Public Safety

Galax has experienced marked increases in reported crimes since 2008, including a 17 percent increase in “Part A” crimes — property crimes, crimes of violence, gambling, prostitution, extortion and narcotics, Galax Police Chief Rick Clark told city council during his annual report on March 14.
“Part B” crimes — crimes that are generally considered nuisance crimes or quality of life issues — were down by 13 percent.

On March 9, members of the Grayson County Sheriff's Office charged Anthony Franklin Smallwood, 42, of 3926 Comers Rock Road in Elk Creek, with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to the sheriff's department, 10 grams of meth was seized, along with $571 in cash.
Smallwood was transported to the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin and held on a $5,000 secured bond.
Deputy Eric Testerman, Investigator Todd Perkins and Sheriff Richard Vaughan made the arrest.

A local woman recently was the target of a debt collector scam that included harassing phone calls over the course of three days, threats of litigation and demands for payment of a non-existent debt.
Jackie Haga said her mother became so distraught that she actually wrote the scammer a check, but the bank was able to stop payment.
Now, Haga wants to warn others about the scam, especially if they are on a fixed income or elderly.

A portion of Virginia 765 (Sutphintown Road) in Carroll County is closed to through traffic near the intersection with Virginia (Panther Creek Road) due to a rock slide.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said Thursday that motorists should seek alternate routes.