Arrest Made in Deforrest Street Homicide

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with Tuesday’s homicide in the East End.

The U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Dominique J. Hicks, 24, of the 3200 block of Lamb Avenue, on Saturday in connection with the crime.

He has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the death of Robert L. Poag, 29, of the 1300 block of St. James Street, who was shot to death at approximately 10:16 p.m. on Sept. 24 in the 2100 block of Deforrest Street.

Detectives still ask anyone with any information about this crime 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. 

VCU Broad Street Mile Street Closures

The Richmond Police Department would like the public to be aware of the following street closures that begin Friday afternoon for the VCU Broad Street Mile event on Saturday.

Starting at noon on Friday, Sept. 27, Hancock Street will be closed half way between the alley and Broad Street.

Starting at 5 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, Broad Street will be closed between Belvidere and Meadow Street. All of the side streets along this corridor will be closed from the alleys to Broad Street and remain open for people to access alleys and parking decks. Belvidere and Meadow Street will also be open for North and South Bound traffic.

The inaugural event will celebrate VCU’s 175^th Anniversary and take place on Broad Street between Belvidere Street and Hermitage Road on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The VCU Broad Street Mile combines a series of 1-mile fun runs. Broad Street will be transformed into two areas, a mile side and festival side.  The mile side will feature fun-themed mile races throughout the event, while the festival side will feature exhibits from VCU academic programs, VCU student organizations, corporate sponsors and community organizations.

For more information on the event, visit www.vcubroadstreetmile.com.

Deforrest Street Homicide

Richmond Police detectives have identified the man found shot to death last night as Robert L. Poag, 29, of the 1300 block of St. James Street.

At approximately 10:16 p.m. Tuesday, officers received calls for a person down and a person shot in the 2100 block of Deforrest Street. They arrived on scene within minute and found the victim deceased at the scene.

Detectives do not believe this crime is random and are following up on several strong leads.

They ask anyone with any information about this crime 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. 

Friends of Richmond K9 to Host Fundraiser on Sunday

The Richmond Police Department invites the public to attend the Friends of Richmond K9’s “Cookout for K-9s” fundraiser this Sunday afternoon to support the K-9 Unit.

The free event will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Turning Basin in Shockoe Bottom just off 14^th Street, and will include a variety of fun for the whole family events such police K-9 demos, dunk a police officer dunk tank, raffles, food, face painting and discounted ferry boat rides.

“We’re very proud and grateful for our Friends of Richmond K9 for all of their support,” K-9 Sgt. Michael Bohannon said.

Friends of Richmond K-9 President Jodi Strange said the organization is always glad to help such a valuable police asset and a great group of dedicated and hardworking officers and K-9s.

Venture Richmond has kindly donated the property for the event while the Taphouse restaurant will be selling cookout style food and donating 20 percent of their sales to the Friends of Richmond K9.

For more information, please visit http://rvak9.com/

Arrests Made in Recent Robberies

Richmond and VCU Police detectives have identified and arrested five individuals in connection with four downtown robberies in the past week.

After two men were held against their will and robbed at gunpoint at approximately 5:30 a.m. yesterday in the 500 block of West Franklin Street, VCU Police officers received information about a possible suspect.

Last night, VCU Police Officer Chelsey Cocke identified and detained the suspect while further investigation by Richmond Police Fourth Precinct Detectives Patrick Mansfield and John Walker, they charged the man with one count each of robbery and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Additional charges are pending and his name and mugshot will be released later tonight.

Arrests have also been made in reference to the armed robbery of two men on Sept. 17 in the 500 block of North Lombardy Street, the robbery of a man in the 1600 block of Grove Avenue that same evening and another man in the 1300 block of West Cary Street early the next morning.

Third Precinct Detective Jack Larry and Fourth Precinct Detective Mark Godwin are continuing their investigations into these crimes and more information will be released when it’s available.

Officers would like to thank the community for sharing information that has helped identify and arrest these individuals.

Anyone with any information about any these crimes 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. 

Public Invited to RPD Worship Safety & Awareness Forum

The Richmond Police Department invites the public to attend the Places of Worship Safety and Awareness Forum 2013 this Friday.

For churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, safety and security are a growing concern, and the Department wants to raise awareness of basic preventative measures and the steps they can take to keep themselves from becoming victims of crime.

The forum will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College LTC Building, 1651 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA, 23228.

This forum will include a variety of topics such as:

*Pastoral Protection,

*Active shooter,

*Emergency action/ Evacuation plans,

*Offering procedures,

*Crowd control & staffing during special events,

*Security Teams, Ushers, and Greeters,

*Church outreach ministry safety,

*Campus and parking lot security,

*Disruptive person(s), and,

*Liability issues.

