FIRE & EMS WATCH
Chesterfield crews respond to murder-suicide
Becky Robinette Wright

Becky Robinette Wright/Chesterfield Observer A county woman was found murdered by her husband in this home on Oregon Oak Drive last week.

A domestic dispute ended in a murder-suicide earlier this month when a husband stabbed his wife to death and then killed himself by jumping from a bridge. According to police, a family member discovered the body of Lonna R. Gregory- Moorman, 37, on May 6 around 6:20 a.m. in her Oregon Oak Drive home, prompting a search for her missing husband, 41-year-old Walter Eugene Moorman.

Moorman's abandoned vehicle was found later that morning on the Pocahontas Parkway Bridge. There was blood on the bridge, but no sign of Moorman. Believing he may have jumped from the bridge, Chesterfield's Fireboat #6 from Enon was dispatched and began a search of the area under and near the bridge. Additional resources were dispatched from Henrico County and the Virginia State Police. Upon their arrival, Fireboat #6 was released to go back into service.

Divers then resumed the search, and Moorman's body was recovered from the James River around 12:55 p.m.

Becky Robinette Wright/Chesterfield Observer Crews work to put out a shed fire on Brampton Street.

Manhunt leads to successful capture

 

Red and blue flashing lights on police cruisers, wailing sirens, shotgun-carrying officers and K-9 units filled the landscape at the intersection of Ruffin Mill Road and Jeff Davis Highway on May 5.

Officials say that county police initially responded to the 9200 block of Jefferson Davis Highway at approximately 3 a.m. to assist with a domestic situation involving the transfer of a 1-year-old child between parents. Police received information that the father, Jermaine L. Butler, 32, of Georgetown, S.C., was wanted for failing to appear on a drug charge in Hopewell.

When the suspect arrived and discovered police officers, he fled in his vehicle with the child and another passenger. According to officials, police pursued the suspect on Interstate 95 south to Woods Edge Road where Butler stopped his vehicle and fled on foot.

County and state police began an intensive search for Butler with K-9 units combing the edge of the highway and nearby woods. Police officers armed with shotguns patrolled the Jefferson Davis corridor near the scene on foot and in cruisers.

Becky Robinette Wright/Chesterfield Observer A rollback was called after a motorist hit a parked vehicle on South Jessup Road.

The suspect was spotted, but refused to comply with officers. A K-9 unit was deployed, and the suspect was captured at 6:45 a.m. without further incident.

Butler is charged with felony eluding police, burglary and obstruction of justice.

Stranded boat

 

Around 3:57 a.m. on May 5, Enon Fireboat #6 responded to a distress call from a boat near Dutch Gap Landing. After a brief search, rescue personnel located the stranded boat and towed the vessel with its occupants back to the dock. No injuries were reported. The operation was complete around 5:30 a.m.

Shed fire

 

Around 7 p.m. on May 5, crews from multiple stations were dispatched to 3500 Brampton St. for a possible shed fire. County police also responded, along with Defense Supply Center Richmond firefighters as mutual aid.

Upon arrival, it was discovered a side of a shed was on fire, threatening a nearby duplex. Crews quickly brought the situation under control.

Suspicious brush fire in Lost Forest

 

A column of smoke rose above a thick wooded area bordering numerous homes in the Lost Forest subdivision on May 6 around dusk. Engine #11 and Brush #11, along with county police, responded to the call on Amasis Court.

The brush truck drove through a yard and behind a home to fight the blaze. The fire engine could not access the scene and was parked on the street to protect a nearby home in case the fire spread.

Crews contained the fire within half an hour. The incident has been labeled suspicious.

Vehicle crash on Jessup Road

 

Engine #15 from Airport Station and a Medic unit, along with county police, responded to 6600 S. Jessup Rd. on May 3 shortly after 9 a.m. after a motorist crashed into a parked vehicle. Officials said no one was transported to the hospital, and the crash is under investigation with possible charges pending.