Dec. 3 -- Dec. 6, 2010

Today’s Good News

First Precinct Focus Mission Team Officers Shawn Gaines and Michael Verbena were recently investigating a group of people who were trespassing. When one man was asked if he had any weapons, the man admitted he had a revolver, but a search revealed he possessed drugs as well. The items were seized and the man was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

DISCLAIMER: The following incidents are preliminary in nature and are subject to change after investigation. Please note that the entries listed below do not cover every incident from overnight. The listings are subject to the judgment of staff officers’ sense of what is noteworthy.

CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS

1^st Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

12/3/10 11:00 p.m.

1800 block of North 28^th Street

A male reported he was assaulted by two unknown males.

3^rd Precinct

ROBBERY

12/3/10 9:55 p.m.

800 block of Westover Hills Boulevard

A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by an unknown male.

1^st Precinct

ROBBERY

12/4/10 1:14 a.m.

1500 block of North 20^th Street

A male reported he was robbed at knifepoint by an unknown male.

4^th Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

12/4/10 1:00 a.m. – 1:15 a.m.

1200 block of St. James Street

A male reported he was assaulted by a known male. An arrest was made.

2^nd Precinct

ROBBERY

12/4/10 2:32 a.m.

3100 block of Hull Street

A male reported he was robbed at gunpoint by an unknown male. An arrest was made.

2^nd Precinct

ROBBERY

12/5/10 2:24 a.m.

5000 block of Snead Road

A male reported he was assaulted and robbed by two known males.

1^st Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (SHOOTING)

12/5/10 5:40 p.m.

2200 block of Phaup Street

A male reported he was shot by an unknown person. His injuries are not life-threatening.

1^st Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

12/5/10 6:00 p.m.

2200 block of Joplin Avenue

A juvenile male reported he was shot with a BB gun by an unknown male.

2^nd Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (SHOOTING)

12/5/10 5:46 p.m.

4000 block of Midlothian Turnpike

A male reported he was shot by an unknown person. His injuries are not life-threatening.

4^th Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

12/5/10 11:00 p.m.

1100 block of Saint Paul Street

A female reported she was assaulted by a known male.

2^nd Precinct

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

12/6/10 12:59 a.m.

3400 block of Walmsley Boulevard

A female reported she was cut by a known female. An arrest was made.

2^nd Precinct

DEATH INVESTIGATION

12/5/10 9:00 p.m.

00 block of East 36^th Street

Detectives are investigating the death of a 1-year-old male.

PROPERTY CRIMES

3^rd Precinct

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE

12/4/10 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

400 block of North Shields Avenue

An unknown person(s) entered the unlocked vehicle and stole several items left in plain view.

3^rd Precinct

THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE

12/4/10 10:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

200 block of North Allen Street

An unknown person broke into the vehicle and stole a purse, two video game systems and 25 video games.

3^rd Precinct

BURGLARY

12/5/10 12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

2700 block of West Grace Street

An unknown person(s) broke into the residence.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/1/10 -- 12/2/10 9:00 p.m. – 5:52 a.m.

113 S. Foushee St.

An unknown person broke into the business and stole a computer and other electronic items.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/1/10 -- 12/3/10 11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

3200 block of Carolina Avenue

An unknown person(s) broke into the residence and stole a faucet fixture.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/5/10 6:15 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.

800 block of Young Street

An unknown person(s) broke into the residence.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/5/10 5:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

3400 block of 2^nd Avenue

An unknown person(s) entered the residence and stole a watch, jewelry and cash.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/3/10 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

3200 block of Griffin Avenue

An unknown person(s) entered the residence and stole a handbag and box of checks.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/4/10 2:04 a.m.

4900 block of Chamberlayne Avenue

An unknown person(s) broke into the residence.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/5/10 8:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.

3800 block of Chamberlayne Avenue

An unknown person(s) broke into the residence and stole several items.

