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

DATE: FRIDAY, November 24, 1995                   TAG: 9511240085
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-14   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

3 MEN CHARGED IN ROBBERY, ASSAULT

More than a week after a group of residents was assaulted during an early morning robbery on Toms Creek Road, Blacksburg police have arrested three men.

Abdul Christopher Briggs of Shawsville, William Thomas Redd Jr. of Giles County and Maurice Stewart of Christiansburg were charged with robbery, according to Detective Glen Richardson.

Police also charged Briggs with assault and battery. Redd was charged with credit-card theft and attempt to use a credit card for fraud. Both are 18; Stewart is 19.

Richardson would not say how police found the three men, but did say they were arrested at separate times during the past six days.

On Nov. 11, the three victims - one a student at Virginia Tech - were walking on Toms Creek at 4 a.m. when three men walked up to them and asked for change. The robbers attacked one man as he tried to back away and stole a wallet from another, Richardson said. The third man was able to run away unharmed.

All three suspects are being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond. Redd is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 25; other court dates have not been set.

by CNB