FLOYD PRISONER TO GET MENTAL EVALUATION

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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 24, 1993                   TAG: 9302240326
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Short
FLOYD PRISONER TO GET MENTAL EVALUATION
A preliminary hearing for a Floyd County Jail prisoner who was shot during an apparent escape attempt from Radford Community Hospital was delayed Monday when his attorney asked that the man be mentally evaluated.
Roger Lee Dodson, 41, will be evaluated at Central State Hospital in Petersburg to determine whether he was sane at the time of the offense and if he is competent to stand trial, Commonwealth's Attorney Randal Duncan said.
Dodson was charged with attempted escape and assaulting a law enforcement officer. The preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for May 17.
State police and Radford investigators concluded that the Floyd County deputy who shot Dodson acted properly.
Dodson was shot in the left side of his chest by Steve Tolbert, a correctional officer, after a struggle at the door of a secured hospital room.
Dodson was at the hospital after he complained of chest pains while at the Floyd County Jail. He had been arrested two days earlier after being a fugitive from Floyd County for four years. Dodson had been wanted since 1989 on charges of sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and grand larceny.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB