Crime and Public Safety
(update from Roanoke PD) UPDATE: Roanoke Police have arrested James Brooks, 41 of Salem, regarding this incident. He is charged with DUI Manslaughter. No further updates are available at this time.(previous Roanoke PD release) On January 14, 2021 at approximately 9:30 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a hit and run that had occurred near the area of Orange Avenue and Plantation Road NE. Responding officers located one damaged vehicle and its occupants, both of whom denied medical transport. The victims told officers that a vehicle struck theirs, then fled the scene heading West on Orange Avenue NE. While officers were on the scene of that crash, they were notified of another motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Gainsboro Road NW that was possibly connected to the hit and run. Officers who responded to the crash at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Gainsboro Road NW located three vehicles with significant damage. One of the vehicles involved in this crash matched the description of the suspect vehicle from the hit and run. An adult female with serious injuries was located in one of the vehicles.
Roanoke Fire-EMS transported her to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced deceased. Her identity will be shared after proper notifications are made. An adult male occupant of a another vehicle involved in this crash was also transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital by Roanoke Fire-EMS. That man had what appeared to be serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the suspect vehicle was also located on scene of the second crash. The suspect, an adult male, was also transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital by Roanoke Fire-EMS for a medical assessment. There are charges pending for this incident, and warrants for his arrest will be served as soon as he is released from the hospital. At that time, his identity will be released. This incident is being investigated as a traffic fatality. This remains an ongoing investigation.
From Roanoke Fire-EMS Facebook Page
Roanoke Fire-EMS crews were dispatched to a house fire early this morning in the 33 hundred block of Ridgerun Drive NE. When crews arrived, they saw the house with heavy smoke and flames. The two alarm fire had spread to a neighboring house. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Photo: Roanoke Fire-EMS
NEWS RELEASE: At 5:02am, Wednesday, January 13th, Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 1000 block of Stewart Ave SE for a fire. Units arrived to find a vacant residential structure with flames coming from the exterior. There was no extension of the fire to the inside of the structure. The fire was marked under control within 15 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was deemed incendiary.
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.
Killian Briers
Lauren Lloyd
UPDATE :Per the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, the AMBER Alert has been cancelled. The child has been safely located and the abductor is in custody. For more information, contact the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.
PREVIOUS: State Police have issued an AMBER Alert on behalf of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office in the search for a 7-month-old boy. Investigators are looking for Killian Briers, who was allegedly kidnapped on January 10th by Lauren Lloyd, who is described as 5-foot-3, 165 Lbs, with red hair, and blue eyes. Authorities say they may be traveling in a 2008 white Honda Accord with Virginia license plate UJY6994.
From Roanoke County Police:On 01/12/2021 Officers from the Roanoke County Police Department responded to reports of a multiple vehicle crash at the Roanoke County and Montgomery County line. Upon officers arrival it was determined that the crash was caused by ice on the bridge and roads. At this time please avoid the location both east and west bound. VDOT has been contacted in reference to the ice
NEWS RELEASE: On January 8, 2021 at approximately 6:40 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified of a person with a gunshot wound in the 3800 block of Panorama Avenue NW. Responding officers located an adult male with what appeared to be a serious gunshot wound. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details about this incident are limited. No one has been arrested at this time.
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 County) At approximately 6:19 a.m. Roanoke County Police officers were dispatched to a single vehicle accident in the area of Jae Valley Road and Aerospace Road. Upon arrival officers located a tanker truck on its side in a curve. There were no injuries. The tanker was not ruptured. The gas tank was ruptured on the tractor, and Roanoke County Fire & Rescue quickly responded and stopped the leak. No contamination has occurred. A specialized tanker is required for transport and is en-route from North Carolina. Once the liquid is transferred the wrecker service will begin the recovery of the overturned tanker. VDEM is on scene to contain any possible leaks from the tanker. Again, there is no leak at this time and no area contamination.
VDOT has blocked the roadway from Sterling Road and Coopers Cove Road. Motorists should avoid the area as it is unknown when the road will be reopened.
It was bound to be a hot-button issue – maybe more so after the US Capitol protest yesterday where some were armed. Now a public hearing that was scheduled for January 19 to receive citizen input regarding Roanoke City Council’s consideration of an ordinance prohibiting firearms on City property, has been postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date. A new state law now allows localities to adopt such an ordinance
(Bedford County release) On 01/01/2021 at approximately 1:35AM the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Lynchburg Police Department that they were in pursuit of a vehicle heading into Bedford County, in reference to an assault and battery investigation. The vehicle entered Bedford County on Rt. 460 heading westbound. Bedford County Deputies joined in the pursuit with Lynchburg Units pursuing the vehicle toward the Town of Bedford at a high rate of speed. The suspect vehicle then while attempting to pass a County EMS Vehicle, struck the vehicle twice before getting around the EMS vehicle. Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Units were able to successfully deploy spike strips which disabled the suspect vehicle, resulting in the pursuit coming to an end. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
The suspect was identified as Darius Antonio Johnson, age 24 of Lynchburg, VA. Darius Johnson was subsequently arrested and charged with Felony Eluding, Felony Assault and Battery of EMS, and Driving without a license in Bedford County. Additional charges may be pending in the City of Lynchburg.