RASHAUN BRANCH
It was three nights before Halloween, and a Nottoway fugitive who was wearing a mask didn’t get any treats from police.
In fact his ‘costume’ was a dead giveaway and he was taken into custody — but only after being tased by police.
The incident occurred Monday night, Oct. 28th, in the 12000 block of East Colonial Trail Highway (Rt. 460) just east of Crewe.
Sheriff Robert Jones said that at 10:58 p.m., a white vehicle was seen leaving a driveway in that block of 460 where 39-year-old fugitive, Rashaun Tyrell Branch of Blackstone, was known to frequent.
Jones said a Deputy Sheriff stopped the vehicle, made contact with the driver, and said a passenger in car was a black male with a ski mask hiding the majority of his face. Jones said the passenger refused to cooperate with deputies, the driver was given a warning, was free to leave, and left the scene.
Sheriff Jones said information was later shared with authorities that Branch would sometimes wear a mask in public to hide his face. Officers then began to search the area to see if the vehicle could be located again.
Jones said the vehicle was located at 11:20 p.m., and a second traffic stop was made — again in the 12000 block of East Colonial Trail Highway. “Again,” Sheriff Jones said, “the passenger refused to comply.”
Jones said that when the passenger was advised that it was believed he’s the fugitive police had been looking for, “He stated he was not the subject in question and refused to provide his ID or identify himself.”
Jones said that’s when the passenger “stepped from the vehicle but still refused to identify himself.’
Jones said units were attempted to take the passenger into custody when he continued to argue with officers and actively resisted, “which eventually led to a taser deployment.”
More units arrived to assist, and the subject was taken into custody. Authorities haven’t identified the driver of the vehicle and haven’t said whether or not the driver will be charged.
Jones said, “The mask was removed, and the subject was identified as Rashaun Branch.”
Jones said Branch was transported to Nottoway Sheriff ’s Office, where he was served a number of outstanding warrants including:
•Distribution/Sell, offense date 11/16/2022, Nottoway County.
•Fail to Appear, 8/21/2023, Amelia County.
•Domestic Assault, 5/11/2024, Nottoway.
•Threaten to Bomb/Burn, 6/15/2024, Nottoway.
•Breaking & Entering, 6/17/2024, Nottoway.
•Stalking, 6/15/2024, Nottoway.
•Larceny, 6/15/2024, Nottoway.
•Annoying Phone, Pager or Signal, 6/15/2024, Nottoway.
•Threaten Over Telephone, 6/15/2024, Nottoway.
•Unauthorized Use of Vehicle, 8/04/2024, Nottoway.
•Obstruct, Empede Law Enforcement Officer, 10/28/2024.
Branch was transported to Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville and was arraigned last week in General District Court. Defense attorney Preston Williams has been appointed to represent Watson.
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