The Waynesboro Police Department arrested a wanted Buena Vista man after an anonymous tip led officers to the suspect’s whereabouts. The suspect then led the officers on a foot pursuit when he tried to flee apprehension. John Edward Smith, 29 years old, faces numerous charges from his Sunday afternoon jaunt through the woods in the Philippines neighborhood of the city.
On August 30 at approximately 12:20 p.m., officers went to a house in the 700 block of Malcolm Avenue. They were acting on call from a tipster who said Smith, who was wanted by Rockbridge County authorities, was presently at the residence. Officers searched inside and outside the home but were unsuccessful in locating him. However, an officer did notice that a couch had been moved inside the living room from its orignal position. When the officer checked under the couch, he found a smoking device, bag of suspected narcotics and a cell phone. The officer went back outside and saw Smith near one of the exterior buildings. Two officers then tried to cut him off but he ran into the woods.
After a quarter-mile chase, officers on foot and in vehicles split up and cornered Smith at D Street and Lee Avenue where he was taken into custody. Smith was transported to the Police Department but began complaining of chest pains. The Waynesboro First Aid Crew responded to the department and transported him to Augusta Health. Smith told medical personnel that he had just taken methamphetamine and cocaine prior to being arrested. Emergency Department medical staff cleared him and he was taken to Middle River Regional Jail where he remains without bond.
The charges against smith are as follows:
- Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute (f)/Waynesboro
- Resisting Arrest (m)/Waynesboro
- Parole Violations (f)/Rockbridge County
- Probation Violations (m)/Rockbridge County
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Chris Graham
