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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995                   TAG: 9507060062
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MAN IN CAR HURT BY FIREWORKS

A 28-year-old Southwest Roanoke man suffered minor burns after firecrackers were thrown into his car late Tuesday.

Roanoke police gave this account: Five men approached the victim's car, which had broken down on the 2600 block of Massachusetts Avenue Northwest. The men threw fireworks into the car while the victim sat inside, and then when the victim tried to flee, the men assaulted him. The victim finally was able to escape and got a ride from a passer-by. He called police from a nearby business.

The victim's car caught fire and was extinguished by firefighters. The victim was treated for minor burns at Lewis-Gale Hospital.

In other crime news, a 15-year-old Vinton boy told Roanoke police he was robbed in the area of River's Edge Sports Complex about 10:35 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said the juvenile told them he was walking across the soccer fields when he heard someone running behind him. The teen-ager began to run. A man riding a bicycle caught up to the victim, taking his camcorder, valued at $650. The teen-ager told police, who found the suspect a short distance away.

Fred Douglas VanDyke, 21, of Washington Avenue Southwest and a second suspect, Frank Jason Taylor, 19, of Hunters Trail, Roanoke County, each were charged with robbery. Late Wednesday, VanDyke and Taylor were free on bond.

by CNB