July 7, 2010

The Lynchburg Police Department is currently investigating the theft of a tractor and trailer containing cases of cigarettes valued at approximately $300,000.00.  The tractor and trailer was stolen during the late hours of May 15, 2010.  The tractor and trailer was seen in the early morning hours of May 16, 2010 at a convenience store in Charlottesville, VA.  The tractor and trailer was then found empty and abandoned in Maryland.    The convenience store’s surveillance system shows two unknown black males with the stolen tractor and trailer.  These two black males are persons of interest and are wanted for questioning.   Below are surveillance photographs of the two unknown black males.

June 7, 2010

The Lynchburg Police Department warns residents to be aware of temporary alarm sales staff during the summer months.  While alarms are an excellent means of protecting homes and businesses, and most companies in Virginia are legitimate, the Lynchburg Police Department recently learned that during the summer months some out-of-state alarm companies stretch legitimacy in an attempt to make a quick buck while avoiding Virginia’s requirements for the industry.  A trend in recent years is to hire temporary workers to enter Virginia and sell alarm services door to door.  Often the employees are college students hired for the summer who have been trained minimally in alarm sales but otherwise have no background in alarm sales, monitoring or services.  The temporary employees frequently practice “high pressure” tactics and sell relatively inexpensive alarm systems that generate most of their cost from the monitoring fees. 

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) regulates all alarm companies and their employees, including sales staff.  DCJS Investigators have recently encountered the temporary sales employees through citizen complaints in both the tidewater and far southwest regions of the Commonwealth.  The regulations pertaining to all such services are written to protect the consumer and citizens from unscrupulous persons.  The Administrative Code relating to all burglar and security alarm sales employees in Virginia (6 VAC 20-171-30)  states that prior to their being hired each person must submit to DCJS; completed fingerprints cards, fingerprint processing application, an applicable nonrefundable fee; and all criminal history conviction information on a form provided by the department.  This regulation demonstrates the purpose of the DCJS oversight in ensuring that those persons entering a resident’s home or a business, and learning about the valuables to be protected do not have a criminal history.  Each electronic security sales representative must also work for a business which is licensed in Virginia.  The sales representative is required to become registered as an electronic security sales representative in Virginia as specified in the regulations.  

The Lynchburg Police Department encourages all citizens to be aware and observant of door to door sales, an increase in alarm company vehicles in the neighborhood, and hearing of high pressure sales tactics from others.  If visited by a person identifying themselves as an alarm sales representative, whom you doubt the legitimacy of, do not allow them to enter your home, request to see their required DCJS issued photograph registration card and take down the information from it.  If you are interested in the product, you may contact the Lynchburg Police Department or DCJS directly at (804) 786-4700 to verify the legitimacy of the representative and call them back later for an invited sales visit.  If the sales person is pushy, refuses to show their registration card or otherwise acts suspicious, write down their description and that of their vehicle, and immediately call the law enforcement agency.

The Lynchburg Police Department encourages citizens to contact their local crime prevention office or a legitimate local alarm company to seek a presentation regarding alarm regulations and alarm usefulness.  For more information on all of the private security services regulated by DCJS you may wish to visit the DCJS web site at http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/ .

June 2, 2010  ***Additional Update from May 20, 2010*** 

As the investigation into the murder of Derrick Lee Payne continues, detectives with the Lynchburg Police Department need to make contact with the following person of interest:

Ricardo Deshawn Carter DOB 08-01-83  

May 21, 2010

On Monday May 17, 2010 at approximately 9:15 a.m. the Lynchburg Police Department Traffic Safety Unit was dispatched to investigate an accident involving a pedestrian that had been struck in the area of the 100 Block Hampden Dr., Upon arriving on the scene, police discovered an adult female victim had been struck by a vehicle.  The suspect vehicle left the scene of the accident prior to the police arriving. 

The adult female pedestrian was injured and received treatment for non-life threatening injuries at the Lynchburg General Hospital.  She was treated and released.

 A possible suspect vehicle is a red in color “sport” type vehicle with a fin on the rear of the vehicle.

The vehicle may have a sticker on the driver's side of the vehicle.

May 20, 2010  ***UPDATE ***

 As the investigation into the murder of Derrick Lee Payne continues, detectives with the Lynchburg Police Department need to make contact with the following three people of interest, 

1. Aubrey Guy Coles.  Coles is an 18 year old black male.  He is a Lynchburg resident.
2. Darryl Wayne Alexander Jr. “A.K.A. D.A.”  Alexander is a 21 year old black male.  He is a Lynchburg resident.
3. A black male who goes by the street name of “Duck”.

On Thursday, May 20, 2010 at approximately 2:30 AM, members of the Lynchburg Police Department responded to the area of 17^th and Floyd Streets in reference to a shooting. 

Upon arrival, it was determined 3 males had been victims of gunfire.  All three were transported to Lynchburg General Hospital for treatment.

A search of the area for the suspects was unsuccessful.  At this point, police believe the shooting was gang related.  No descriptions of the suspects or victims are being released at this time but additional information will be released as the investigation continues.   Anyone with any additional information concerning this incident is asked to contact Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900. All media inquires on May 20 should be directed to Lt. Alan Faircloth.  All media inquiries after May 20 should be directed to Captain Todd Swisher.

May 17, 2010

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 at approximately 9:23 p.m. members of the Lynchburg Police Department executed a search warrant at 321 Harrison St. Lynchburg, VA.  The search warrant and subsequent arrests were the result of an on-going multi-jurisdictional burglary investigation that included law enforcement officials from the following agencies; Albemarle County Police Department, Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Henrico County Division of Police, Lynchburg Police Department, and the Roanoke County Police Department.  Over the past month and a half, the above jurisdictions have been investigating a series of 18 commercial business burglaries that involved similar methods of entry.  All of the burglaries occurred at businesses during the nighttime.  In Lynchburg, detectives were able to solve the burglary that occurred at the Drowsy Poet, 3700 Candlers Mountain Rd. on October 21, 2009.  Norman Paul Ludlow, D.O.B. 9-2-1970 of Lynchburg was arrested and charged with 2 counts of burglary and 2 counts of grand larceny from incidents stemming from Albemarle County and Lynchburg.  Further charges from the other jurisdictions mentioned are pending.