Man charged in Chesapeake
Published 10:23 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The man who led Chesapeake police on a chase into Suffolk on Monday is being held in Chesapeake without bond on five charges related to a robbery of Wachovia Bank in Chesapeake.
Leonard Earl Roulhac, of the 1700 block of Bainbridge Boulevard, has been charged by Chesapeake police with one count of burglary, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of wearing a mask in public, one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and one count of robbery. Suffolk detectives are reviewing the incident with the Commonwealth’s Attorney to see if charges will be filed in Suffolk.
Chesapeake police had been notified of the bank robbery at 10:19 a.m. and responded to the bank, which is located in the 3900 block of Portsmouth Boulevard, in Chesapeake. About six minutes later, said Suffolk spokeswoman Debbie George, officers from that department spotted the suspected getaway vehicle near Hodges Ferry Road in Portsmouth and began pursuing it.
The pursuit entered Suffolk and proceeded down Route 58, where the suspect took the downtown exit onto Portsmouth Boulevard. Near the intersection at Nansemond Parkway, the suspect crossed into oncoming traffic and began traveling the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes until striking the Chesapeake police car, she said.
George said Chesapeake police reported that the suspect pointed what appeared to be a gun at the pursuing officer before getting out of his wrecked vehicle, and then got out of the car, turned and pointed a gun and ran into the woods as the police officer fired a single shot.
Chesapeake police quickly apprehended the man. Suffolk police also responded to the scene.
Further investigation revealed that the car Roulhac had been driving had been stolen from Norfolk. Suffolk and Chesapeake police officers continued to investigate the incident Monday afternoon.