33, of Glade Hill, Va., died at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 17-and-a-half years in prison for seeking sexually-explicit photos and videos from teenage boys in southwest Virginia. Federal prosecutors say 41-year-old Jason Inman of Mount Airy used Snapchat to promise and personally deliver gifts like marijuana, money, and cell phones. Officials say there is no evidence of any physical contact between them.
NEWS RELEASE: ABINGDON, Va. – A North Carolina man, who used the popular social media messaging app Snapchat to solicit minors to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos in exchange for expensive gifts, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison.
According to court documents, Jason Kelly Inman, 41, of Mount Airy, N.C., used Snapchat to solicit minor victims living in Grayson County, Virginia, to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves. Inman targeted at least four minor, male victims, all who resided in Galax, Virginia, and ranged in age from 14 to 16 years old.
“This case demonstrates the lengths sexual predators will go seek out, win the trust of, and then victimize children. It also is a reminder of the dangers that exist for children online,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bubar. “I commend the hard work and partnership of the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police and the FBI, which brought Inman to justice to face his heinous crimes and will ensure he can no longer victimize children.”
“Through our community outreach programs the FBI is committed to bringing attention to the dangers associated with online sexual predators and providing educational tools and resources for parents and educators to help keep our children safe,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador said today. “FBI Richmond is appreciative of the dedicated efforts of our partners which led to the capture and successful prosecution of this predator.”
Inman admitted that between June 2020 and December 2020, his general pattern of behavior was to exchange messages with his victims using Snapchat and provide the victims with gifts, including alcohol, marijuana, vape cartridges, money, and cell phones. Inman would then turn the conversation toward sexual issues, eventually requesting and receiving sexually explicit photographs and videos from his victims via Snapchat, in exchange for the victims continuing to receive gifts. Inman also traveled to Grayson County to deliver gifts to his victims. There is no evidence of actual physical contact between Inman and the victims.
On July 20, 2021 at approximately 8:00 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 3500 block of Dona Drive NW. Responding officers located an adult male outside of a residence with what appeared to be non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details about what lead up to the shooting are limited at this time. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. 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.
MGN
NEWS RELEASE: At 12:52am, Monday morning, July 19th, Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 100 block of Church Ave SW for a fire alarm. Units arrived to find a multi-story parking garage with attached businesses and no visible fire. After further investigation, units found a small trash can fire that was promptly extinguished with a water can. The fire was contained to the place of origin. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was deemed incendiary.
The City of Roanoke’s Fire Marshal’s Office and Roanoke Police Department have identified the suspect as James Lewis Martin Jr., 25, of Roanoke. James was later arrested and charged with Arson of an Occupied Public Building.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call either the Fire Marshal’s Office Tip Line at (540) 853-2406 or the Roanoke Police Department at (540) 344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text RPD at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
NEWS RELEASE: The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing Senior Citizen . On July 20th, 2021, at approximately 11:15 AM the Bedford County Emergency Communications Center received a call from Adult Services about a Senior Citizen that was missing. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for Lynn McGhee 76-year-old W/M 5/9 140lbs. Mr. McGhee has long hair, gray beard, and mustache. He was last seen yesterday 07-19-2021 at 4:30pm outside of his residence in the 1200 block of lost trail Rd. Montvale Va. wearing a tee shirt and blue jeans. Currently, we are working with multiple agencies to locate this gentleman. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is requesting that anyone with any information on Lynn McGhee’s location, please contact us immediately at 540-586-7827 or by dialing 911.
