Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 27, 1993 TAG: 9308270282
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
"Right now, officers have been alerted that the two prisoners have been spotted in the Roanoke Valley area," said Lt. Ron Carlisle of the Roanoke Police Department.
City officers were notified via in-car computer terminals to be on the lookout Thursday evening.
Carlisle said city officers were ready to assist Montgomery County law enforcement officers if needed.
The two escapees from West Virginia are suspected in three killings.
Craig Swick, 23, and his cousin, Billy Joe Hottle, 20, are wanted for questioning in Monday's shootings of a Keyser, W.Va., store clerk, and a couple from Cabins, W.Va.
Roanoke County Police Lt. T.W. Haynes said officers were told of the sighting during lineup. He said county officers were given descriptions of the escapees that were provided by state police.
Officers in Vinton, Salem and Franklin County also were alerted to the potential danger.
Sgt. S.D. Mullins of the Botetourt County Sheriff's Department said he learned of the sightings from television news.
"Our guys were just in the dark," he said. "We didn't know there were escapees in the area."
Mullins said Botetourt County officials had received no indication that the escapees were headed their way.
"That doesn't mean they couldn't get on the interstate and slip on down here," he said.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB