News

Melanie Pritts

Update from the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: The missing juvenile reported to the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office on January 21, 2017 has been located and returned home safe. The Botetourt County Sheriff’s office was able to develop a lead on a possible location of the juvenile on Sunday January 22, 2017. This led Botetourt Deputies to contact Albemarle County Police Department who assisted in identifying a suspect who Botetourt Deputies believe assisted juvenile in disappearing. At approximately 8:00 pm on Sunday the juvenile was located at a home in Albemarle County. A suspect was placed in custody by Albemarle County Police on a Botetourt County warrant for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The suspect is identified as Garret Fitzgerald Coffman of Charlottesville VA. He is currently being held in the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail.

Previously: The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing teen. Melanie Pritts, 15, of Troutville, was last seen Friday night. She’s 5’5” and about 115 lbs. Deputies say she told friends she was heading south. Pritts may have a long-haired black and white cat with her as well. If you know Melanie Pritts’ whereabouts, you’re asked to contact the Sheriff’s office at (540) 473-8631.

Ed Gillespie

With the Presidential election and the run-up to Donald Trump’s swearing in on Friday finally out of the way, thoughts for many turn to the Governor’s race in November to succeed Terry McAuliffe. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – Virginia Tech police say a student from Chesapeake has been charged with sexual battery for an incident that occurred on campus last fall.Police said in a statement that a student reported the offense on Friday. Police identified the suspect as William Gillespie and arrested him at his residence hall.Sexual battery is a misdemeanor. Gillespie was released on $2,500 bond. Online court records don’t list an attorney for him.Virginia Tech police chief Kevin Foust says the case “is a fine example of the seriousness by which Virginia Tech identifies and responds” to reported sex offenses.

Within the last hour the Roanoke County Police has received three calls for service in reference to an attempted fraud. The citizens are getting calls from a male subject identifying themselves as an employee of Appalachian Electric Power (AEP). They are advising the person called that they area past due on their power bill and that if they do not pay by pre-paid cards their services will be cancelled immediately resulting in their power being cut off.   We want to alert the community that AEP and no other utility company would ever demand any payment in this manner. If anyone has any information on this incident they should call the Roanoke County Emergency Communication Center at (540) 562-3265.

The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are riding a hot streak as they head into tonight’s home game against the Knoxville Ice Bears – the Dawgs earned 5 of a possible 6 points with two wins and an overtime loss last week.  The Rail Yard Dawgs have beaten several of the top teams in the Southern Professional Hockey League lately – but head coach San Ftorek’s squad has not yet beaten Knoxville.  Hear more from the coach below: