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Vol. 27, No. 3 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | May 19, 2010
What do top ROBBERS ON THE RUN earners bring?
Technology literally puts a face on suspect
By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com An arrest on Thursday may have prevented a recent bank robbery from becoming “cold,” but similar incidents remain active for investigators with the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office. Four “cold cases” involving robberies are now being actively pursued by investigators. On Friday, Capt. Michael J. Trice released information about 44-yearold Preston Robert WALCKER Walcker being charged with the May 4 robbery of the Union First Market Bank at 7279 Bell Creek Road in Mechanicsville. His arrest stemmed from the cooperative efforts of the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office, Virginia Beach Police Department and Chesapeake Police Department. Walcker, a Virginia Beach resident, was lodged in the Virginia Beach Correctional Center without bond. In addition to the Mechanicsville
robbery, Walcker is accused of bank robberies on April 12 and May 6 in Virginia Beach and May 12 in Chesapeake. Thanks to the efforts of Hanover investigators, information surfaced that Walcker was responsible for the Hanover robbery as well as other crimes in the other two jurisdictions.
Photo courtesy of HCSO
This image shows the suspect in the May 18, 2005, robbery of the BB&T on Mechanicsville Turnpike.
A day before Walcker’s arrest, Trice praised the assistance the public provides. “The Sheriff ’s Office has always been very up front in recognizing that our successes are directly attributed to our citizen involvement. We believe — were it not for the good citizens calling in tips and their suspicions — that we wouldn’t be as successful in clearing these crimes as we have been.” While Walcker’s case turned around in just over a week, Sheriff ’s Office investigators have been
reviewing unsolved robberies that have taken place since 2000. In 10 years, Trice said, there have been 182 robberies in the county. “We solved 89 of those cases,” he added. The four selected for this series are “a tip away” from being solved. “It’s our feeling if somebody goes in and commits a robbery, two things are probable: They’ve committed several offenses before or they’re going to continue to commit robberies in the future.” The captain did say that “The likelihood of somebody being hurt as a result of these crimes increases as long as they aren’t apprehended for these crimes. So we think it’s important — although they weren’t immediately apprehended — that we continue to seek their identity and hold them accountable for their crimes.” Of the four robberies that follow, no one was harmed in the commission of the crimes. ❍ At 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, a black man approached a teller at the BB&T at 7016 Mechanicsville Turnpike. He communicated a threat and demanded money. He did not display a weapon. He left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money, but it is not known what kind of vehicle he may have used to flee. The
see ROBBERS, pg. 26 `
Six-figure county salaries listed By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com Education and experience are the common denominator with the four highest paid employees in Hanover County’s government and school system. Dr. Stewart D. Roberson, division superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, tops the salaries list at $194,828. He is followed by Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr., county administrator, $188,288; Sterling E. Rives III, county attorney, $187,625; and Col. V. Stuart Cook, sheriff, $172,647. When Roberson assumed the top position in the school district in 1995, he brought with him three degrees — B.S. History, M.Ed.
Arete’ Academy graduation Jim Ridolphi
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling took time out of a busy graduation schedule to address the graduates of Arete’ Academy on Saturday. Complete details can be found on page 18.
Database at www.mechlocal.com
Administration and Supervision, and Ed.D. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies — from the University of Virginia. He had served as a superintendent in Falls Church before coming to Hanover and had taught middle school (algebra, debate, science and social studies). He had been a high school and middle school assistant principal, a middle/elementary school principal, director of Instruction, and assistant superintendent of Finance. Today, after nearly 20 years, he is one of Virginia’s longest serving superintendents. see EARNERS, pg. 28 `