TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE ARREST SEVEN IN WAL-MART THEFTS

 

 

Tappahannock Police have arrested seven individuals related to a theft ring from the Tappahannock Wal-Mart.  On Sunday, May 4 the department was alerted by Wal-Mart that an employee was alleged to be stealing and trading merchandise from the store.  The employee, Franklin Neale, Jr., 23 of Warsaw was charged with thirteen felony and misdemeanor thefts that occurred during April and May of this year.  The police department believes that Neale would facilitate and assist others to remove items from the store.  The items in question ranged from fishing licenses and fishing equipment, stereos, speakers, and other household goods.  To date a substantial amount of the property has been recovered.  The other individuals arrested and charged are as follows:

 

Amanda L. Rhodes, 25 of Dunnsville, three counts of petit larceny

 

Jeremy L. Blackwell, 19 of Heathsville, one petit larceny, one conspire to commit larceny, two counts grand larceny, and two conspiracy to commit grand larceny

 

Taylor N. Packett, 18 of Caret, one count petit larceny and one count conspire to commit larceny

 

Richard Bowen, Jr., 31 of Hauge, one felony conspire to commit larceny and one felony larceny

 

William E. R. LaRochelle, 25 of Dunnsville, one felony conspire to commit larceny and one felony larceny

 

Aaron P. LaRochelle, 22 of Heathsville, three grand larceny and two conspiracy to commit grand larceny

 

According to Chief James G. Ashworth, Jr. this case is still under investigation and more charges are possible. 

 

All suspects in this case are due in Essex General District Court on June 12, 2014

 

 

TAPPAHANNOCK POLICE TO PARTICIPATE IN "CLICK IT OR TICKET"

Seat belts prevent ejection and without one, a person’s body becomes a missile inside the vehicle.  The Tappahannock Police Department along with DMV’s Virginia Highway Safety Office encourages everyone on the road to wear their seat belts during every trip, day and night.

Law enforcement officers in Tappahannock and across Virginia and the nation will be out in full force looking for seat belt violators during the national Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization this May. “If you’re not buckled up, you will get a ticket,” warned Chief James G. Ashworth, Jr.  “Don’t risk death or injuring others in your vehicle. If you’re driving, the second action you need to take after fastening your own seat belt is to insist all your passengers are wearing their belts too.”

Day and night, local law enforcement officers are on the lookout for those not wearing their seat belts--and for good reason. In 2012 in the U.S., 61 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night (6 p.m. – 5:59 a.m.) were not wearing their seat belts. “Local law enforcement officers are actually trained to spot seat belt violations at night, so just because it’s dark, don’t think they won’t be able to spot unbelted drivers,” said Chief Ashworth.

Virginia’s statewide seat belt use rate was 79.7 percent in 2013 and 78.4 percent in 2012. Last year in Virginia, 54 percent of all traffic fatalities, or 310 deaths, were unrestrained drivers and passengers. Also, 118 (38 percent) of the unrestrained deaths were young people ages 21 to 35, and 73 percent were males. Most of the unrestrained fatalities, 144 or 46 percent, occurred between the hours of 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Of the 228 unbelted driver fatalities, 55 (24 percent) had been drinking.

Drivers (75.7 percent) and passengers (68.8 percent) in pickup trucks had the lowest seat belt use rates, along with passengers (69.4 percent) in work vans.

“These numbers tell us young males, many of them pickup drivers who’ve been drinking, are not buckling up and dying on our roadways,” said Chief Ashworth.  “We want to do everything we can to reach these people and save their lives.”

Those who drive and ride in pickup trucks may think that their large vehicle will protect them more than other vehicles in a crash. This false sense of security may cause them to not wear their seat belts, but the stats show that this bravado is misplaced. “Everyone, no matter what vehicle they are in or if they are a driver or passenger, should always buckle up,” said Ashworth.

 

 

 

 

 

SEVEN CHARGED ON FEDERAL INDICTMENTS RELATED TO SPICE SALES

On February 25, 2014, a joint task force consisting of local, state and federal authorities served multiple search warrants and arrested seven people in connection with Slipknots Trading & Tobacco, LLC.  Connie R. Bowler, 47, of Gloucester; Melody R. Green, 52, of Topping; John Rhoades, 41, of Hayes; Brandon Bowler, 22, of Gloucester; Robert Rhoades, 19, of Hayes; Harrell Stockwell, 54, of Gloucester; and Christopher Lowery, 29, of Farnham, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute and posses with the intent to distribute smokeable synthetic cannabinoids with the intent for human consumption, and drug paraphernalia.

 

Slipknots operated a store in Tappahannock in the Essex Square Shopping Center and had planned on moving the store near Wal-Mart in March.  “My office has responded to numerous incidents where people who had smoked these products were having serious medical complications and needed to be hospitalized.” says Chief James Ashworth.  “I have taken several phone calls from concerned citizens and parents who were upset about the products being sold and wanted know what to do.”  “The current state laws didn’t allow us much option in enforcement which is why I also took a position of educating the public on the dangers associated with smoking these products.”

 

The indictments allege that the store sold the synthetic cannabinoids in conjunction with items such as rolling papers and water pipes.  It is also alleged that Slipknots sold more than $3 million dollars of smokeable synthetic cannabinoids over an 18 month period at their stores.

 

This case now lies with the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

 

 

 

 

ESSEX GRAND JURY ISSUES 159 INDICTMENTS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT FROM ESSEX FAMILY

On January 22, 2014, an Essex County Grand Jury indicted a Northumberland man for embezzlement from his employer.  James Cox of Lottsburg was arrested on 159 felony charges including Forgery, Uttering and Grand Larceny.  It is believed that Cox embezzled in excess of $24,000 over a period of several years while employed as a property caretaker.  This case was investigated by the Tappahannock Police Department.

 

Cox is due to appear in the Essex County Circuit Court on February 4.

 

 

 

ESSEX GRAND JURY INDICTS FOR EMBEZZLEMENT FROM CHRISTMAS MOTHER ACCOUNT

 

On January 22, 2014, an Essex County Grand Jury indicted an Aylett woman for embezzlement from the Essex County Christmas Mother account.  Ellen Baker has been charged on three felony indictments alleging that she stole over $800 from the account to pay for personal items and bills in August 2011. 

 

“This kind of case is really disheartening because this involved money being taken from people who really needed it that time of year, especially children.” says Chief J.G. Ashworth, Jr.

 

Baker has yet to be arrested on these charges.  If anyone has information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Tappahannock Police at 804-443-3992.