Winchester man apprehended after running from police

Thursday around 5:30 pm, Virginia State Police (VSP) reports by email that they conducted a speeding traffic stop at the intersection of Route 50 and Iron Rail Lane in Clarke County.

The trooper clocked the 2003 Ford Expedition at 77 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone.

The trooper spoke to the driver, Wilson E. Buckingham Jr., 34,  of Winchester, and returned to his cruiser to check on the driver’s credentials when Buckingham fled on foot.

On Friday at approximately 4:20 pm, Clarke County Sheriff’s Office confirm that Buckingham was apprehended without incident along Route 340 in the Town of Boyce.

Buckingham was wanted in multiple jurisdictions.

A female passenger was detained during the initial incident but has been released. 

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VSP investigate fatal crash in Page County

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Virginia State Police are investigating a two car, fatal crash that occurred along Collins Avenue in Page County.

A 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt traveling south crossed the double yellow line and collided head-on with a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis.

The driver of the Chevrolet, Helen Desimone, 55, of Luray, was taken to Page Memorial Hospital and later died from her injuries.

The 74 year old female driver of the Mercury, also from Luray, suffered serious but non life threatening injuries.

Her juvenile passenger was also uninjured.

It is believed the deceased was not wearing a seatbelt and a medical emergency is considered a factor in the crash.

The accident is still under investigation.

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FRPD arrests Natural Bridge man for solicitation of minors

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Front Royal Police detectives report the conclusion of  an investigation that began March 21st regarding the solicitation of minors in the Front Royal area.

An adult male suspect sent sexually explicit material to a detective who was posing as a female under the age of 15.

The initial conversation was unsolicited and started by the offender.

Through the investigation, detectives identified the man as Douglas Hatcher, 49, of Natural Bridge.

Rockbridge County Sheriff’s assisted in the arrest at Hatcher’s home on April 7th for five charges of using communication systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children.

He is being held without bond at Rockbridge Regional Jail.

His court date is April 20,2023 at 9 am in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

This arrest was apart of FRPDs efforts in the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force coordinated by the Virginia State Police.

Anyone with further information on this case should contact Detective M.R. Ramey at (540) 636-2208 or by email at mramey@frontroyalva.com.

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Connecticut homicide suspect is chased into Rockingham Co.

Virginia Authorities were made aware of a homicide suspect out of Connecticut possibly making his way to South Carolina.

The Daily News Record reports that a Rockingham County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the vehicle near Broadway the morning of Mar. 7.

Rockingham County Deputies and Virginia State Police began a pursuit which ended near the 254-mile maker on Interstate 81 South.

After securing the scene the suspect never exited his vehicle.

When authorities approached the vehicle, they found the suspect deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities have not released additional information currently as the investigation continues.

The Virginia Department of Transportation reported that the Interstate was shutdown at around 11:20 a.m. with one lane reopened about an hour later and all traffic cleared with both lanes back open shortly after 4 p.m.

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Motorcycle accident closed 66 Wednesday

I-66 West was shut down by an accident involving a motorcyclist with significant injuries.

The call came in after 3:30 pm Wednesday afternoon near the 10 mile marker in Warren County.

When personnel arrived, they found a bystander rendering aid to a motorcyclist who was down in the roadway.

Emergency Medical Services personnel provided immediate aid and determined air medical transport to a trauma center was needed.

I-66 West was shut down temporarily to allow the arrival of Air Care 4 out of Front Royal.

Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation assisted in traffic control and offered additional assistance throughout the incident.

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VSP investigate fatal crash in Fauquier County

Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred Thursday at 11:19 am at the intersection of Route 29, James Madison Highway, and Route 15 Business, N. James Madison St.

A 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser traveling south attempted a left turn onto Rt. 15 where the driver crossed into the northbound lane and crashed into a 1995 Mack Dump Truck.

Diana Esry, 62, of Remington, died at the scene.

The 20 year old dump truck driver was not injured in the crash.

Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts.

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VSP arrest a Winchester man after a high speed chase

Virginia State Police (VSP) Public Information Officer Sergeant Brent Coffey reports by email the arrest of a Winchester man after a high speed chase.

John P. Scaperotto of Winchester is facing several charges after the chase through Frederick County just past 8 a.m. Jan. 19.

VSP initiated a traffic stop of Scaperotto’s Chevrolet pick up while traveling down Route 37 clocked at 80 in a 65 mile per hour zone.

Scaperotto refused to stop sped up and led the pursuit to Route 50 and 522 before returning to Route 37 often traveling in the wrong lanes.

A trooper attempted to stop Scaperotto by ramming his truck with his cruiser.

The Trooper suffered minor injuries in the collision.

The chase ran well over 100 miles per hour at times with Scaperotto eventually running off the road and striking a guardrail and then taken into custody.

The 44 year old Scaperotto was found to be in possession of a schedule 1 2 drug and was wanted in Frederick County for failure to appear in court.

Along with the earlier charges Scaperotto now faces eluding, assault on a law officer, several traffic infractions charges including littering and is held without bond.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

VSP investigate an accident involving a school bus

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Virginia State Police (VSP) report by email the investigation of a two-vehicle accident that involved a Shenandoah County School Bus.

Jan. 9 at approximately 3:45 p.m. a 1995 Ford F-150 pickup reportedly rear ended a stopped bus on Route 11 South near Locust Grove.

Four children on the bus suffered minor injuries as a result of the accident and were transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital treated and released.

The driver of the pickup, 60-year-old Gregory A. Yew suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The 54-year-old unidentified female driver of the bus from Strasburg was left uninjured in the accident.

There were 51 children on the bus at the time of the accident including  the 4 that were injured.

The investigation continues with Yew currently facing reckless driving charges.

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VSP restores all data systems after outage

Virginia State Police (VSP) announced complete restoration of all data systems and webpages impacted by an outage that lasted roughly 30 hours.

The outage began mid-morning on January 5th when the fire suppression system at the VSP headquarters falsely activated after a leak developed in the fire suppression systems cooling apparatus.

The Computerized Criminal History and Virginia Firearms Transaction V-Check systems are back in full service as well as the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry.

The roughly 1,800 background check requests for firearm transactions that were submitted during the outage are now fully processed or in a review or research status.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

VSP arrest an under age drinker involved in a fatal accident

The Virginia State Police (VSP) report by email the arrest of an under age drinker that was involved in a fatal accident in Rockingham County.

On Dec. 1 18-year-old Colton S. Trumbo of Harrisonburg was charged by VSP in an accident on North Mountain Road.

Trumbo was taken into custody without incident and charged with one felony count of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) DUI involuntary manslaughter.

He has also been charged with a felony count of DUI maiming and a felony count of child endangerment.

Trumbo has also been charged with a misdemeanor count of underage possession of alcohol, a misdemeanor count of driving on suspended license along with a failure to wear a seatbelt.

The Chevrolet Tahoe Trumbo was driving failed to maneuver a curve ran off the left side of the road and overturned multiple times.

One passenger in the vehicle died as a result of the accident he was an 18 year old from Timberville.

Another passenger a 14 year old male also from Timberville was treated for his injuries at UVA Medical Center.

Trumbo was treated for his injuries at UVA Medical Center and is currently being held without bond at Rockingham County Jail.

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