FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Veronica Jones was last seen around 4:30 p.m. in the Rocky Mount area

A Franklin County deputy was arrested by the Rocky Mount Police Department Saturday morning after driving under the influence, according to court records.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is once again working to help give back to those in need through Operation Christmas Joy.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is using ice cream to discuss issues of concern and learn more about the community.

New laws were passed to protect bicyclists this year, and now the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is doing its part to protect them as well.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is reporting new coronavirus cases. On Monday, Sheriff Bill Overton announced that late last month, during a daily screening process, an inmate was quarantined and tested for COVID-19 after presenting sinus/allergy-like symptoms. That person did indeed test positive, which prompted more testing throughout the jail. Since then, other offenders, as well as Sheriff’s Office staff have tested positive. Some inmates have been taken to the Western Virginia Regional Jail as it has a greater capacity to house offenders, while providing any necessary medical care and isolation from their healthy population, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Rocky Mount Police Department say they have located the inmate who escaped a group program on Saturday. Officials say inmate Curtis Sparks, 35, was found in the area of Power Dam Road in Franklin County around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Deputies say a group of trustee inmates were attending a program on the Sheriff’s Office Complex. According to the sheriff’s office Sparks is serving a sentence as a non-violent offender and is known to frequent Henry and Botetourt County. Curtis Sparks neck tattoo (Franklin County Sheriff's Office)Curtis Sparks Arm tattoo (Franklin County Sheriff's Office)

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. In Jennifer Creightons 11 years as a 911 dispatcher, the call she received on June 20 was a first for her. She was in labor, that her water had already broken and that she had the urge to push, said Creighton. We have a baby! So it was a good feeling, said Creighton. If he had waited just 36 more minutes, the baby and Creighton would have shared a birthday. So it was a really good feeling to know I was there for someone during a good day.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - UPDATE NOV. 11, 10:45 A.M.A Marine is now wanted for the second-degree murder of his mother's boyfriend. Authorities say Michael Brown is wanted for the homicide of Rodney Brown, who was found dead in his home around noon Saturday. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff's Office at 540-352-5139. The Franklin County Sheriff's office says it has received new information that Brown is no longer operating the white Cadillac. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man after someone was found dead inside their home around noon Saturday.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - Authorities say a body that was found Thursday in Franklin County has been identified as Travis Pannell, 30, of Halifax. Pannell was shot to death, and his death is being investigated as a homicide, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Pannell's body was found on the side of Jubal Early Highway or Route 116. At this time, there doesn't appear to be any threat of danger to those who live in the area. Nolen with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office at 540-483-6662.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a body was found on the side of the road on Thursday afternoon. At about 1:30 p.m., authorities were alerted to a body found along the side of the road in the 7900 block of Jubal Early Highway. There is no indication that the public is in any danger, according to the Sheriff's Office. Investigators from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office are investigating. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is cracking down on those using or distributing illegal drugs in the county. On Oct. 15, the Sheriff's Office began serving 32 drug-related indictments handed up by a Franklin County grand jury against 16 people. Mary Elizabeth Blankenship, 38, of Rocky Mount, is charged with distribution of a Schedule I or II controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute Schedule I or II controlled substanceAs a result of the arrests, deputies and investigators obtained and executed three additional search warrants. Several additional felony and misdemeanor charges are pending as a result of the searches, according to the Sheriff's Office. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia. The committee was formed to earlier this year, making recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board about improvements to the corridor. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office will open a new drug take back box today. The box will be located at the Sheriff's Office Substation at Westlake. Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax hosts a Women's Health Expo today.

A firefighter was killed and multiple people were injured in an explosion at the LEAP facility in Farmington, Maine, according to a spokeswoman with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. (CNN) - One firefighter was killed and at least six people were injured in a building explosion in Farmington, Maine, on Monday, officials said. One member of the fire department was killed, and four other firefighters, a LEAP employee and a Northstar Ambulance employee were injured, police said. Police said the LEAP building was destroyed and multiple homes in the area were damaged. "Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this tragedy, especially to the loved ones of the firefighter lost and others injured.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - One man has been arrested, while another was hospitalized after a shooting in Franklin County. Investigators say Ricky Dawson, 31, of Ferrum, and Charlie Hairston, 34, of Fieldale, were involved in an "altercation," according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Both men were armed with guns and fired shots at each other, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. He is currently still hospitalized and in stable condition, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be pending, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

FERRUM, Va. - Deputies are investigating after a reported shooting Saturday night in Ferrum, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Just after 11 p.m., dispatchers received a 911 call about shots being fired in the 8000 block of Franklin Street. While deputies were at the scene investigating, Franklin Memorial Hospital notified dispatchers that a patient arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound. The investigation is ongoing and the Sheriff's Office says additional information will be released as it becomes available. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - After allegedly stealing a woman's car and her purse during a Franklin County funeral, two people remain incarcerated in Maryland. On Aug. 3, during a funeral at a church on Lakemount Drive in Moneta, a man and woman walked into the church, stole a woman's purse and drove away in her car. On Aug. 6, the two were found in Montgomery County, Maryland, with the car stolen from Moneta. According to the Sheriff's Office, investigators were able to obtain a confession. Both are currently being detained in Montgomery County, Maryland.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - The Franklin County Sheriff's Office showed more than two dozen kids how to have fun on the lake while also teaching them about law enforcement. The Sheriff's Office is hosting its annual Virginia Rules camp at the Franklin County 4-H Center on Smith Mountain Lake this week. The program is funded by a $5,000 grant from the state Attorney General's Office. Sheriff Bill Overton says the camp is a perfect chance for kids and deputies to learn about the issues each group is facing. "We can't put our head in the sand and think these kids aren't aware," Overton said.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – The Franklin County Sheriff's Office held an active shooter course at Ferrum College today. The course incorporated the latest tactics for law enforcement and public safety response to active shooter scenarios. Virginia State Police, the Franklin County Department of Public Safety and Virginia Conservation Police also participated.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. - The Franklin County Sheriff's Office has arrested two people it says broke into a home, stole multiple items and then pawned them. Three days later, during the course of the investigation, investigators recovered most of the stolen items at various pawn shops in Henry County and Eden, North Carolina. They soon developed Kevin Pulley, 29, of Henry, and Tiffany Archer, 25, of Collinsville, as suspects and arrested them later that day in Henry County with the assistance of the Henry County Sheriffs Office. Both have been charged with burglary and grand larceny in Franklin County. This is an ongoing investigation and additional charges may be pending.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, Va. - Two men were arrested after an alleged sexual assault at Smith Mountain Lake earlier this week, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Deputies say they responded to Smith Mountain Lake Community Park on Tuesday after a woman reported a sexual assault. The woman told authorities that two women and three men were reportedly at the park together drinking when, at some point, Hamadeh and Pena sexually assaulted her. Hamadeh and Pena were arrested and are being held without bond. Pena is being held in Franklin County Jail and Hamadeh is being held in Western Virginia Regional Jail.