Several law enforcement officers were honored Friday during the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers 35th annual awards ceremony.
Virginia Beach Crime Solvers offers cash rewards — up to $1,000 — for anonymous tips that lead to the solving of a crime, the recovery or stolen property, or the apprehension of a wanted person.
Since it was established in 1982, tips to the organization have aided in the more than 7,500 arrests, 15,700 solved crimes, and the recovery of more than $32,135,000 dollars, according to Crime Solvers chair Doc Thrush.
The following individuals were awarded for their exemplary use of tips to solve crimes:
Commonwealth’s Attorney Prosecutor Award: Attorney Scott Lang
Lang was recognized for his dedication and tenacity during an investigation of a case involving homicide, robbery, and malicious wounding. According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, Lang revisited the scene of the crime and listened to hours of jail calls to gather additional evidence. His work helped bring three defendants to justice.
Clyde D. Hathaway Memorial Award: Detective Jennifer MacArthur-Evans
MacArthur-Evans was awarded for her handling of a crime involving the abduction of a female victim from a Sam’s Club parking lot and the robbery of the victim via ATM. MacArthur-Evans worked extensively with banks and the media to gather video evidence and conduct interviews. An anonymous tip based on a news interview helped MacArthur-Evans identify the suspects, who were subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to carjacking, robbery, abduction, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Charles R. Wall SRO Award: MPO Sean Coerse
As school resource officer at Ocean Lakes High School, Coerse investigated several case involving the assault and harassment of a female victim. Coerse gathered evidence, witness statements, and a recorded confession from the suspected Ocean Lakes student, who was subsequently transferred from the school. Coerse was also recognized for his work on a large-scale sexting case that originated at Ocean Lakes. His dedication to the case led to the identification of 20 victims of child pornography, and the pursuit of felony charges.
Henry McDonald Award – Virginia Beach Crime Solvers chair Ray Eisenberg
Eisenburg, retired deputy chief of the Virginia Beach Police Department, was recognized for his contributions to the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers.
In 2016, Crime Solvers received around 860 tips that led to 69 arrests, 164 charges, and the recovery of $104,660 of property and narcotics. The Crime Solvers board approved $15,813 in tipster rewards, according to Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office public information officer Kathy Hieatt.
Though Crime Solvers works in partnership with the Virginia Beach Police Department, it is exclusively funded through fundraisers and donations, Hieatt said.
Learn more about the Virginia Beach Crime Solvers at crimesolvers.com.
