Thursday, June 11WATCHFUL EYE

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Botetourt is not a sanctuary county for illegal immigrants, says Sheriff’s Office
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Botetourt is not a sanctuary county for illegal immigrants, says Sheriff’s Office

Botetourt is not a “sanctuary county” for illegal immigrants, the Sheriff’s Office announced in a statement yesterday. That message was issued to counter a post that Botetourt Sheriff’s Office said is circulating on social media. The Sheriff’s Office shared a copy of the post, which shows a map of sanctuary cities, counties, states, and correctional from the Center for Immigration’s website. And the post says “the Sheriff isn’t handing over illegals that ICE has a detainer on.” “We want to clarify that this claim is inaccurate. The Botetourt County Sheriff's Office is committed to enforcing all laws and working closely with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure the safety and security of our community. This includes cooperation with ICE where applicable,” BCSO said. ...
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Man allegedly led 2 police pursuits in VA, taken down by P.I.T. in NC
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Man allegedly led 2 police pursuits in VA, taken down by P.I.T. in NC

A 21-year-old Ridgeway man is in Rockingham County jail in North Carolina awaiting extradition after allegedly leading two police pursuits in Virginia. According to Henry County Sheriff’s Office, at around 12:48 a.m. a caller reported that a black Ford Mustang was doing burnouts and speeding near the 15000 block of A.L. Philpott Hwy. That caller reportedly followed the Mustang until it entered Martinsville where Martinsville Police got involved and attempted to stop the Mustang. HCSO said the Mustang driver ignored the Martinsville police, increased speed, and initiated a police chase down Memorial Blvd. During the pursuit, Martinsville police lost sight of the Mustang near Koehler Rd. and Appalachian Drive. Police determined that the Mustang was registered to Ashton Wright who li...
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Richlands gets $2 million grant for energy project that’ll save residents an avg. of $1,500
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Richlands gets $2 million grant for energy project that’ll save residents an avg. of $1,500

Richlands was awarded $2 million for an energy project that’s supposed to substantially lower residents’ energy bills. Richlands is a town that owns and operates an electric utility, which serves roughly 2,500 people. Currently, Richlands claims to be purchasing energy from American Municipal Power at wholesale rates and providing it to customers “at very competitive rates.” In recent years, residents beg to differ on the claim of competitive rates. In 2022, News Channel 11 did a segment titled “Richland residents furious over expensive utility rates” after rates jumped 20% in two years. “We’re running businesses out, running residents out. We have people who are getting their electricity and water turned off because they can’t afford to pay such high rates. And everybody mirrored...
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Henry County man wanted by 4 agencies allegedly tries trap door getaway
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Henry County man wanted by 4 agencies allegedly tries trap door getaway

On Tuesday, Henry County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 44-year-old man wanted by four law enforcement agencies for a list of charges, including hit and run, drugs, and larceny. HCSO said officers executed a search warrant on a residence at 1106 Joppa Rd. in Ridgeway after obtaining “credible information” that William Jackson Kennedy was hiding at the location. Henry County Sheriff's Office reported finding Kennedy under a mobile home at 1106 Joppa Rd. Kennedy reportedly attempted to evade police during their search using a trap door. According to HCSO, the trap door allowed him to get under the mobile home, but police discovered it and found him beneath the mobile home. Once he was discovered, HCSO said Kennedy was taken into custody without incident. The charges he faces from...
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Fredericksburg: 24-hour lane closures in Southpoint Pkwy area through Sept.
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Fredericksburg: 24-hour lane closures in Southpoint Pkwy area through Sept.

