18-year-old arrested for Salem crime spree

Salem police arrested an 18-year-old man Friday afternoon in connection with a crime spree that set the city on edge Wednesday morning .

Bradley Michael Poff was indicted by a Salem Circuit Court grand jury Friday on seven felonies: robbery in possession of a firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, two counts of grand larceny, abduction by force or intimidation, child neglect and eluding police.

According to online court records , Poff has been charged only once before in Virginia. He was arraigned in Roanoke County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in July on a single failure to appear charge. In August, he was found guilty ordered to pay about $200 in court costs.

Police report that after an extensive investigation, they identified Poff as a person of interest early Thursday, according to a city news release. He was taken into custody at a home on Maple Street late Thursday morning and held on an unrelated probation violation.

"Within 48 hours of the crimes, Poff was formally charged with the seven counts," the release reads. "He is being held in Salem-Roanoke County jail without bond."

"This was a multi-layered case that was solved by hard work, collaboration, and technology," S alem Police Chief Derek Weeks said. "The men and women at the Salem Police Department stayed on this investigation relentlessly and brought it to a conclusion. I appreciate each one of them and the neighboring jurisdictions that assisted us."

Police said that during Wednesday's spree, "the suspect had his head and face completely covered with garments and a mask." Those coverings "made it virtually impossible to compile an accurate description that could have assisted in his capture."

"We understand there was some frustration in the media and in some circles of the public that a description of the suspect was not immediately given," Weeks said. "However, the last thing you want to do is provide information that is not only misleading, but also incorrect. It was a very unusual set of circumstances."

An investigation of Wednesday's incident is ongoing. But police have released the following timeline of the day's events :

Salem police received reports of a stolen car at the Riverland Mobile Home Park on West Riverside Drive.

Police believe the suspect drove the car to the Cave Spring area of Roanoke County and robbed a high school student before returning to Salem.

Salem police received a 911 call reporting an attempted robbery in a parking lot in the 1800 block of Braeburn Drive. The suspect attempted to steal a female's purse.

The suspect abandoned the stolen car in a retail parking lot in 1800 block of Electric Road and stole another vehicle. The newly stolen car also had a young child inside of it.

Soon after exiting the lot, the child was abandoned and left alone just over a mile away on Intervale Drive.

Minutes later, Salem police engaged the suspect in a pursuit that culminated back in the vicinity of the mobile park where the original car was stolen.

The suspect fled the vehicle along West Riverside Drive and ran into a heavily wooded area on foot.

All Salem City Schools were placed in "secure" mode as a cautionary measure.

The abandoned child was found safe on Intervale Drive, reunited with his mother, and taken to LewisGale Medical Center, where he was evaluated.

All Salem City Schools except South Salem Elementary School were taken off "secure" mode to allow for end of the day dismissal at their normal times. Additional police are placed at South Salem to assist in dismissal.

All Salem schools were dismissed, and students were returned home without incident by 4 p.m.

Emma Coleman (540) 981-3198

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