THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995               TAG: 9503300424
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: BOTTOMS BRIDGE                     LENGTH: Short :   42 lines

POLICE SAY HE WAS SHOT REACHING UNDER THE CAR SEAT.

State police said Wednesday that no gun was found in the car driven by a man who was shot by a trooper.

Virginia State Police Lt. Larry Burchett said investigators checked the automobile Ray Charles had been driving and found a pound of marijuana, but no weapon.

William D. Block, an eight-year veteran officer, stopped Charles for driving about 80 mph Tuesday night on Interstate 64 about 17 miles east of Richmond, state police spokeswoman Mary Evans said. In checking his drivers license, Block discovered Charles was wanted for a parole violation, Evans said.

Block was walking from his cruiser back toward Charles' car when the man leaned over in the seat as though he was reaching for a weapon, Evans said. Block fired twice at Charles, whose car ran off an embankment as he tried to drive away, she said.

Charles, 33, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, was hospitalized for gunshot wounds at the Medical College of Virginia. He was in satisfactory condition.

Evans said Charles had served time in Virginia prisons on several drug charges. She said while on parole last June, Charles informed his parole officer that he needed to return to the Virgin Islands for the funeral of his grandfather.

When Charles did not immediately return from the Virgin Islands, he was declared in violation of his parole, Evans said. He returned to Virginia about three weeks ago, Burchett said.

Block was placed on administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting continues.

Charles was placed in the detention area of the hospital until he is released to police on the parole violation. by CNB