ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996                   TAG: 9605100090
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER 

ARMED WOMAN FACES MINOR CHARGE OFFICER, FEARING THREAT, SHOT HER IN LEGS

A Christiansburg woman armed with a loaded rifle who was shot last month after approaching a policewoman was charged Wednesday with reckless handling of a firearm.

Stella Arcaro, 42, was released on a summons until a June 4 arraignment, according to Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith.

She left Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital on Wednesday after 11 days of treatment for a femur fracture in one leg and a calf wound in another, according to a nursing supervisor.

Keith this week received the results of a state police investigation he said shows that the way Arcaro ``waved the gun around'' placed Officer Alicia H. Smith in fear and gave Smith the right to protect herself.

A Christiansburg Police Department news release said the county prosecutor ``fully supported the action used by Officer Smith.''

Smith was put on administrative duty immediately after the shooting. A spokesman for the department could not be reached Thursday for comment on her current status.

Arcaro called 911 from her home at Old Farm Village I Apartments, off Roanoke Street near Interstate 81, the night of April 27. She told a dispatcher she was armed and wanted to kill herself.

Town police officers went to Arcaro's apartment and saw through a window that she was holding a .22-caliber rifle, police said.

Arcaro left the apartment through a back door, police said, with the rifle raised and pointed in the direction of an officer.

Smith shot Arcaro once in each leg.

A neighbor said she heard at least six shots that night, but police would not say how many shots were fired.

Keith said he did not seek a charge of attempted capital murder against Arcaro because results of a state police investigation showed that``police could not prove [Arcaro] actually pointed the rifle at the officer.''

``She pointed it in [Smith's] direction, but not at her,'' Keith said. The misdemeanor of reckless handling of a firearm ``was a fair and reasonable charge under the circumstances.''

The firearm charge carries a maximum punishment of up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

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