On Monday, February 2, 2015 at approximately 6:07 p.m. the Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Asset Protection Department at the Crooked Run Plaza Target regarding three subjects that entered the store and were suspected of passing fraudulent checks at Target stores in Harrisonburg, Waynesboro and Lynchburg earlier in the day.  Deputies responded and conducted a traffic stop in the Target parking lot on 2015 silver Dodge Caravan with North Carolina licenses plate number DBC4391.  All five passengers were detained.

Warren County Deputies spoke with Asset Protection who provided four fraudulent personal checks and one fraudulent Travelers Check.  Asset Protection provided video evidence of three individuals that had purchased over $1,300 of merchandise using the fraudulent checks.

The following five individuals were arrested on the following charges:

• Schawn Curtis Rivers, age 27, Jacksonville, Florida – two counts of felony bad check, one count of conspiracy, two counts of obtaining money by false pretense, one count of forgery, and one count of uttering. 
• Thomas Clark Washington, age 43, Jacksonville, Florida – one count of conspiracy.
• Charles Tarence Baker, age 22, Jacksonville, Florida – one count of conspiracy.
• James Elbert Graden, age 39, Jacksonville, Florida – one count of conspiracy, one count of obtaining money by false pretense, one count bad check (felony). 
• Josua Samuel Knight, age 22, Jacksonville, Florida – two counts passing bad checks (felony), two counts of obtaining money by false pretense (felony), one count of conspiracy.

All five subjects are being held at the RSW Regional Jail.

A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the seizure of a computer and related equipment, a large quantity of unprinted checks, several thousand dollars worth of Target gift cards, cellphones and fictitious IDs.

Sheriff McEathron advises that the excellent work and quick notification to law enforcement by Target and the deputies’ response contributed to the arrest of the suspects. 

Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigation is ongoing and may involve several states.  Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Investigations at 540-635-7100.   

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February 3, 2015
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

On January 20, 2015 at approximately 6:00 p.m. Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Staples, in the Crooked Run Plaza, for a report of two black males passing $50.00 counterfeit bills. Sergeant Jason Poe located one male matching the provided description walking toward a maroon van parked near the BB&T Bank. As Sergeant Poe approached, the van fled the location.  The male subject was detained.

The male was identified as 21 year old Phillip Johnson from Landover, Maryland. Johnson was in possession of merchandise that had been purchased from several Crooked Run Plaza businesses using the counterfeit $50.00 bills. Johnson was subsequently charged with three felonies and is being held at the RSW Regional Jail without bail.

Deputy Josh Kopp attempted to make a traffic stop on the maroon van as it exited the Plaza; however, the van continued traveling toward the Town of Front Royal. Due to the van’s erratic driving behavior, the attempt to stop the van was discontinued. A short time later, the unoccupied van was located in the 1700 block of N. Shenandoah Avenue.  A sheriff K-9 was utilized in an attempt to locate the occupants of the van. Additional counterfeit bills and other items of evidence were located along the K-9 track.

Warren County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Front Royal Police Department and the Virginia State Police.  Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to call Investigations Sergeant Phillip Henry at 540-635-7100.

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January 21, 2015
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

On January 13, 2015, at approximately 1:30 pm, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Target store in Warren County in reference to a larceny in progress. Deputies had not received any description of the subjects as they arrived on the scene but Deputy G. Phillips observed a male and a female with a small child leaving the store as he was entering. Surveillance video confirmed the subjects leaving the store were the suspects involved in this complaint. Deputy Phillips notified other deputies of the vehicle description and where the vehicle was located at that time. Deputies observed the vehicle as it headed north on 522 and was subsequently stopped by Deputy Charles Brogan.

Upon Deputy Brogan speaking with the driver, the driver gave a false identification and was eventually identified as Gary Thomas Sims of Martinsburg, WV, age 24. The passenger was identified as Amber Nixon of Martinsburg, WV, age 27. Items stolen from Target were video games that were valued over $600.00.  The items were found in a diaper bag lined with aluminum foil.

Sims was charged with shoplifting, driving suspended and false information to a law enforcement officer. Nixon was charged with shoplifting and had warrants from Frederick County for shoplifting. The Department of Social Services was called to the scene to take custody of the 12 month old child.

Sims and Nixon were taken to RSW Regional Jail.  Sims bonded out on a $6,000 secured bond and Nixon bonded out on a $1,000 secured bond. 

