From the Richmond Police Department:

The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s assistance in identifying the victims of a fatal one-car accident today.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., a 1987 red Toyota pickup truck was westbound in the 5000 block of Warwick Avenue near Alaska Drive.
Three Hispanic males were occupying the vehicle. One died at the scene and the other two were taken to VCU Medical Center with injuries that are considered life threatening.
Little identification was found at the scene so the Department needs the public’s help in identifying the victims so next of kin can be notified.

Anyone with information on the truck or the occupants is asked to call the Hispanic Tip Line at 239-4209 or Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

The Richmond Police Department is seeking the public’s help to identify two men who robbed the Stop N Go.

Here’s the police communique:

Richmond Police needs the public’s help identifying and locating the suspects responsible for Wednesday morning’s robbery of the Stop N Go convenience store at 1600 Mechanicsville Turnpike.
The suspects entered the store around 6:20 a.m. Aug. 19 brandishing firearms and demanding money.
Both suspects are black males and wore black clothing and white gloves during the robbery. The first suspect wore a red ski mask. The second suspect wore a black ski mask.

Anyone with any information about the suspects in this commercial robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

My apologies for not getting this out sooner, but our friends at Church Hill People’s News was able to get the video and the post out before I was. Please visit the site to see the video!

Thanks to Ms. Dionne Waugh from the Richmond Police Department for keeping us informed!

The Richmond Police Department and Target will start the kick off for National Night Out 2009 tomorrow!  [August 1]

Target will be hosting the city’s kickoff celebration for National Night Out tomorrow and everyone is invited to attend noon to 4 p.m. at 7107 Forest Hill Ave. Crime prevention materials, demonstrations, children’s fingerprint kits, and food will be provided at the kickoff. First responders, such as the Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office and others will be there.

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, National Night Out will celebrate 26 years of giving crime a going away party it will never forget.

National Night Out is celebrated around the country the first Tuesday in August every year. Last year more than 10,000 communities participated in the event. This year, Richmond has more than 100 different neighborhood events scheduled throughout the city.

On Aug. 4, the city will join together and continue the fight against crime. The Department encourages neighbors to host block parties, cookouts, parades, and pool parties. The theme is “Give crime a going away party.”

“Each year National Night Out in Richmond gets bigger and better,” said Community Youth, and Intervention Services Division Captain Adrianne McLemore. “We look forward to celebrating another successful year starting with the annual kickoff at Target.”

Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood and his Command Staff will walk through and visit with residents and business owners on the Southside this evening.

The walk through will start at 7 p.m. today on Chambers Street, between Bowen and Minefee, just south of Hillside Court, in the Bellemeade neighborhood.

Leaders from the Richmond Police Department will knock on doors and speak to residents and business owners in the neighborhood about police presence and any crime concerns they may have. The walk-throughs help foster relationships between the Department and the community.

Apologies to our readers who tried to read this article earlier. There was a technical error with the web browsers used to produce the article. Here is the article:

About 200 people attended the 8th District meeting at the Satellite restaurant at 4000 Jefferson-Davis Hwy on Tuesday. Councilwoman Reva Trammell thanked the crowd and invited people to write their concerns on forms distributed through the crowd. She then introduced Sheriff C.T. Woody who is running for re-election against Major Antionette Irving from the Henrico Sheriff’s office. City Council President Kathy Graziano was also in attendance.

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Thanks to James Mercante at the Richmond Police Department of Public Affairs for the following information:

The Richmond Police Department needs the public’s help in locating the driver who hit a child and left the scene in the 5800 block of Thorndale Lane yesterday.

At approximately 5:50 p.m. a black Jeep Cherokee struck an 11-year-old child who had entered the roadway after visiting an ice cream truck. The side-view mirror of the Jeep struck the child in the head causing non-life threatening injuries.

The Department would like anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

The Department would also like to remind drivers to be extra cautious this time of year when operating vehicles near playgrounds, ice cream trucks or other areas where children are present.

Today was a day that began with a shooting and ended in death and whispers.

This morning I read about the shooting, which took place at 2:27 a.m. on Broad St. Coincidentally, I happened to be heading to that very area for work.

Late this afternoon, an hour before I arrived for another work related event, another shooting had taken place in Church Hill.

No, I didn’t witness either shooting, but I saw the effect. I witnessed our community being ripped apart. Not by the shooters, but by the community. This sounds very odd, but since you couldn’t see what I did, here it is:

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Please, drive carefully. Here is a report from the Richmond Police department.

Richmond Police Crash Team is investigating a fatal single vehicle accident that occurred this morning at the intersection of Cowardin and Semmes Avenue.

At Approximately 12:59 a.m., a female operating a Jeep Cherokee was traveling southbound on Cowardin Avenue when she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled up an embankment went airborne and struck a bill-board sign. The vehicle came to rest beneath the sign in a grassy area at the intersection of Cowardin and Semmes Avenue. Speed was a factor in this fatal crash.

The driver was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A female passenger was taken to VCU Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

The identity of the driver will be released after proper family notification has been made.

This crash investigation is ongoing and no traffic detours or delays are expected in the area of the crash during this morning’s rush hour.

The Richmond Police Department remind motorist to obey posted speed limits and to drive safely when operating your motor vehicle.

The Richmond Police Department knows the surprises we all want this season come with gift wrapping. No one wants a surprise that requires a police report.

Richmond Police offers these tips to help deter crime and keep yourself safe this holiday shopping season:

• Stay alert to your surroundings.
• Shop with a friend; there is safety in numbers.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Be very careful at ATMs.
• Carry clutch purses tightly under your arm. Carry pocketbooks with the clasp side toward your body. Wear the strap across your body.
• Carry wallet in front pocket.
• Watch purchases closely while dining at food courts; bags can be easily switched or taken.
• Educate your children about where to go if lost while shopping and alert them to the potential dangers of strangers.
• Don’t overburden yourself with too many packages. If available, use the store’s package pick-up.
• Have your car keys ready and in hand before leaving the store.
• Always place any valuables in the trunk of your vehicle.
• Park your vehicle in high-traffic and well-lit areas.
• Fewer customers are present at closing time. Leave stores earlier, with other shoppers.
• Ask security to escort you to your vehicle if you feel uncomfortable.
• Walk briskly, confidently, and directly through the parking lot. Be cautious of people handing out fliers or asking questions in the parking area.
• If you suspect someone is following you, alert security immediately.
• Keep the outside of your home well lit, with doors locked and window curtains closed.
• Don’t display gifts beneath the Christmas tree that can be seen from windows or doors.
• After the holidays, don’t advertise gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collection. Cut boxes and place in a sealed, opaque garbage bag.

“Please use these helpful tips,” says Chief Bryan T. Norwood. “Make this special season a safe season.”

It’s hard to believe that three people have been murdered on the Southside in one week.

The good news is that the suspected murderers of LaMoan Kahlil Hart are in custody. On October the third, according to the Richmond Police Department, “Terrell A. Collins, 31, of the 100 block of East 15th Street, turned himself in.” Additionally, Rashaad T. Comer, 27 of the 1600 block of Kingswood Street, was arrested on 10/2/08.

On the same day that Terrell Collins turned himself in, the Bruce Street Brothers double slaying took place. So far there are no announced suspects, but the next of kin have been notified.

You can read more about the Bruce Street Brothers murder at the Times-Dispatch.

Anyone with information about these crimes is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or to call the Richmond Police Tips Line at 514-TIPS (8477).

As further proof of their exemplary effort to fight crime, the Richmond Police Department released the following:

Richmond Police quickly made arrests in two robbery attempts and a robbery that occurred within hours last night in the City’s Southside.

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