SWAT Team Call Out – Shooting Suspect Sought

SWAT Team Call Out – Shooting Suspect Sought

Last night, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the Richmond Police Department responded to a call of a robbery and shooting in the 3400 block of Jefferson Davis Highway.

Two adult males were found suffering from gunshot wounds and were transported to VCU Medical Center with injuries that are not considered life threatening.

Detectives and investigators worked through the night developing leads. Those leads led investigators to the Jefferson Davis Motel located in the 3300 block of Jefferson Davis Highway.

Due to the potential for violence the SWAT team was called to the scene.

Precautions were taken and guests were moved from the area as SWAT members searched for the suspect. SWAT members checked the area but the suspect was not located.

Detectives are looking for a black male in his 30’s, five feet five inches tall and weighing 175 pounds. He has thinning hair and a slight goatee.

Anyone with information about this incident or this suspect 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.

Richmond Police Graduates 18 from Hispanic Academy

WHAT:
Hispanic Academy Graduation

WHEN:
7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17

WHERE:
Sacred Heart Center, 1400 Perry St.

BACKGROUND:
The Richmond Police Department graduates the 18 members of its ninth Hispanic Academy tomorrow evening. The graduates took part in a six-week course that met twice weekly.

Topics covered during the course included robbery prevention, personal safety, DUI prevention, gang awareness and immigration laws. Public safety partners from the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and Richmond Fire and Emergency Services assisted in teaching several topics.

A majority of the course topics were taught in Spanish by several of the Department’s bilingual officers. Other classes were taught with the assistance of a translator from the City’s Hispanic Liaison Office.

Richmond Police partnered with the Sacred Heart Center to host the classes in a central location for the Hispanic residents.

For more information on the Richmond Police Hispanic Academy, please contact Officer Julissa Booth at 646-7179.

Young Adults, Faith Leadersas Resources to Build Relationships in the Community

Community policing encompasses all aspects and demographics of the community. Two demographics that Chief Bryan T. Norwood has tapped into as resources are Richmond’s young people and its faith leaders.

When Chief Norwood came to Richmond in November 2008, he brought the idea of having a group of young adults to serve as liaisons between the city high school population and Richmond Police. The Young Adult Police Commissioners was born out of that idea.

Since then there have been two classes of commissioners who have contributed to the community and community policing, from feeding the homeless to hosting a teen forum and talent shows. These teens are selected by their peers to serve as volunteer representatives of their schools, as well as their neighborhoods, for Richmond Police.

The third class of commissioners will be sworn in 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road. This is the largest class since the group’s inception, with 28 new commissioners coming on board.

The Department also plans to combine the resources of the Young Adult Police Commissioners with its other valuable resource – the Richmond Police Faith Leaders Partnership. Together, the two groups serve as important voices for the community. They speak for those who are unwilling or unable to speak for themselves on issues involving law enforcement. They also serve as support groups for the demographics they represent – high school students and parishioners.

“With YAPC and the Faith Leaders, we are building a winning team in the ongoing push for public safety,” Chief Norwood said. “We need more residents like them.”

Business Watch Just Like Neighborhood Watch

WHAT:

Business Watch Forum

WHEN:

6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14

WHERE:

Richmond Police Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road

BACKGROUND:

Business owners have to look out for their property just like the residents of Richmond do with a Neighborhood Watch.

In an effort to assist local businesses in protecting their property and employees, the Richmond Police Department’s Community Care Crime Prevention Team will host a Business Watch Forum on crime prevention strategies and measures they can take.

Crime prevention presentations for businesses will be made by the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, Henrico Police, Richmond Police and area loss prevention specialists.

Richmond and Henrico Police will present strategies for businesses to harden themselves as a target for robbers, burglars and shoplifters. The Attorney General’s Office will cover fraud and counterfeiting.

For more information on the Business Watch Forum, please contact Officer Alice Snell at 646-5061.

Watch for Runners, Street Closings during Saturday Marathon

The Richmond Police Department asks motorists to be mindful of runners, parking restrictions and street closings because of the Richmond SunTrust Marathon this Saturday.

Drivers need to be patient and on the lookout for runners along the routes.

Please be aware of signs restricting parking and detours throughout the city starting at 4 p.m. Friday and continuing through 5 p.m. Saturday.