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January 15, 2015
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

Warren County Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron, a 33 year veteran of the sheriff’s office, announces he will seek a fourth term as sheriff in the November 3, 2015 election. 

It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Front Royal/Warren County as your sheriff.  I am dedicated to continuing to provide the highest level of professionalism and accountability that the sheriff’s office represents and the community expects.

Warren County is not just where I work; it is where my wife Donna, son Eli, daughter Alayna and my family call home.  Having a vested interest in my community, I am dedicated to public safety and the quality of life in Front Royal and Warren County. 

The great community support of the sheriff’s office and the confidence the citizens have had in electing me to three previous terms has been paramount to our success.  I look forward to serving the citizens of Front Royal/Warren County as your sheriff for another term. 

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January 8, 2015
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

Sheriff McEathron wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season and hopes everyone celebrates responsibly. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office wants everyone to know that Deputies will be working extra D.U.I. enforcement patrols to help keep our highways and community safe through the New Year. We encourage motorists to report any erratic driving to your local law enforcement or 911.

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December 23, 2014
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

On Friday December 19, 2014 the Front Royal/Warren County Team of the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, along with the West Virginia State Police Eastern Panhandle Narcotic and Violent Crime Task Force arrested two suppliers of heroin in a joint narcotics investigation.

The Front Royal/Warren County Team of the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force began this investigation in Warren County purchasing small amounts of heroin consistent with personal use. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the sources of the heroin were located outside of Virginia.   ATF and WVSP were brought into the investigation to assist with the case. 

William Bonds, 30, of Newark New Jersey and Andre Keyes 30, of Martinsburg West Virginia were subsequently identified as suppliers of heroin that was being sold in the Front Royal/Warren County area.  Several narcotics transactions were made from Keyes and Bonds.  On Friday, December 19, 2014 they were both arrested on Federal charges stemming from the conspiracy to distribute more than one kilo of heroin into the Western District of Virginia.  

Sheriff McEathron advises that these suppliers were responsible for a significant amount of the heroin sold in Front Royal/Warren County. 

Keyes was arrested in Martinsburg and subsequent search warrants were executed.  Approximately 1,250 bags of heroin, approximately three pounds of marijuana, and an undisclosed amount of cash were seized during the arrest and search warrants.  During the course of this investigation over 2,700 bags of heroin were seized from this organization.  Keyes is currently housed in Rockingham County VA on the Federal charges.  Bonds was arrested by ATF agents in Newark New Jersey on the Federal charges.  The investigation is ongoing.

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December 22, 2014
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

On December 21, 2014 at approximately 5:26 p.m., the Warren County Sheriff’s Office received a call concerning a 12 year old male that had been missing for two hours from his residence on Bragg Drive in Warren County. Warren County Deputies responded to the area, gathered information pertaining to the male and coordinated search areas with responding agencies.

At approximately 9:45 p.m. the male was located approximately one and a half miles away from his residence along Howellsville Road.  The juvenile flagged down a passer-by that transported him to a nearby Virginia State Trooper.  The trooper transported the juvenile to an awaiting ambulance. After being evaluated by medical personnel the male was released to his parents.

The Warren County Sheriff Office was assisted by Warren County Fire and Rescue, Virginia State Police, Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia Department Emergency Management.

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December 22, 2014
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

The Warren County Sheriff's Office has identified Clay Marshall Curtis, 61, of Front Royal as being a person of interest in the homicide of Simon Jefferson Funk, Jr., 42, of Front Royal, Virginia. Mr. Funk's body was discovered in the early morning hours of December 10, 2014 in a wooded area off Kildare Drive in Warren County.

Clay Marshall Curtis was arrested on a federal probation violation and was transported to the Central Virginia Regional Jail on December 10, 2014. The Warren County Sheriff's Office is actively working the investigation and no further information is being released at this time.

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December 10, 2014
Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron

On Tuesday, 11/18/2014, at approximately 12:30 pm, Warren County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to the area of Morgan Ford Low Water Bridge. Warren County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a report from a male individual who advised that he was walking in a wooded area near the bridge when he discovered a deceased white male. 

Warren County EMS personnel responded and subsequently pronounced the male individual deceased on the scene. The man has been identified as Jason Andrew Roach 29, no fixed address.

The preliminary investigation does not suggest foul play. Anyone with information regarding Jason Andrew Roach is urged to contact Investigator Brandon Darr at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at (540) 635-7100.

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