Four People Charged with Several Fan Robberies

Thanks to officers’ quick response and an intensive investigation, Richmond Police have arrested and charged three men and one woman in connection with several recent armed robberies in the Fan neighborhood.

Brandon E. Lathem, 21, of Centerville; Darryl L. House II, 18, of Lansdowne; Kwayee Tarty, 25, of Henrico; and Nicole A. Reynolds, 27, Henrico, have all been charged with robbery.

The victim called police at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 21 and reported the group had broken into his apartment in the 2700 block of West Grace Street and tried to rob him at gunpoint.

Though the group fled, officers quickly stopped their vehicle and arrested them nearby at the intersection of Boulevard and West Broad Street.

After further investigation, investigators have charged all four with that crime as well as the Sept. 18 armed robbery of seven men in the 800 block of North Harrison Street.

The group may also be wanted for credit card fraud out of Northern Virginia.

“Thanks to the speedy response by our officers and the good investigative work of our detectives, we were able to clear these cases and make the streets safer for residents,” Third Precinct Capt. Will Smith said.

Hillside Court Homicide Victim Identified

The victim of this week’s homicide in Hillside Court is Sophia Alexander, 19 years of age, of the 1800 block of Southlawn Avenue.

Alexander was discovered in her apartment about 7 p.m. Tuesday, dead of a gunshot wound.

Detectives are actively investigating the case.

Persons with information about this homicide are asked to call the Richmond Police Tip Line at 514-TIPS (8477) or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Hillside Court Homicide

The Richmond Police Department is investigating a homicide in Hillside Court.

Shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 28th officers were called to an apartment in the 1800 block of Southlawn Avenue. There they found the body of a black female in her early twenties, dead of a gunshot wound.

Persons with information about this homicide are asked to call the Richmond Police Tip Line at 514-TIPS (8477) or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Arrest Made in Chicago Avenue Murder; Tips Sought

The Richmond Police Department is investigating a murder that occurred overnight.

Shortly before 11 p.m. last night, police officers heard the sound of gunshots near East 19^th Street and Chicago Avenue. When they arrived less than a minute later they discovered the body of Katrice Robertson, 25, of the 1800 block of Chicago Ave., lying in the alley behind her residence.

Robertson had been shot and also suffered injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.

As a result of information provided by several witnesses, a suspect vehicle was spotted minutes later and stopped in the 100 block of Dock Street.

The driver of the vehicle, Tawny Hamlet, 22, of the 2900 block of Lynhaven Avenue, has been arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run. She is in the Richmond City Jail.

Detectives are in the early stages of the investigation. They are exploring a possible link between the hit-and-run and the fatal shooting.

Persons with information about this murder are asked to call the Richmond Police Tip Line at 514-TIPS (8477) or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

Volunteers Needed for MyPAL to Make a Difference

The Richmond Police Athletic League is best known for its athletic activities for young people. But thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, PAL now also will be known for coaching youths in the game of life.

The MyPAL Mentor Program will match volunteer mentors with a young person to meet at PAL at least one hour a week for a one-year commitment. In addition to providing a role model and a listening ear, the program will give mentors and mentees the chance to engage in a variety of one-on-one and group activities with other MyPAL participants to promote social skills and overall well-being.

“A trusting relationship with a caring adult can have a lifelong, life-changing effect on a young person,” Community, Youth and Intervention Captain Sybil El-Amin said. “We are glad we can provide an outlet and a venue to build and support these types of relationships.”

The Richmond PAL chapter is one of 135 across the country to receive an award from the Justice Department and the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues to establish a mentoring program.

Adult volunteers are needed for the MyPAL Mentor Program in Richmond. A mentor orientation will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at PAL, 1365 Overbrook Road. For more information, contact Shirley Crawford, MyPAL mentor coordinator, at 804.646.1832.

Sign Up for the Citizens Police Academy!

Want to learn how and why Richmond Police do what they do?

Then sign up for the Citizens Police Academy, which starts Nov. 4 and includes two weekly evening sessions through Dec. 2. The deadline to register is Oct. 15.

The Richmond Police Department will offer eight sessions for those interested in learning about the Department’s personnel, goals, community policing and law enforcement-related topics.

There will be eight, two-hour sessions held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, excluding the Thanksgiving holiday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 W. Graham Road.

The classes will cover different areas of the Department provided by expert guest instructors, presenters as well as certified police officers and supervisors. The courses’ are diverse and range from the organizational structure and citywide concerns to forensics, criminal investigation, narcotics and firearms.

Anyone who lives or works in Richmond can attend the academy, but you must be at least 18 years old with no felony convictions. Misdemeanor convictions will be reviewed and considered by Chief Bryan T. Norwood.

To register, please contact Mrs. GiTonya L. Parker at 646-7648 or

GTonya.Parker@richmondgov.com. The deadline to apply is on or before Oct. 15. Space is limited.

Gilpin Court Shooting Arrest

Richmond Police investigators have arrested and charged one of two men shot in Gilpin Court on Friday night.

Calvin C. Townes, 18, of the 3700 block of Stockton Street, has been charged with attempted murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Just after 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, officers were called to 7 West Hill St. for a report of a shooting. They found one male victim suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. Townes was later taken by personal vehicle to the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

After speaking with several witnesses, investigators charged Townes with the crime. Investigators wish to thank members of the Gilpin Court community for their assistance.