Crime and Public Safety

Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the construction area at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital around 11:30 this morning where the new tower is going up, for a possible explosion associated with construction activities. It was determined that a line failed during an air test. That resulted in one injury and a patient being transported. Roanoke Fire-EMS says there is no ongoing hazard

The Botetourt County Fire & EMS Department has been named the Outstanding Regional EMS Agency of the year. They made some changes during 2020 including getting their license to offer COVID vaccines, that helped them achieve the award. Other individual awards were given out to Botetourt Fire & EMS, including Excellence in EMS, Outstanding EMS leadership and Innovation Excellence in EMS. All winners are now being considered for statewide Governor’s awards, which will be announced in November. Jason Ferguson is the department chief.

NEWS RELEASE: On 7/8/2021 between the hours of 6:06 AM and 7:10 AM, the male subject depicted in the attached video surveillance photos broke into the Lakewood Baptist Church located at 2469 Sunburst Road, in Evington. The subject stole several items from the church, but moved a number of items to other locations in the church (seemingly in an effort to return and pick them up later).

The subject is a white male with several distinct tattoos, notably on each of his arms.

If anyone has information regarding this crime, please contact Investigator L.T. Guthrie at (434) 332-9580.

Photos: CCSO

Photo: CCSO

At 5:27 p.m. on Sunday (July 11), Virginia State Police responded to a crash on Route 460 near the intersection with Maybrook Rd.

A 2013 Fiat 500 was traveling east on Route 460 in the right lane when it crossed into the left lane, proceeded through the median and collided with a westbound 2019 Dodge Ram 1500.

The driver of the Fiat, Allen L. Meredith, 80, of Newport, Va., died at the scene. He was wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the Dodge, Michael A. Huber, 37, of Toledo, Ohio, was not injured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

Photo: BCSO

NEWS RELEASE: The following subject was arrested on July 8, 2021, in connection with an ongoing Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children investigation: Carl Lee Thompson, 53 years of age, of Bedford, VA, was arrested by investigators assigned to the Southern Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force. Participating task force agencies included the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal’s, and the Town of Vinton Police Department. Thompson is currently being held without bond on the following charges:

(10) counts of 18.2-374.1.1 – Possession, reproduction, distribution, solicitation, and facilitation of child pornography.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with any information about this case is asked to call the Southern Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force at 434-534-9521.

Robert Jeffrey Jr. Roanoke City Jail photo

Roanoke City Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. turned himself in today at the Roanoke City jail after being indicted on felony embezzlement charges. He’s likely to be released on his own recognizance on a promise to appear in court at a later date. Jeffrey has been accused of embezzlement by the Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization civic group, which has also rented him space for his Colors Virginia magazine. Jeffrey also says he will remain in his City Council post.

On Wednesday June 30th, 2021 the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Roanoke Memorial Hospital of a seven-year-old Franklin County child with injuries from a reported fall. The child succumbed from the injuries on Friday July 2nd, 2021 at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. An autopsy was performed at the Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday July 3rd. All results remain pending at this time. Through the course of investigation, John Robert Ebel, the child’s grandfather and caretaker, has been charged with Felony Child Abuse and is currently being held without bond. The investigation is on-going.

Robert Jeffrey, Jr.

A Roanoke grand jury has indicted Roanoke City Councilman Robert Jeffrey, Jr. on two counts of felony embezzlement. Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell says the investigation began with a complaint from the Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization — and the amount involved is “substantially above” the $1,000 felony threshold. The alleged embezzlement covers the period from May of last year through this past April. Here is the full news release from Commonwealth’s Attorney Don Caldwell:

 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Data show deaths in car crashes rose statewide last year, even as Virginians drove less due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Crash fatalities increased by 2% from 827 in 2019 to 847 in 2020, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported, citing data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Because there was less traffic on the roadways that seemed to, for whatever reason, encourage folks to think that they could drive faster, because there was less congestion on the highways,” John Saunders, Virginia Highway Safety Office Director for the Department of Motor Vehicles, told the newspaper. “And when you get increased speeds, even though you may have fewer crashes the crashes you do have are much more severe crashes because of the increase in speed.”

With the July Fourth weekend expected to be busy with travelers, Virginia State Police increased patrolling through Monday at midnight.

The Virginia Department of Transportation was also halting highway lane closures and many highway work zones on major roads and interstates until Tuesday to help alleviate traffic.

(AP) A 36-year-old woman was fatally shot Saturday night as she drove on a road south of Bedford, and authorities have charged a man who was sitting in the passenger’s seat.

Authorities found that Jessica Ryan Moore, of Bedford, had been shot when they were called to the 800 block of Burks Hill Road at about 10 p.m., according to Todd Foreman, chief of the town’s police department.

She was rushed to Bedford Memorial Hospital, where she later died, Foreman said in a news release.

An investigation led authorities to a man who was a passenger in Moore’s vehicle at the time of the shooting.

Daniel Joseph Norwood, 34, of Lynchburg, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm.

Norwood was being held without bond Sunday in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail, according to the facility’s website.