ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605100038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
A Christiansburg woman armed with a loaded rifle who was shot last month after approaching a policewoman was charged Wednesday with reckless handling of a firearm, a misdemeanor.
Stella Arcaro, 42, was released on a summons until a June 4 arraignment, according to Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith.
She left Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital Wednesday after 11 days of treatment for a femur fracture in one leg and a calf wound in another, according to a nursing supervisor.
Keith this week received the results of a state police investigation into the shooting. He said the probe shows that the way Arcaro "waved the gun around" placed Officer Alicia H. Smith in fear and gave her the right to protect herself.
A Christiansburg Police Department news release said the county prosecutor "fully supported the action used by Officer Smith."
Smith was put on administrative duty immediately after the shooting. A spokesman for the department could not be reached Thursday to comment on her current status.
Arcaro called 911 from her home at Old Farm Village I Apartments, off Roanoke Street near Interstate 81, the night of April 27 and told a dispatcher she was armed and wanted to kill herself.
Town police officers went to Arcaro's apartment and watched her through a window. Police said officers saw Arcaro holding a .22-caliber rifle.
Arcaro left the apartment through a back door, police said, with the rifle raised and pointed in the direction of an officer.
Smith shot Arcaro once in each leg.
A neighbor said she heard at least six shots that night, but police would not release the number of shots fired.
Keith said he did not seek a more serious felony charge of attempted capital murder against Arcaro because results of a state police investigation showed "police could not prove [Arcaro] actually pointed the rifle at the officer."
"She pointed it in [Smith's] direction, but not at her," Keith said. The misdemeanor of reckless handling of a firearm "was a fair and reasonable charge under the circumstances."
The firearms charge is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum punishment of up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
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