The Waynesboro Police Department has arrested a Waynesboro woman after crashing into several parked vehicles and a pedestrian at Parkway Village Apartments.  Tara Renee Harris, 23 years old, was charged with a felony, hit & run involving death or injury, and a misdemeanor, driving under the influence of alcohol.  On May 4, 2013 at approximately 5:00 AM, officers responded to the apartment complex for a report of a physical altercation.  When they arrived, they found a 19 year old Staunton woman suffering from injuries after being struck by Harris’ vehicle.   The victim told the officers that she and Harris had a fight in the parking lot.  After the fight ended, Harris got into her 2002 Ford Explorer, backed up quickly striking a parked Chevrolet Malibu, then accelerated toward the victim.   Harris struck another parked vehicle, a Honda Civic, and kept advancing toward the victim.  She tried to escape but was struck by the vehicle.  After running down the victim, Harris continued through a yard before coming back onto the parking lot where she struck a third parked vehicle, a Dodge Caravan.  Harris then fled the scene.  The victim was transported to Augusta Health with non-life threatening injuries.  Damage to the parked vehicles is estimated at over $4000.   

Approximately ten minutes later, an officer found Harris parked on the back parking lot of Central Virginia Rental on West Main St, where he arrested her.

She was released from Middle River Regional Jail after posting bond.  Additional charges may be pending.

The Waynesboro Police Department is investigating a couple of burglaries that occurred sometime overnight on May 4, 2013.  During that time, unknown subject(s) entered Ladd Elementary School and the rental office for Brandon Ladd Apartments. 

At 11:45 PM, a police officer, who was responding to a noise disturbance at the apartment complex, discovered the break-in at the complex’s rental office.  There was no forced entry and nothing was stolen, but the office had been ransacked.

At 9:00 AM on May 5, an employee discovered the break-in at the school. Although many areas of the building had been entered, the assailant(s) focused on the main office area.  Several interior doors were forced open and offices ransacked.  The assailant(s) took an undetermined amount of money from vending machines.  The damage is estimated to be over $4000.  It does not appear that any of the classrooms had been entered.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (540) 942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at 1(800)322-2017.  Information given to Crime Stoppers may be given anonymously.  Callers with information that lead to an arrest in this case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.

The Waynesboro Police Department has arrested a Waynesboro woman for causing a couple of motor vehicle crashes at two intersections on Hopeman Parkway.  On May 1, 2013 at approximately 4:30 PM, officers responded to the area of Hopeman Parkway and Ivy St for a report of a two vehicle accident with the parties arguing.  When they arrived, they found Emily Laura Simpson, 20 years old, being detained by other motorists and demonstrating obvious signs of impairment.   

Officers determined that Simpson, who admitted taking a prescription anxiety drug that was not hers, was driving a 2002 Honda Civic when she attempted to make a right turn from North Delphine Ave onto Hopeman Parkway.  Simpson made the turn too wide and struck a 1999 Nissan sedan driven by a 51 year old Augusta County woman.  Simpson left the scene and travelled west on Hopeman Parkway where she collided with a 2012 Kia SUV being driven by a 42 year old Waynesboro man at the intersection with Ivy St.  Simpson again tried to flee but other motorists prevented her.

Simpson was charged with two misdemeanors, driving under the influence of drugs and hit & run.  She was released from Middle River Regional Jail after posting bond.

There were no injuries and the damage to the three vehicles is estimated to be approximately $1,000. 

The Waynesboro Police Department is investigating a series of copper thefts from city churches, businesses and residences that have occurred over an eight month period beginning in mid- August 2012.  In the nine reported cases, over $4700 of copper tubing, wire and gutters have been taken. Nearly half of the thefts occurred at churches and involved the removal of copper gutters from the buildings.

The chronological order of the theft reports is as follows:

1. 08/17/12 – $150 of  piping from an air conditioner at Parkway Village Apartments
2. 08/18/12 – $100 of  piping from an air conditioner again at Parkway Village Apartments
3. 08/19/12 - $100 of guttering from Basic United Methodist Church
4. 08/25/12 - $1500 of guttering from First Baptist Church
5. 01/29/13 - $1500 of wire and tubing from Fielders Choice Enterprises
6. 04/01/13 - $300 of guttering from Lee Lodge # 209
7. 04/09/13 - $300 of guttering from a residence in the 1000 block of Fairway Drive
8. 04/12/13 - $600 of guttering from Bethany Lutheran Church
9. 04/17/13 - $160 of guttering from the Waynesboro Church of the Brethren

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (540) 942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at 1(800)322-2017.  Information given to Crime Stoppers may be given anonymously.  Callers with information that lead to an arrest in this case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.

