Crime
Crime
Roanoke crime news from police and court records. Dry. Hundred-block addresses. No extra color.
Crime
Bedford County deputies say Travis Scott Branham and Tiffany Ann Lester were arrested and charged in a burglary reported Oct. 10 in the 2000 block of Trents Ferry Road. The homeowner said a safe with about $100,000 in jewelry and other valuables was taken. Investigators, with help from Amherst County deputies, served a search warrant Oct. 16 at a Madison Heights home. Branham is charged with breaking and entering a dwelling, grand larceny, and obtaining money by false pretenses. Lester is charged with obtaining money by false pretenses and two counts of accessory after the fact. Both are held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail, WSLS reports.
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026 · WSLS
Read at WSLS
Crime
A judge on Friday sentenced Jeremy Christopher Williams to 20 years in prison with 15 suspended, leaving five years to serve, WSET reports. Williams was convicted in June of manslaughter in the 2024 death of his girlfriend, Ashley Marie Gearhart, who was struck by his truck in Salem. He had first been charged with second-degree murder.
Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 · WSET
Read at WSET
Crime
Headline and link only — we do not reprint that outlet.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 · The Roanoke Times
Read at The Roanoke Times
Crime
Franklin County deputies say they found a woman dead from a gunshot wound early Wednesday in the 900 block of Lucy Wade Road in Rocky Mount, WDBJ and WSLS report. The sheriff's office identified the victim as Edna Joanna Patterson, 70, of Rocky Mount. Deputies say her husband, John David Patterson, 82, was charged with second-degree murder and with using a firearm in a felony. He is held without bond, according to the reports. The investigation continues.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 · WDBJ, WSLS
Read at WDBJ · Also at WSLS
Crime
Roanoke police say they answered a call about 2 a.m. Sunday in the 4000 block of Tennessee Avenue NW and found a 20-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds, WDBJ, WSLS, and WSET report. Police say he reported being shot inside an apartment in the 3600 block of Ferncliff Avenue NW. His injuries were not life-threatening. Police say initial evidence indicates he knew the shooter. The investigation continues. No one has been named as a suspect in these reports.
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 · WDBJ, WSLS, WSET
Read at WDBJ · Also at WSLS · Also at WSET
Crime
Roanoke police said Monday they have stepped up their presence at Countryside Park after several reports of lewd behavior there in September, WSLS reports. Police released a photo of a person they believe is tied to the reports. They ask anyone at the park who sees suspicious behavior to call 911 right away. People with information, or who can identify the person, can call Roanoke police at 540-344-8500.
Monday, Oct. 5, 2026 · WSLS
Read at WSLS
Crime
Headline and link only — we do not reprint that outlet.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 · The Roanoke Times
Read at The Roanoke Times
Crime
Roanoke police say Donald Lee Visel, 39, barricaded himself Monday afternoon in the 1900 block of Wayne Street NE after officers answered a domestic-disorder call about 3:23 p.m. Police say he was taken into custody and charged with simple assault against a family member. He is held without bond at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. Noble Avenue at Williamson Road and Wayne Street between Thurston and Noble were closed during the response.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Roanoke County police say they answered a call about 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the 4300 block of Garst Mill Road in the Cave Spring area and found one person with a gunshot wound after a robbery. The victim is stable. Three people are being sought; police say the suspects had left before officers arrived and have not released descriptions or other details. They say they believe there is no danger to the public. Tips: 540-562-3265.
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Roanoke police say a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound arrived at a city hospital by private vehicle about 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17. Officers have not found a crime scene. Anyone with information is asked to call (540) 344-8500.
Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Roanoke’s Commonwealth’s Attorney dropped five misdemeanor charges against City Dogs Boarding and Playcare manager Kevin Ketcham after the Norfolk Avenue SW kennel corrected July heat and care violations, WDBJ reports. Animal wardens had found indoor temperatures in the mid-80s to 90s with more than 70 dogs and limited water access; the business added AC, upgraded electrical, cut the daily dog count, and got licenses. No animals were seriously injured, the office said.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Roanoke Fire-EMS says two adults died in an overnight two-alarm fire reported at 2:44 a.m. Monday in the 1400 block of Greenbrier Avenue SE. Station 6 found a two-story home fully involved at 2:48 a.m.; crews worked defensive operations around downed power lines and partial collapse. Cause and origin are under investigation with the Fire Marshal’s Office, WFXR reports.
Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 · WFXR
Read at WFXR
Crime
Roanoke police say they were called to the 1300 block of Orange Avenue NW on Monday after a person was shot. The victim was taken to Roanoke Memorial and is in stable condition, WSLS reports. On Tuesday police arrested Richard Eary, 30, on a malicious-wounding charge; he is being held at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center, and the investigation continues.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 · WSLS
Read at WSLS
Crime
The Roanoke City Sheriff's Office says scammers are calling relatives of people just arrested, posing as deputies, and demanding money for bond or release through Venmo, Cash App, gift cards, or other electronic pay. The office says at least one person has already lost money. Deputies will not call and demand payment over the phone to get someone out of jail.
Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Roanoke police say a robbery Thursday in the 1700 block of Hershberger Road left the suspect gone when officers arrived. WSLS reports iSTAR used license-plate readers to find a vehicle address; Timothy Ralph Boyd, 58, was arrested there and charged with robbery. He is being held at the Roanoke City Jail.
Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 · WSLS
Read at WSLS
Crime
At Thursday's State of the City, Mayor Joseph Cobb said crime in downtown Roanoke is down 50% this year, WDBJ reports. A police report on the first half of 2026 put the city at nine homicides year-to-date, matching all of 2025: seven in the first three months, one from April through June, and two since July 1.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Roanoke County police say John Scritchfield, 69, died after a crash about 4:18 a.m. Aug. 20 near Colonial Avenue and Thompsons Lane. Officers found him with life-threatening injuries; he was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police say he was walking in the travel lane in the same direction as traffic on an unlit stretch. The Honda CR-V driver stayed and cooperated. The crash is still under investigation.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 · Roanoke County
Read at Roanoke County
Crime
Matthew Scott Pettus, 34, of Shawsville was convicted Thursday in Montgomery County Circuit Court on multiple Schedule II distribution counts after a 2025 undercover operation, the sheriff's office told WDBJ. Under a plea deal he was sentenced to 80 years with 20 to serve, then 15 years of probation.
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 · WDBJ
Read at WDBJ
Crime
Headline and link only — we do not reprint that outlet.
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 · The Roanoke Times
Read at The Roanoke Times
Crime
Roanoke police say officers were called about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 400 block of 4th Street, where an argument ended in a stabbing. WSLS reports the victim was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with injuries police said were not life-threatening. A man is in custody.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026 · WSLS
Read at WSLS
Crime
Salem police said a 59-year-old Roanoke County man was charged with multiple felonies, including malicious wounding, strangulation, and abduction, after an assault they say began in the 1200 block of W. Main Street in Salem early Aug. 19. The city said Roanoke officers later took him into custody at a residence without further incident.
Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026 · City of Salem
Read at City of Salem
Crime
Roanoke police spent hours Tuesday night around the 3300 block of Bandy Road SE after a man went inside a house and would not come out. The Roanoke Rambler reports he surrendered after negotiations. Salem police later tied the case to an earlier assault on W. Main Street.
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026 · The Roanoke Rambler
Read at The Roanoke Rambler
Crime
Roanoke County police responded at 4 a.m. Aug. 9 to a shooting in the 5800 block of Williamson Road. Police said the victim was taken to a hospital in a personal vehicle with gunshot wounds that were not considered life-threatening. The department reported no danger to the public. The case remains under investigation.
Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 · Roanoke County Police
Read at Roanoke County Police