ROANOKE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - On Saturday at 4:29 p.m., officers from the Roanoke County Police Department were dispatched to Catawba Valley Drive at Blacksburg Road in reference to a single vehicle accident involving a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer. It was later determined the driver of the vehicle was Justin Lawrence, 35, of Salem.
While en route to the scene, officers were advised that Lawrence had assaulted a witness to the accident and ran from the scene. As officers arrived they received a report that a vehicle had been stolen from the 5300 block of Keffer Road by a subject matching Lawrence's description.
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Officers on scene observed the stolen vehicle on Catawba Valley Drive and initiated a traffic stop. The suspect refused to stop and a short chase started. Police say Lawrence stopped about near the Appalachian Trail parking area.
Police say Lawrence was ordered out of the vehicle and refused to comply with multiple commands by officers on scene. Lawrence was apprehended by a Roanoke County K-9 Unit and was taken into police custody.
Lawrence was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and treated for non- life threatening injuries. The witness to the initial accident did not have any injuries.
Lawrence has been charged with the following stemming from the incident:
Drive with Revoked OL 3rd or Subsequent Offense
Leaving the Scene of Crash
Assault and Battery
Grand Larceny - Vehicle
Attempt to Elude
Resisting Arrest
Police say Lawrence was also served a warrant from Craig County for "Unauthorized Use of Vehicle" involving this incident and alcohol was a factor in the traffic crash.