DEVELOPING: Armed and dangerous subject at large following chase into Washington County, Virginia
A statement released by the Sheriff Blake Andis on the Coleman case:
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an abduction case that originated in Russell County, Virginia, continued into Washington County, Virginia,
and ended in the City of Bristol.
The victim, whose name is being withheld, was providing Joshua Robert Coleman, age 36 of Piney Flats,
Tennessee, a ride from Walmart in Lebanon, Virginia. When Coleman entered the vehicle, Coleman
brandished a handgun and provided instructions to the victim on where to transport him and a female.
The victim transported both suspects to a mobile home located in the 10300 block of Goose Creek Road in
Bristol, Virginia. The victim was then ordered to get out of the vehicle, put in the passenger seat, as
Coleman then began driving. Coleman drove to the Exit 5 area of Bristol, Virginia, where he dropped the
victim off near The Falls shopping center.
Law enforcement was notified, and a search for the suspects was initiated by multiple law enforcement
agencies. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office discovered the victim’s stolen vehicle hidden behind
the residence at the Goose Creek address.
Out of concern for the public’s safety, a portion of Goose Creek Road was closed for several hours by the sheriff’s office and the Virginia State Police.
Deputies attempted to contact the occupants of the mobile home for several hours while sheriff’s office
detectives obtained a search warrant for the premises.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office SRT Team executed the search warrant and discovered two females inside the residence. The females were identified
as Victoria Renee Dye of Bristol, Virginia, and Amber Nicole Walker of Pounding Mill, Virginia. Both
females were arrested for outstanding warrants. Dye and Walker are currently being held at the Southwest
Virginia Regional Jail where additional charges are pending following the investigation.
Warrants have also been obtained for Joshua Robert Coleman, age 36 of Piney Flats, Tennessee, for the
following outstanding charges: Abduction, Assault and Battery, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a
Felony, Carjacking, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and Robbery.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Joshua Coleman is asked to contact their local law
enforcement or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 676-6000.
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Washington County, Virginia Sheriff Blake Andis said a driver who led police on a chase through three areas of Southwest Virginia was still on the run as of Tuesday evening and is considered armed and dangerous.
Andis said warrants have been secured for the arrest of Joshua Robert Coleman, 37, on charges of abduction, carjacking, robbery, and two weapon charges related to the incident that the sheriff said began initially in Russell County, Virginia then Bristol, Virginia before concluding in Washington County.
The sheriff also said based on preliminary information the victim that Coleman abducted was not injured although he did use the gun during the incident.
The vehicle that Coleman took was recovered at a residence in the 10000 block of Goose Creek Road near the Benhams community of Bristol, Virginia. Andis said that Coleman reportedly left that area with another male suspect.
During the search for Coleman at the mobile home on Goose Creek, two females were taken into custody who had reportedly been living in the dwelling without authorization after investigators spoke with the landowner. Andis identified them as Victoria Dye of Tazewell, Virginia, and Amber Walker of Bristol, Tennessee. Both of them are facing additional charges, the sheriff said.
Anyone with information on Coleman’s whereabouts is directed to call 9-1-1 or the WCSO at (276) 676-6000.
(PHOTO: J. Olsen / Bristol Broadcasting Company News / SuperTalk 929 WFHG)