Citizens can register online at http://placesofworshipsafetyforum2013.eventbrite.com/ or by contacting Officer Kimberly Cheatham-McClarin at (804) 646-6754 or email: Kimberly.Cheatham-McClarin@richmondgov.com.

This is the fourth such forum the Department has hosted since March 2012.

Persons of Interest Sought in Robbery/Abduction/Sexual Assault

Richmond Police detectives need the public’s help to identify two persons of interest in the attached surveillance photos in connection with the abduction, robbery and sexual assault of a woman.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 14, a woman was abducted at gunpoint in the 2500 block of East Cary Street by an unknown male and female. The offenders then forced the woman to drive them around and withdraw money from several locations before the male assaulted the victim.

The male suspect is described as a black male with a dark complexion in his mid-30s to mid-40s, approximately 5’9” to 5’10” and weighing between 170 and 180 pounds. He was bald with a full beard and mustache, yellow eyes, unkempt teeth and spoke broken English.

The female suspect is described as a white female, petite, approximately 5’2” and weighing between 120 and 125 pounds. She’s in her late 30s to mid-40s with shoulder-length, strawberry blond hair and possibly goes by the name Renee.

These individuals are known to frequent the Fas Mart at 5200 Hull Street Road and may also frequent the Meadow Creek Apartments at 5300 Hull Street Road.

Anyone with any information about these individuals or this crime is asked to call Detective Anthony L. Jackson at (804) 646-6619 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

Broad Rock Boulevard Homicide Arrest

Sept. 13, 2013

Broad Rock Boulevard Homicide Arrest

Richmond Police detectives have charged a man in connection to a homicide that occurred Monday.

At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, officers received calls for random gunfire and a person shot in the 2800 block of Broad Rock Boulevard. Officers arrived on scene within minutes and found Danyale K. Herring, 24, inside a residence in the 2800 block of Broad Rock Boulevard, suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds.

He was taken to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries early Monday morning.

David Dupree, 40, of the 2200 block of North 28^th Street, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Herring.

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

Suspect Sought in Robbery and Attempted Robbery

The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s help to identify a man who robbed a Rite-Aid on Friday and may be connected to an attempted robbery in July.

At approximately 4:19 p.m. on Sept. 6, a man passed a note to an employee at the Rite-Aid, 6335 Jahnke Road, and demanded money and controlled substances as he displayed a firearm. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money and controlled substances.

Based on surveillance images, both which are attached, detectives believe he may be the same man who tried to rob the CVS Pharmacy at 6807 Forest Hill Ave. at approximately 10 a.m. on July 10. In this incident, the suspect gave employees a note demanding money, but the employees did not give him anything and he left the store.

The suspect in both crimes is described as a black male in his mid- to late 20’s to early 30’s, approximately 5’7” to 5’9” and weighing approximately 165 pounds. He was last seen wearing a green Oakland A’s baseball cap, an orange shirt and dark shorts in the CVS attempted robbery and a white t-shirt and black baseball cap in the Rite-Aid robbery.

Anyone with information about this man or about these crimes is asked to call Detective William Cutshall at (804) 646-1068 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip. Both Crime Stoppers methods are anonymous.

Broad Rock Boulevard Homicide

 A man who was shot on Sunday has died of his injuries and Richmond Police are investigating the death as a homicide.

At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, officers received calls for random gunfire and a person shot in the 2800 block of Broad Rock Boulevard. Officers arrived on scene within minutes and found Danyale K. Herring, 24, inside a residence in the 2800 block of Broad Rock Boulevard, suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds.

He was taken to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries early Monday morning.

Detectives are following up on strong leads and do not believe this crime was random.

They ask anyone with any information about this crime to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 780-1000 or text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the key word “ITip” followed by your tip.

Museum District Walk Through

Chief Ray J. Tarasovic and the Department’s Command Staff will join Third Precinct Sector 311 Lt. Michael Stith for a walk through the Museum District this evening.

Officers will meet at 5 p.m. today at 400 N. Sheppard Street, and spread out through the neighborhood from there.

They will talk with residents about a recent increase in burglaries and how an arrest made this weekend may be connected to those crimes.

Command Staff members and officers will also talk safety tips and ask what residents would like to see more of from Richmond Police.

The media is encouraged to attend.

To learn more about Sector 311’s neighborhoods, please visit our website and check out Lt. Stith’s monthly newsletters:

http://www.richmondgov.com/Police/Precinct3Sector311.aspx