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Public Safety

  • Police searching for suspect who held man at gunpoint

    UPDATED 8/7/14: The Grayson County Sheriff's Office reports that Anderson is now in custody. We'll have more details when they are available.

    ORIGINAL STORY:

    INDEPENDENCE — The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday was searching for John David Anderson, 43, of Independence, who is charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, abduction and brandishing a firearm.

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  • Galax man charged with four burglaries

    A Galax man has been arrested and charged in connection with four burglaries that occurred in the city.

    According to a Galax Police Department report, Dustin Michael Farmer, 19, is alleged to have broken in to Campbell’s Optometry on Glendale Road on July 18, 21 and 22. Farmer is also charged with the July 23 burglary of V&M Recycling on Clover Street.

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  • Two charged with stealing electronics

    A Wytheville couple was arrested and charged with the theft of electronic equipment at the Galax Walmart on July 16.

    Thanks to numerous tips received after the Galax Police Department shared security camera photos on its Facebook page, Jessica Lynn Sexton, 21, and Joseph Smith IV, 23, were charged with grand larceny and petit larceny by Galax Senior Police Officer John Reavis.

    A police report said tips identifying the suspects were received within the first 30 minutes of the post.

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  • Grayson investigates break-ins

    ELK CREEK – Grayson County Sheriff Richard Vaughan is seeking information concerning a rash of break-ins that have occurred in the Elk Creek community in recent weeks.

    Vaughan said Monday in a news release that investigators have determined that the unknown suspect or suspects have gained entry into unoccupied homes through unlocked doors and windows. The occupants were gone only for a short period of time when items were removed from their residences.

    There have also been several thefts of unsecured ATV’s reported in the area.

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  • Crash results in DUI charge

    HILLSVILLE — An Alabama woman was charged with a driving under the influence after crashing her car over an embankment in Hillsville on July 20.

    The incident occurred at approximately 7 p.m. last Sunday on U.S. 52, approximately one-tenth of a mile north of Hanging Tree Road, according to a report filed by Virginia State Police Senior Troper K.D. Blackburn, who investigated the accident.

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  • Tougher DUI laws making a difference

    Ten years ago, state lawmakers looked at a high-profile DUI case, listened to law enforcement and said, “Enough is enough.”

    A bipartisan group drafted more than 70 bills seeking to stiffen penalties and enact near-zero-tolerance for repeat offenders.

    Did it work?

    DUI fatalities in Virginia have dropped by 21 percent since 2005, according to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles statistics. Crashes related to drinking and driving have fallen about 30 percent. Convictions for the offense have stayed relatively steady.

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  • Police find drugs, stolen property

    Two Galax men were arrested on a number of charges by members of the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office on June 27.

    Maurice Antwon Harris, 41, of Beech Grove Lane, Galax, was charged with possession of marijuana; and Quantel James McCall, 19, of Beech Grove Lane, was charged with possession of stolen property.

    Members of the sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at 2511 Beech Grove Lane last Friday, where numerous stolen motorcycles, go-carts and ATVs were found, according to a statement from Sheriff Richard Vaughan on Monday.

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  • Rabies case reported in Grayson

    The Mount Rogers Health District reports that a local resident is receiving treatment for rabies following exposure to a rabid fox in Grayson County.

    The report does not identify the person.

    According to the report issued this week, the Grayson County Health Department received lab confirmation of rabies on June 12.

    In addition to the human victim, the report says a dog that fought with the fox has been given a rabies booster and will be under observation. The dog was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination.

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  • Two airlifted from motorcycle wreck

    WOODLAWN - Two people were airlifted from the scene of a motorcycle accident on Thursday afternoon on Rt. 58 in Woodlawn.

    According to a police report from Virginia State Trooper C.M. Delp, a driver and one passenger were traveling on a 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle, when a deer ran out in front of the vehicle at approximately 1:25 p.m. that afternoon.

    The accident occurred approximately 211 feet east of Route 787, only one tenth of a mile west of Hawks Carpet.

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  • Galax police recording citizen interactions

    Is more surveillance better or worse where the police are concerned?

    There is a popular trend of people recording video of officers, but what if it goes both ways?

    It’s a relevant question, as the Galax Police Department has recently acquired cameras that record video and audio of interactions with the public. The devices are worn by officers on duty.

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