On Thursday, April 25, 2013  the Waynesboro Police Department arrested a Waynesboro woman after an argument escalated into a physical altercation at Brandon Ladd Apartments.  Officers charged Jolene Fay Carroll, 31 years old,  on one count of felony suffocation and a misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a household or family member for the attack on the 62 year old female victim, who also resides in the apartment.  Carroll had been drinking prior to the argument.  Carroll is being held on a $5,000 bond at Middle River Regional Jail.

Update - April 27, 2013

The Waynesboro Police Department collected 323.6 pounds of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs including a pint of liquid morphine and several pet medications.   Statewide results for Drug Take Back Day will be released by the Drug Enforcement Agency at a later date.

On April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Waynesboro Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its sixth opportunity in three years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to Walmart at 116 Lucy Ln.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last September, Americans turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at over 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners.  In its five previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2 million pounds—over a thousand tons—of pills.  In Waynesboro, the Police Department collected 276.4 pounds which was the most in the Virginia State Police’s Division 3.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.  The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.  DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act. 

The Park to Park Half Marathon will take place on Saturday April 27 in Waynesboro and Augusta County.  Because of the large crowd of 600 participants, the Waynesboro Police Department & the Augusta County Sheriff’s Department will be positioned throughout the 13 mile race course to ensure all race participants and vehicle traffic remain safe.  Both departments will be at key intersections to change traffice patterns, halt incoming traffic & enforcing traffic laws that are meant to keep everyone safe for this event.  All vehicles are asked to remain patient or to make appropriate driving arrangements to avoid these highly populated areas during the event.

The following are the areas that will be impacted during the race: In Waynesboro, delays can be expected on the following roads from 7:00am – 8:00am: Lover’s Ln, Meadowbrook Ave, Lyndhurst Rd and Ladd Rd.  In Augusta County, delays can be expected on the following roads from 7:30am-10:30am:  Lyndhurst Rd, Shalom Rd, Hall School Rd, Lipscomb Rd, China Clay Rd, Patton Farm Rd, Wayne Ave and Draft Ave.

To download a copy of the course map, visit www.runthevalley.com.  This event is sponsored by the Augusta County and Waynesboro Parks and Recreation departments.  For more information call Augusta County at 540-245-5727 and Waynesboro at 540-942-6735

The Waynesboro Police Department is investigating a burglary that took place at a city business sometime between 5:45 PM, April 18 and 7:45 AM, April 19, 2013.  During that period, an unknown subject(s) forced open the front entrance to the Waynesboro Landscape & Garden Center, 2032 West Main Street.  The subject(s) stole over $2,000 in cash. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (540) 942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at 1(800)322-2017.  Information given to Crime Stoppers may be given anonymously.  Callers with information that lead to an arrest in this case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.

On Thursday, April 11, 2013 the Waynesboro Police Department arrested a Waynesboro woman in a drug sting at house in the 900 block of N Forest Ave.  Using a search warrant, the Department’s SWAT team raided the residence and located Amy Elizabeth Speck, 29 years old, with methamphetamine, hundreds of used syringes and other paraphernalia used for drug consumption.  Also located at residence, which is considered to be a flop-house for local drug users, were two Waynesboro men wanted on charges from other jurisdictions.  Matthew Ray Fisher, 22 years old, was arrested on a felony drug possession charge by the UVA Police Department; Gary Dustin Mawyer, 29 years old, was arrested for probation violations from Augusta County.   All were transported to Middle River Regional Jail and are being held on separate bonds. 

The Waynesboro Police Department is investigating a burglary that took place at a city business sometime between 7:00 PM, April 7 and 1:30 PM, April 8, 2013.  During that period, an unknown assailant(s) smashed a side door to Fastrax, 1110 Red Top Orchard Road.  Once inside, the assailant(s) ransacked the business and stole an undetermined amount of change from the arcade games and vending machines.  Officers are requesting that anyone who witnesses any individual who has recently acquired a large amount of quarters to notify the police department with the information.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (540) 942-6675 or Central Shenandoah Crime Stoppers at 1(800)322-2017.  Information given to Crime Stoppers may be given anonymously.  Callers with information that lead to an arrest in this case are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000.