TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE ARREST ONE FOLLOWING PURSUIT

The Tappahannock Police Department have charged an Essex County man following a pursuit through Tappahannock.  Jacob Kline, 18, of Tappahannock led police on a pursuit after multiple calls regarding reckless driving.  At approximately 3:30 Saturday April 9, police department Captain C.F. Davis attempted to stop Kline after he failed to stop at a traffic signal at Rt. 17 and Airport Rd.  Kline proceeded north onto Rt. 17 at a high rate of speed towards Mt. Landing Creek.  Davis lost sight of the vehicle and returned to town when Kline returned south into Tappahannock where Davis resumed the pursuit.  Kline turned west onto Marsh St. and proceeded to drive through the barrier gate between Marsh St. and the old airport runway.  Kline continued to elude police on Airport Rd. where he then turned north onto Mt. Landing Road into Essex County. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office continued pursuit approximately six or seven miles where Kline crashed the vehicle in woods adjacent to a field.  Kline was arrested and charged with felony eluding police, felony damage to property, misdemeanor reckless driving, disobey a traffic signal, and failure to register a motor vehicle. 

 

Kline is being held at the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center under no bond.

 

 

TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOTS FIRED

On February 25, 2017 at 1:24 a.m., Tappahannock Police responded to a fight in progress call in the parking lot and grass area at Roma’s Restaurant.  Upon arrival, officers heard one shot from a firearm and observed a large crowd and several groups of people fighting.  Officers were unable to locate the shooter who had apparently departed upon their arrival.  As officers encountered the disorderly groups who refused to stop fighting, OC spray was used to disperse the crowds.  Upon encountering several persons involved in one of the fights, Officer D.E. Gray, Jr., noticed one of the subjects had a firearm in his hand and after being challenged by Officer Gray, dropped the weapon and ran from the scene.  The subject was captured shortly afterwards and placed under arrest.  The subject was identified as Brian Elliot Watts, age 32, of King William County.  One semi-automatic weapon was taken which was identified as being stolen from Howard County, Maryland.  Watts was charged with Possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony, Possession of a stolen firearm, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.  Watts is incarcerated at the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center in Saluda. 

 

Another subject was later charged as a result of this incident.  Shakera Q. Stewart, age 30, of Tappahannock, was served with arrest warrants on February 25, 2017, and charged with Disorderly conduct and Obstruction of Justice.  Stewart is also incarcerated at the MPRSC in Saluda.

 

There were no known injuries involved with this incident and this matter remains under investigation.

 

The Tappahannock Police Department is actively pursuing leads in this case and was assisted at the scene by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Warsaw Police Department, and the Virginia State Police.  The public is asked to report any information regarding this incident immediately to the Essex County Sheriff’s Department dispatch center at 443-3347 or the Tappahannock Police Department at 443-3992. 

 

Tappahannock Police arrest Mechanicsville man for abduction and stabbing

The Tappahannock Police Department has charged Curtis L. Jeffries, Jr., 32 of Mechanicsville with the malicious wounding and abduction of his wife. At approximately 10:14pm on September 25, police responded to Watts Supermarket in Millers Tavern for a woman that was bleeding heavily.  The investigation determined that the woman was the wife of Jeffries and that she had been allegedly stabbed on Daingerfield St. in Tappahannock.  The victim had been able to flee from her husband and was helped by bystanders.  The victim was flown to VCU for treatment of her injuries.  “This was a vicious attack and we feel the victim is fortunate to be alive.” said Chief James G. Ashworth, Jr.  

 

Jeffries has been charged with Malicious Wounding and Abduction by Force.  He was arrested Tuesday in Essex County.   Jeffries was also wanted by the Chesterfield Police Department.

 

This case is still under investigation and more charges are possible.   

 

Tappahannock Police investigating shooting at hotel

The Tappahannock Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place at the Super 8 Hotel on Tappahannock Boulevard.  Shortly before 8pm last night, officers received a call for shots being fired.  Once officers arrived they found a man on the ground in the parking lot of the hotel.  Police determined the victim, Timothy C. Smith, 30 of Tappahannock had a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.  Smith was transported to Riverside Tappahannock Hospital via EMS.  The investigation revealed that the alleged shooter, Ky-Lell B. Arthur, 23 of Bowling Green was still on scene at the time and was taken into custody without incident.  A motive for the shooting has not been determined.

 

Smith was later transferred to VCU Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.  Arthur has been charged with Malicious Wounding, Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, and Possession of Marijuana.  Arthur is being held at the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center without bond. 

 

This investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible. 

 

 

 

Click It or Ticket Effort Occurs Before High-Traffic Holiday

From May 23 to June 5, 2016, the Tappahannock Police Department will participate in the national Click It or Ticket campaign in an effort to save lives through increased seat belt use. This enforcement period is in advance of and includes the Memorial Day holiday, one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

 

There were 310 unrestrained fatalities in Virginia last year, and 71 were recorded so far this year, between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2016. Nationally, 88.5 percent of passenger vehicle occupants buckled up last year, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but almost 50 percent of fatal crash occupants were not restrained. In some states, the rate was as high as 70 percent unrestrained in fatal crashes. “This fact gravely highlights the need for increased enforcement and awareness of seat belt use,” said Chief James G. Ashworth, Jr.

 

“Time after time, we see the deadly results that come from drivers and passengers refusing to wear a seat belt,” Ashworth said. “Wearing a seat belt is one of the most important steps in increasing survivability in a crash. Our job is to stop those who are not buckled up, and to keep them from repeating this potentially deadly mistake.”

Virginia’s statewide seat belt use rate was 80.9 percent in 2015, 77.3 percent in 2014, 79.7 percent in 2013 and 78.4 percent in 2012. The 310 unrestrained fatalities in Virginia last year represent 41 percent of the 753 total traffic fatalities.

 

 

According to NHTSA, there were 9,385 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2014 in the United States. Also in 2014, seat belts saved an estimated 12,802 people from dying nationwide. From 2010 to 2014 seat belts saved nearly 63,000 lives. If all passenger vehicle occupants age 5 and older involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts, an additional 2,814 lives could have been saved in 2014 alone.