Police 911 Center Promotes New Supervisors

WHAT:

Division of Emergency Communications Promotion Ceremony

WHEN:

3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1

WHERE:

Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road

BACKGROUND:

The Richmond Police 911 Center, which averages more than 850,000 calls a year, will promote new communications officer supervisors from within tomorrow.

Rising to the rank of Communications Officer Supervisor are:

• James C. Gwynne


• Felicia E. Roane

Moving up to Assistant Communications Officer Supervisor are:

• Robin P. Peters-Brown


• Chantae E. Layne


• Cynthia M. Stewart

The Department also will posthumously recognize the promotion of Dominic O. Tabb to the rank of assistant communications officer supervisor. Tabb died of his injuries in a motorcycle accident on Oct. 5.

Officer Involved Shooting Suspect Photo

Attached, and to the right, is the photo of Morris D. Dewitt, the suspect in the officer involved shooting from Friday night.

Dewitt, 47, of the 8000 block of Fallbrooke Drive, Chesterfield, has been charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer, attempt to elude and defective equipment.

The incident is still under investigation. The Richmond Police Department is working closely with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office in this case.

The Department is compiling all facts and circumstances of this incident and will be turning over the information to the Commonwealth’s Attorney when the investigation is complete.

The Department will then await a determination from that office regarding the officers’ actions during the shooting incident.

Thursday Traffic Alert

Traffic Alert: 9th Street between Main and Broad Streets will be closed Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Avoid the area, especially during rush hour.

Traffic

Officer Involved Shooting Update

A Chesterfield man has been identified as the suspect in the Officer Involved Shooting incident on Friday. The Richmond Police Department arrested Morris D. Dewitt, 47, of the 8000 block of Fallbrooke Drive and charged him with defective equipment, attempt to elude and attempted capital murder of a police officer.

Dewitt remains at VCU Medical Center with an injury that is not considered life threatening. His photo will be released when available.

At approximately 10:50 p.m. Friday, officers attempted to make a traffic stop near Maury Street. The vehicle did not stop and officers pursued the vehicle for several blocks. The preliminary investigation shows the suspect vehicle struck several Department vehicles before coming to a stop at Maury Street near the I-95 underpass just past the Brander Street Pumping Station.

Officers approached the vehicle and attempted to make an arrest. Due to aggressive actions towards the officers by the suspect an officer fired a service weapon and struck the suspect.

No Department officer was injured during the incident.

The Department’s Force Investigation Team is examining the incident, per Department policy. The facts and circumstances, including actions by the officers and the suspect, will be documented and submitted to the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative Saturday

Expired and unused prescription medications are a public safety issue that can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, abuse and illegal sales. These medications cannot be turned in to your local pharmacy and should not be flushed into the sewer system for environmental reasons.

To assist in the proper disposal of these drugs, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement agencies across the country will host a nationwide drug take-back initiative from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.

The Richmond Police Department will have two collection sites open to the public that day:

• East District Center, 701 N. 25th St.
• Southside Community Service Center, 4100 Hull St.

“This is a public service that possibly will help prevent a tragedy,” said Lt. William Blackwell of the Department’s Special Investigations Division. “Old and unused prescription medication should not be kept around the house, especially if there are children or elderly residents there. They should be properly disposed of and this is the perfect opportunity.”

Residents are welcome to bring unused or expired prescription medications to either location. Police ask that you do not bring syringes or illegal narcotics for disposal to the collection sites.

All prescription medications collected will be incinerated according to federal and state environmental guidelines.

Richmond Police Investigating Murder on German School Road

The Richmond Police Department is investigating a murder that occurred early this morning on German School Road.

Officers responded to a call for a person shot around 2:37 a.m. in the 300 block of German School Road.

When officers arrived, they found Charles Lee Smith Jr., 26, of the 5900 block of Westower Court lying on the ground outside an apartment. Smith had several gunshot wounds and was taken to VCU Medical Center, where he later died.

A suspect has not been identified and a motive has not been determined in this homicide.

Detectives ask that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both methods are anonymous.

Domestic Violence Awareness Forum Saturday

Richmond Police and the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will host a free Domestic Violence Awareness Forum from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Cedar Street Baptist Church, 2301 Cedar St.

The forum is part of the monthlong 4th Annual Domestic Violence “Walk a Mile in my Shoes” Campaign, which supports child victims of domestic violence. Panelists and resources will be available to those in need of assistance or those who wish to help area victims of domestic violence.

For more information on the forum, please contact Sgt. Carol Adams at 646-4069.

Hat Factory Assault Suspects Identified

Richmond Police detectives have identified the four men wanted in connection with an assault investigation.

Around midnight on Friday, Sept. 23, the men were in the Hat Factory at 140 Virginia St. when another man was assaulted. Suspects hit the victim with an object, the victim fell to the floor and the suspects continued to assault him. The victim was taken to VCU Medical Center for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening.

Richmond Police thanks the members of the media and community members for helping to quickly identify the persons involved. No arrests have been made but the investigation is ongoing.

Coalter Street Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

Richmond Police has arrested a suspect in the Sept. 22 murder of Maurquan Brown.

Russell Lamont Johnson, whom the Department listed as wanted yesterday, turned himself in at Richmond Police’s Third Precinct earlier this afternoon. He was taken into custody without incident.

Johnson, 28, is charged with murder in the Sept. 22 fatal shooting of Brown in the 1300 block of Coalter Street. Brown was found shot to death around 6:30 a.m. outside an apartment building.

Richmond Police thanks the media for publicizing Johnson as wanted and the area residents who contributed to Johnson peacefully turning himself in.

Assault Suspects Sought

Richmond Police need the public’s help to identify four men who assaulted a male in September.

Around midnight on Friday, September 23, the suspects, pictured, were in the Hat Factory establishment at 140 Virginia Street when they assaulted the victim. The suspects hit the victim with an object, the victim fell to the floor and the suspects continued to assault him. The suspects left the club and fled on foot down Canal Street.

The victim was transported to VCU Medical Center with injuries to his head.

The primary suspect, in the light colored polo shirt, is described as a white male with a shaved head, about 5’11” feet tall and wearing blue jeans.

All four suspects are pictured in one of the photos. The other photo shows two of the suspects including the primary suspect.

Anyone with information about these individuals or this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both methods are anonymous.

Suspect Sought in Coalter Street Homicide

The Richmond Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted for murder.

Russell Lamont Johnson, 28, is a suspect in the Sept. 22 fatal shooting of Maurquan Brown in the 1300 block of Coalter Street.

Johnson is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 185 pounds. His last known address is in the 600 block of Hancock Street. He also goes by Jerrell Johnson.

Brown was found shot to death around 6:30 a.m. Sept. 22 outside an apartment building on Coalter Street.

Anyone with information about Johnson or this murder is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both methods are anonymous.

Recognize This Bank Robber?

The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s help to identify a man (pictured) who robbed the First Capital Bank on Three Chopt Road this morning.

Just before 10 a.m. today, a man walked into the First Capital Bank at 7100 Three Chopt Road and demanded money from a teller. He did not display a weapon.

The man, who wore a mask partially covering his face, is described as a white male, approximately 5’6 feet tall, about 165 pounds and in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt with a hood, white ball cap, sunglasses, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about this crime or this man is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens may also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both methods are anonymous.