
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991                   TAG: 9103270519
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRISTOL, VA.                                LENGTH: Short

OFFICER CHARGED IN I-81 INCIDENT

A Honaker police officer was arrested on a firearms charge after he allegedly pointed a service pistol at a couple in a neighboring car on Interstate 81.

Bristol Police Chief Tom Stone said Roderick Lynn Slate, 20, waved the gun at a local couple on their way to have dinner Sunday. The couple told police they were traveling alongside Slate near the Interstate 381 interchange when he began waving the gun at them for no apparent reason.

"These two people live in the city and were just going out to dinner. It was absolutely unprovoked," Stone said. "After the incident, they were terrified and came to report it to the police."

Slate, of Lebanon, was in Bristol "for entertainment," Stone said.

The couple gave Bristol police a description of the suspect, weapon and car involved, along with the license tag number of the vehicle.

Stone said police traced the car and notified the Honaker Police Department that Slate was wanted for questioning.

On Tuesday, Slate came to Bristol, where he was later arrested on a charge of brandishing a firearm, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a possible jail sentence of up to one year.

Honaker Police Chief Tom Taylor said Tuesday night he had not talked with Slate since the arrest and had not made any decision about possible disciplinary action.

Stone said police confiscated a 9mm semiautomatic pistol from Slate. Slate has been released on $500 bond, and is scheduled to appear in Bristol General Sessions Court April 4.

by CNB