DATE: Saturday, November 15, 1997           TAG: 9711150364

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

COURTS & CRIME

PORTSMOUTH

Police searching for suspect in death of North Carolinian

Police are looking for a man wanted in connection with the June 29 death of Louis Edward Roberts Jr., 36, a Morgans Corner, N.C., man who frequented Portsmouth.

The death was reclassified from accidental to a homicide recently after lab reports indicated Roberts died of a blow to the head, according to police spokeswoman Lindsay Disbrow. Police have charged Roger William Stanley, 33, who flagged police down the night Roberts died near the Maryview Medcare Center in the 4900 block of George Washington Highway.

Stanley apparently had taken Roberts to the emergency clinic and found it closed. He told police Roberts had fallen and hit his head.

Roberts then was taken by medics to Maryview Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of a head injury. Stanley's last known address was in the 400 block of Hughes Boulevard in Elizabeth City, but he also frequented Portsmouth, according to Disbrow.

Stanley was described as a white male, 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Portsmouth Crime Line at 488-7777.

Man, 44, faces charges involving 10-year-old girl

Police have arrested a 44-year-old Portsmouth man who faces numerous charges involving a 10-year-old girl.

Jefferson Owen Hudgins of the 4500 block of Westmoreland Terrace has been charged with abduction with intent to defile, aggravated sexual battery, indecent liberties with a minor, indecent exposure and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

An investigation began Wednesday after police received a report, then executed a search warrant at Hudgins' home. The search resulted in the seizure of videotapes, magazines and other sexually explicit material, police spokeswoman Amber Whittaker said. Hudgins was arrested Wednesday night. Police are investigating, and anyone with information should call Portsmouth Crime Line at 488-7777.

SUFFOLK

3 masked gunmen rob Chinese restaurant

Three gunmen wearing stocking masks robbed a Chinese restaurant Thursday night.

Police said they entered the Chinese Village, in the 300 block of East Washington St., about 8:35 p.m. They forced two customers to lie on the floor and the owner to sit at the counter.

One held a gun to the owner's head and made him open the cash register. They took money from the register and from the owner's wallet, then left the store and headed east on Washington Street.

The suspects were described as black, one about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and a second about 6 feet tall. They spoke in an angry, violent manner, police spokesman Mike Simpkins said. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Stanley

Hudgins

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