A Roanoke County firefighter has been charged with holding his girlfriend against her will.
Robert Stoots, 27, has been charged with abduction, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, reckless handling of a firearm, brandishing a firearm, preventing someone from making a 911 call, and assault and battery.
Stoots has worked for Roanoke County for about two years. He is assigned to the Fort Lewis station, and has been placed on leave without pay.
According to investigators, the incident started early Sunday morning when Salem Police arrested Stoots for DUI. His girlfriend was inside of his truck at the time of the DUI arrest.
During the investigation, his girlfriend told police that Stoots held her against her will and firing a gun inside of a vehicle while she was on it.
She told police that they attended a party Saturday evening together. When the woman asked Stoots to take her home, he refused and drove to the Masons Cove Fire Department. While inside of the car, Stoots is accused of firing a shot inside the vehicle. She was not hit by the bullet.
Stoots is then accused of taking the woman’s cell phone and refusing to let her call 911.
After leaving the parking lot, he was pulled over by Salem Police and charged with DUI.
Stoots is being held in the Western Virginia Regional Jail without bond.
Here is the news release from Roanoke County Police:
(Roanoke County, VA) – Roanoke County Police are investigating a domestic-related incident that occurred over the weekend involving a Roanoke County Firefighter/Paramedic.
27-year-old Robert Kelly Stoots is facing the following six charges: Abduction, Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Brandishing a Firearm, Preventing Someone from Making a 911 Call, and Assault and Battery. The charges were filed by Roanoke County Police for an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 10. Stoots is assigned to the Fort Lewis station and Roanoke County officials have placed him on leave without pay pending further notice. Stoots has worked for Roanoke County for approximately two years. He was off-duty and in a private vehicle when the crimes occurred.
Early Sunday morning, Roanoke County Police were notified by Salem Police that officers there had arrested a Roanoke County Fire Department employee for DUI. Stoots’ girlfriend was a passenger in Stoots’ truck when he was placed under arrest. During the course of the investigation, Salem Police learned that Stoots’ girlfriend had been held in the truck against her will and that Stoots had pointed a gun at her. Salem Police contacted Roanoke County after concluding that the incident had originated in the county.
Roanoke County police have determined that Stoots and his girlfriend (victim) had spent the evening together at a party. When the victim asked Stoots to take her home, he refused and eventually drove to the parking lot of the Masons Cove Fire Department. While in the parking lot, Stoots pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim, and a shot was fired from within the vehicle but did not strike anybody. Stoots took the victim’s cell phone to prevent her from calling police. He then left the parking lot and proceeded toward Salem where he was arrested by Salem Police on the DUI charge.
Stoots is being held in the Western Virginia Regional Jail without bond.