4^th Precinct

BURGLARY

12/4/10 -- 12/5/10 5:00 p.m. – 10:40 a.m.

2800 block of Garland Avenue

An unknown person(s) broke into the residence and stole passports and a safe.

Detectives Make Arrest in East 21st Street Homicide

Richmond Police detectives have charged Cheryl N. Giles with murder in connection with the East 21^st Street homicide last week.

Giles, 35, of the 4100 block of Jefferson Davis Highway, was arrested for the Nov. 22 homicide of Richard Herman Church, 52, who was found dead inside his home in the 100 block of East 21^st Street.

Church died of blunt force trauma and investigators believe his death was the result of an argument with Giles.

This quick arrest was made thanks to the fast-responding patrol officers and good investigative work by Major Crimes detectives.

Street Closings, Parking Restrictions for Holiday Events

Richmond’s holiday season begins this weekend with the Grand Illumination on Friday, Dec. 3, and the Dominion Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4. Downtown traffic patterns and parking will be adjusted to make way for these events.

Motorists and residents are reminded to pay close attention to street signage indicating detours, street closings and parking restrictions.

For Friday’s Grand Illumination at 6 p.m., the following will be in effect:

• No parking will be allowed on the south side of East Cary Street between Ninth and 12th streets.
• Tenth Street will be closed between East Cary and Canal streets.
• Expect traffic delays on East Cary Street from Ninth to 12th streets from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. as pedestrians and motorists view the light display at the James Center.

For Saturday’s Dominion Christmas Parade, the following will be in effect:

• The eastbound and westbound lanes of Broad Street will be closed to traffic between North Davis Avenue and Strawberry Street from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The westbound lanes of Broad will be closed to traffic from Robinson Street to Eighth Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• DMV Drive from Leigh Street to Broad will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Leigh from Hermitage Road to North Boulevard will be closed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Seventh Street from Broad to Jackson Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The parade is scheduled to begin 10 a.m. Saturday at the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., and travel east on Broad Street, ending at the intersection with Seventh Street.

Also on Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth University has a noon basketball game against The College of William & Mary at the Siegel Center on Broad Street, which is along the parade route. Motorists should anticipate traffic congestion and parking will be limited in the area.

Parking restrictions will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday along the following streets:

• Broad
• DMV Drive
• Leigh
• Harrison
• Lodge
• Marshall
• Grace
• Sixth
• Seventh
• Eighth

No-parking signs will be posted along these streets and the parade route. All parking restrictions will be strictly enforced. Vehicles parked in restricted areas will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Victim Identified in Decatur Street Homicide

Richmond Police have identified the victim in last night’s homicide in the 3400 block of Decatur Street as Donald Dock, 48, of the 3400 block of Decatur Street.

Police are still in the early stages of the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Decatur Street Homicide

At approximately 7:30 p.m., the Richmond Police Department received a call for a person down in a residence in the 3400 block of Decatur Street.

Officers arrived within minutes, entered the home and found a male unresponsive with a gunshot wound.

The victim, a black male in his late 40’s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.

Detectives working this investigation canvassed the area and asked neighbors for assistance and information regarding this incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Joplin Avenue Homicide

At approximately 1:20 p.m., Richmond Police were called to the 1800 block of Joplin Avenue for the report of shots fired.

Police found a male outside of a home suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to VCU Medical Center where he later died.

Detectives have identified the victim as Wendell Jones, 24, of the 1400 block of Lenmore Street.

Detectives are looking for two suspects, a tall, black male in dark clothing and a short, black male in dark clothing, who were seen leaving the area on foot.

Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

East 21st Street Homicide

Richmond Police detectives are investigating the death of Richard Herman Church, 52, after he was found dead inside his home in the 100 block of East 21^st Street last night.

Officers received a call about a suspicious situation at the home just after 10 p.m. Monday.

Investigators believe Church’s death may have been the result of an argument with a known person. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death.

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and following up on several strong leads, but ask anyone with any information about this crime to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.