Crime and Public Safety

Roanoke Fire-EMS Facebook photos

Roanoke Fire-EMS was dispatched to the 100 block of 10 1/2 St SE for a fire involving two houses around 11 this morning. Heavy smoke and flames were seen upon arrival. One resident sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital. One dog, and five puppies were rescued from the home by the resident. One puppy died as a result of the fire, which is under investigation.

(from Bedford County Sherriff Office) On Saturday, December 18th, 2020, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office received information that a subject described as a very short (had a hard time seeing over the steering wheel), white male, approximately 20 years old, and a mustache, attempted to steal a Kawasaki ATV from a residence on Crab Orchard Road. The owner was able to catch the subject in the act and the subject fled, leaving the ATV behind. The vehicle appears to be an extended cab Ford F-150 with a small white enclosed trailer (see photo).

Anyone with information that can identify the suspect to submit a tip to Central Virginia Crime Stoppers via phone at 1-888-798-5900, online at http://p3tips.com or the PSTIPS3 app on your mobile device. Those who submit tips via Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could receive cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

Covington Police responded to a motorcycle accident around 8pm last night, an accident involving a single vehicle and a pedestrian at South Alleghany Avenue and East Walnut Street. Covington First Responders provided life-saving measures and the victim was transported to a Roanoke hospital. However, they did not survive. The incident remains open and Covington Police say the investigation is ongoing.

RoCo Fire & Rescue FB photos

(from Roanoke County Fire & Rescue) This morning at 1:40 a.m. Wagon 7, Medic 7 (Clearbrook) and Battalion 1 responded to assist Franklin County in the 1800 block of Webb Mountain Road for a working fire. Roanoke County Fire & Rescue units operated on scene until 4 a.m. Franklin County units were still on scene at the time. No injuries have been reported.

Photo: FCSO

NEWS RELEASE: The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the homicide of Clara R. Taylor, age 82, of Moneta, VA. On 12/17/20 shortly after 8:00 AM, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call to Mallard Cove Rd. in the Moneta community of Franklin County on a report of a homicide. A resident at the Mallard Cove Rd. address placed the call to 9-1-1. Deputies arrived on the scene to find Clara Taylor deceased in her bed from apparent stab wounds. Donald Taylor, 84, was located at the residence and admitted to killing his wife, Clara Taylor. Donald Taylor was arrested and charged with second degree murder. He is currently being held in the Franklin County jail without bond.

Virginia State Police Trooper P. Salamanca is investigating a single-vehicle crash in Pulaski County. The crash was one in a series of crashes that occurred on I-81 at the 94 mile marker Wednesday (Dec. 16) morning. At approximately 7:45 a.m., a Toyota Tacoma was traveling on I-81 when it ran off the right side of I-81, struck an embankment and overturned.  The driver, Brannagan K. Locklear, 19, of Pembroke, N.C., was transported to LewisGale Hospital in Pulaski, where he succumbed to his injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Slick road conditions were a factor in the cause of the crash.

MGN

UPDATE FROM ROANOKE CITY POLICE: Roanoke Police have arrested Christopher Roberts, 34 of Roanoke, and charged him with DUI and DUI Manslaughter regarding this incident. Throughout the course of the investigation, Fatality Investigators determined Mr. Roberts was driving the vehicle at the time of this incident. The deceased victim, Ms. Carpenter, was his passenger. Warrantsfor DUI and DUI Manslaughter were obtained. On December 15, 2020, Roanoke Police Officers, working with the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, located Mr. Roberts at a residence in Dry Fork, VA. He was taken into custody there without incident and all outstanding warrants were served.

PREVIOUS: The deceased victim of this incident has been identified as Kasey Carpenter, 21 of Roanoke. At this time, no one has been arrested regarding this incident. Fatality Investigators are continuing their investigation. If you have any information regarding this incident, please call our tip line at (540)344-8500 and share what you know with investigators.

PREVIOUS: On December 4, 2020 at approximately 5:00 a.m., Roanoke Police responded to a motor vehicle crash involving a motorcycle in the 4800 block of Frontage Road NW. Officers located an adult female and adult male at the crash scene. The adult male victim was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital by Roanoke Fire-EMS for treatment of what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. The female victim was pronounced deceased on scene by Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel. Preliminary investigation indicates this is a single-vehicle crash. Fatality Investigators are working to determine the events leading up to
the crash. This is an ongoing investigation.

Roanoke City Fire-EMS says a call it was dispatched to in the 2400 block of Orange Ave NW around 2-pm today was ruled accidental and started due to improperly discarded smoking materials. Crews were able to extinguish the fire in approximately 15 minutes. One person was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — A Texas man has pleaded guilty in federal court to taking a van of people who lacked permission to enter the U.S. from Texas to three eastern states, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Virginia said.

Daniel P. Bubar, acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, said in a news release that Gary Donel Smith, 30, of McKinney, Texas, pleaded guilty on Thursday. He is scheduled for sentencing on April 5, 2021.

The passengers paid $14,000 for a smuggling service to enter the U.S., and Smith was to be paid for his services after he returned, prosecutors said

On Feb. 9, Smith picked up passengers in Dallas, but was involved in a traffic accident the next day in Wythe County, Virginia. Responding law enforcement officers found one juvenile and five adults who were from Ecuador and El Salvador.