DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300294

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL  

                                            LENGTH:   99 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** The headline ``Man leaving grocery store shot and robbed in scuffle,'' which appeared in the Courts & Crime briefs in Tuesday's Hampton Roads section, was erroneous. The story never said the man was leaving the store. Correction published Wednesday, October 1, 1997 on page A2 of THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. ***************************************************************** COURTS & CRIME

VIRGINIA BEACH

No link seen tying prior bomb cases, man arrested Sunday

Police said Monday that there is no apparent link between a man charged with manufacturing explosive devices and any of several pipe bombs that have been found in the region in the past year.

Timothy Kratzer, 25, of the 100 block of Ship Shoal Way, remained in the city jail Monday on a single charge of possession of explosive paraphernalia. Investigators described him as a maintenance worker.

Kratzer's was arrested Sunday evening, about three hours after police were called to the Pavilion where a pipe bomb had been found in a car. That device was safely destroyed by bomb technicians from the state and local police.

During the subsequent investigation, police found information that led them to three different homes where they found bomb-making materials. At the third location, they arrested Kratzer.

Mike Wade, a fire department spokesman, said Monday that there is no evidence to link Kratzer to other pipe bomb incidents, but that investigators as a matter of routine would ``run the gamut on Mr. Kratzer just as a follow up'' to make certain he is not tied to other incidents.

Wade said investigators believe the pipe bomb was left in the car accidentally. The vehicle belongs to someone Kratzer knows, he said.

As for the suspect's possible motives in manufacturing the device or its intended purpose: ``We have no idea at all,'' Wade said.

PORTSMOUTH

Unidentified body found in river by crabbers

The unidentified body of a black male was recovered from the Elizabeth River Monday morning after crabbers saw the corpse floating between the Churchland and West Norfolk bridges.

The Coast Guard recovered the body for the police, according to police spokesman Amber Whittaker. The body was turned over to the state medical examiner in Norfolk, Whittaker said.

Police were not able to determine Monday whether the body was that of a man missing after a boating accident Saturday on the James River.

Leon Straus, who was wearing a life jacket, survived the accident near the Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge and was picked up just before 3 p.m. Saturday. The body of Steve Wilson, one of two men with him, was found about three hours later.

The Coast Guard suspended the search for the third man, Darrell Terry, Saturday night, according to Petty Officer Brian Thomas, a Coast Guard spokesman.

All three men were from Richmond, and the survivor told rescuers that the missing men were ages 38 and 40.

Portsmouth police said the body recovered in Portsmouth Monday appeared to be that of a black male between 40 and 50.

Man leaving grocery store shot and robbed in scuffle

A man was robbed and shot after he struggled with one of two men who approached him outside a MidCity grocery store Sunday night, police said.

The man told police one of the men got into his car outside the Farmer Jack grocery store in the 2800 block of Frederick Blvd. about 7:20 p.m.

The victim was treated at a nearby hospital and released, police spokeswoman Amber Whittaker said.

SUFFOLK

Few details revealed in new homicide case

An autopsy was completed Monday on the city's latest homicide victim, but police have released few details on the weekend shooting.

Carl S. Turner, 21, was shot several times early Sunday at a party at a house in the 100 block of Halifax St. Turner, who lived in the 700 block of South St., Portsmouth, was found lying in a hallway about 1 a.m.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police declined to say where Turner was shot, how many times he had been shot or what type of gun was used.

About 50 people were at the party, police said. Earlier Saturday, Turner had argued with a Suffolk man who was also at the party.

Several suspects are being investigated by detectives J.D. Bangley and D.J. Greene.

Turner's death is the city's fifth homicide of the year. Arrests have been made in two.

Anyone with information is asked to call the detectives at 925-6350 or Crime Line at 539-1222. MEMO: Staff writers Steve Stone, Janie Bryant and Susie Stoughton

contributed to this report.

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