The following streets will be closed during the designated times:

• Cary Street will be closed between 3rd and 12th Streets from 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. The recommended detour is southbound 2nd Street to Byrd Street. Byrd Street will bear left and intersect Canal Street. Follow Canal east to 14th Street.
• Broad Street (both eastbound and westbound) between 5th and 11th Streets will be closed to traffic from 4am to 9am. Westbound traffic will be detoured north onto 11th Street and west on Leigh Street.
• Broad Street (both eastbound and westbound) between 5th Street and N. Boulevard will be closed from 6 a.m. to 9am. Eastbound traffic will be detoured north on Sheppard Street, east on Marshall Street, north on the Boulevard, east on Leigh Street, south on 10th Street, east on Marshall Street, south on 12th Street back to Broad Street.
• Grace Street from Allen Ave. to 3rd Street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 3rd Street from Broad Street to Cary Street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Mulberry Street between Broad St. and Monument Ave. will be closed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the HCA Virginia 8K.
• Grace Street will be closed between Boulevard and Allen Ave. from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the HCA Virginia 8K.
• Lombardy Street between Brook Rd. and Monument Ave will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• North Boulevard northbound from Broad St. to Hermitage Rd. will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10am for the McDonald’s Half Marathon.
• Hermitage Road northbound from Boulevard to Pope Ave will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the McDonalds Half Marathon.
• Brookland Parkway eastbound from Hermitage Rd. to Lamont St. will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the McDonald’s Half Marathon
• Bellevue Avenue from Hermitage Rd to Bryan Park entrance will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the McDonald’s Half Marathon.
• Monument Avenue westbound between Mulberry and Westmoreland will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Westmoreland between Monument Ave and Grove Ave will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Grove Avenue westbound between Commonwealth and Maple will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Maple Avenue from Grove to Cary Street will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• The Huguenot Bridge will be closed to all traffic from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Northbound traffic on Huguenot Road will be detoured north from Huguenot Road onto Chippenham Parkway to the Willey Bridge.
• Riverside Dr. will be closed from the Huguenot Bridge to Scottview Drive from 6am to Noon.
• Forest Hill Ave. westbound from Roanoke St. to Hathaway Rd. will be closed from 8 a.m. to 11:30am.
• Semmes Ave. Westbound from Cowardin Ave. to Roanoke St. will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to Noon
• Belvidere Street northbound at Grace Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The recommended detour will be east on Byrd Street to the Downtown Expressway eastbound to I-95 northbound.
• West Main Street, from Belvidere to Boulevard will be closed from 9 a. m. 1 p.m. Westbound traffic Main St will be detoured North on Belvidere, East on Franklin, and South on 1st Street to the Westbound Downtown Expressway.
• Belvidere Street southbound between Broad and Grace Streets will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The recommended detour for southbound Belvidere Street will be onto I-95 southbound just north of Leigh Street
• The southbound exit ramp from the Powhite Parkway to Forest Hill Avenue and the northbound entrance ramp from westbound Forest Hill Avenue onto the Powhite Parkway will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m.
• There will also be numerous and frequent lane closures along the Marathon, Half Marathon & 8k routes, including closures on: Broad Street, North Boulevard, Monument Avenue, Grove Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cary Street Road, River Road, Scottview Drive, Forest Hill Avenue, Semmes Avenue, the Lee Bridge, Belvidere Street, West Main Street, Hermitage Road, Fauqier Avenue, Brook Road.

West Franklin Street Assault

At approximately 3:19 a.m. today, Richmond Police responded to the 700 block of West Franklin Street for a call of a large group of disorderly people with shots fired.

When officers arrived, they found one male victim was assaulted and suffered minor facial injuries. A second male victim was taken to the hospital with what was believed to be a gunshot injury to his hand. That second victim was later identified as a Virginia Commonwealth University student.

Based on follow-up information from attending physicians, investigators determined the victim had not been shot, but instead suffered a laceration to his hand.

Investigators are following up on strong leads to identify the suspect.

Anyone with any information about this incident 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.

Media Stories Lead to Assault Arrests

Thanks to the media attention and community support, Richmond Police detectives have been able to identify and arrest the people involved in a brutal, home invasion assault on Bowe Street this summer.

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, two men climbed the victim’s balcony in the 800 block of Bowe Street, kicked in the door and assaulted the victim with a stove pan and a TV.

The victim was taken to VCU Medical Center to recover from his injuries.

After detectives asked the public for help in August, they received several credible tips that helped them identify everyone involved in the crime and arrest Jimmy L. Wilson Jr., 36, of Chester, and Robert B. Pennington, 26, of Chesterfield. Both men have been charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit burglary.

“If it were not for the media stories and the great support we have from the community, we may not have been able to identify and arrest these offenders,” Capt. Brian Russell said.