Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 27, 1990 TAG: 9004270648
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEAL THOMPSON NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Short
Gregory Douglas Smith, 19, was arrested Wednesday while walking on Wadsworth Street, just blocks away from the market he's accused of robbing earlier that day.
He was charged with arson, breaking and entering and grand larceny and was being held without bond at the Radford City Jail pending an arraignment scheduled for Monday.
At the time of his arrest, Smith had been free on bond for about two months. He had been arrested earlier and charged with breaking into Radford's McHarg Elementary School, Sgt. Gary Harmon said.
Harmon described Smith as a drifter who "moves from place to place" in the city and has been arrested on a number of charges in recent years.
The recent charges are in connection with a break-in at the R&R Market and Snack Bar on Wadsworth Street.
Harmon said someone broke into the market early Wednesday, stole hundreds of dollars worth of beer, cigarettes and other items and then started a fire. A passing officer saw the fire about 5 a.m. and extinguished it before it caused extensive damage.
Smith was arrested about 10 hours later, Harmon said.
Odell Rhodes, owner of the market, said his front window was smashed and beer, cigarettes and other items valued at about $1,000 were missing. He also said it appeared as if gasoline had been spread through the store and someone had tried to light it with a stack of newspapers.
Rhodes said the tile floor was damaged by the fire and there was some smoke damage, but the market was open for business.
by CNB