Lanes closures have been imposed at the intersection of Rt. 1 in Fredericksburg, and they will remain in effect 24 hours a day through mid-September. VDOT is advising drivers to use alternate routes if possible. Those who can’t avoid the Southpoint Parkway area are advised to prepare for delays on Southpoint Parkway and northbound Route 1, especially during peak travel periods. The temporary changes include: One of two left turn lanes on Route 1 northbound to Southpoint Parkway is closed Westbound Southpoint Parkway has been reduced to a single lane from Route 1 to the bridge over Massaponax Creek (Photo: VDOT) Route 1 southbound traffic turning right onto westbound Southpoint Parkway is required to yield to oncoming traffic on westbound Southpoint Parkway East of R...
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Stafford police looking for man suspected in stabbing case
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Stafford police looking for man suspected in stabbing case

Stafford County police are looking for the suspect in an August 20 stabbing in Crystal Lake Mobile Home Park. That morning, shortly after 5 a.m., a call came in reporting the incident. By the time police arrived, the suspect, identified as Jamie Flores, had fled the scene, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office reported. Authorities didn’t give an estimated time that the stabbing occurred, but said Flores had a lengthy head start on his escape. The victim, who hasn’t been identified, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A spokesperson for SCSO confirmed that the victim and suspect knew each other and this was not a random act of violence. When Flores was last seen, he was reportedly wearing work boots, blue jeans, and a light blue button up shirt. His h...
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Accomack hit with 2nd fatal pedestrian crash in a week
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Accomack hit with 2nd fatal pedestrian crash in a week

Virginia State Police is investigating the second fatal pedestrian crash in less than a week. Last night, just before 10 p.m., VSP said troopers were called out to investigate a crash on Rt. 13, south of the Rt. 175 intersection in the Oak Hall Area of Accomack. From preliminary investigations, VSP said it appears a 2004 Toyota Prius was traveling northbound on Route 13 through a controlled intersection and hit 53 year-old Thomas Leandreas Wharton, of Mappsville, who was walking in the left travel lane. Wharton died upon impact, VSP reported. The driver, 36-year-old Judea Amenda Van Smith of Cambridge, MD suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and VSP said she was transported Salisbury Regional Hospital. There is no indication that speed was a contributing factor, said VSP....
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VA Beach officer shoots & kills 61-year-old man
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VA Beach officer shoots & kills 61-year-old man

Virginia Beach Police Department announced that one of its officers was involved in a fatal incident this week. On Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Quarter Way at 10:23 for a drug overdose call, VBPD stated. The first officer at the scene reportedly heard commotion inside the residence and went in. VBPD said that officer found a man later identified as Robert Miller and a female upstairs in a bedroom struggling over a knife. The officer reportedly gave several commands for Miller to drop the knife. But, according to VBPD, he “charged at the officer with the knife in hand.” The officer, whose identity hasn’t been released, fired and shot Miller, a Virginia Beach resident, the department stated. According to VBPD, aid was rendered, and Miller was transpo...
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Alexandria welfare check leaves man dead, officer on leave
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Alexandria welfare check leaves man dead, officer on leave

Alexandria Police Department revealed a welfare check turned fatal on Tuesday. According to APD, at around 10:45 p.m., a man called requesting a welfare check for a co-worker at 5101 Maris Ave. He reportedly stated that his co-worker had made statements about harming himself and was armed with at least two guns. APD said the officers that responded included some with specialized intervention and negotiation training. When they arrived, the individual in question, described as a white man in his 60s, came out of his apartment with a gun, APD reported. During a press briefing, APD interim police chief, Raul Pedroso, explained that there is a stairwell landing when you exit the apartment, and that’s where the incident occurred. Officers negotiated with the armed man for over 35 mi...
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VA Beach man allegedly stabs 2, kidnaps children, kills 1 in MD crash
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VA Beach man allegedly stabs 2, kidnaps children, kills 1 in MD crash

State Police in Maryland and Virginia have launched investigations after a Virginia Beach man allegedly stabbed two people, abducted his three children, and then killed the youngest in a fatal crash across state lines. According to Virginia Beach Police Department, a call came in at about 8:48 p.m. reporting a stabbing in the 900 block of Jay Are Court. When police arrived, they found a woman and female child were both suffering from multiple stab wounds. They were transported to the hospital, VBPD stated. The preliminary investigation suggested the incident was “domestic-related,” said VBPD, and detectives secured warrants for Plummer. The charges include two counts of aggravated malicious wounding, three counts of parental abduction, four counts of contributing to delinquency of...
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