On the evening of Monday, Oct. 5, the Christiansburg Police Department responded to two serious incidents that resulted in a large police presence in multiple parts of the town.
At about 8:11 p.m., the Christiansburg Police Department responded to the 1900 block of Ridinger Street for a report of a domestic assault.
Upon arrival, officers encountered an adult female outside a residence on Ridinger Street. The female had visible injuries to the head. A male, visible inside the residence, closed the door and retreated deeper into the residence.
Police called for additional assistance and the department’s Emergency Response Team and Crisis Negotiators responded to the scene. The male remained barricaded in the residence for approximately two and a half hours before crisis negotiators successfully negotiated his surrender at about 10:36 p.m.
Christopher Blake Touchet, 27, of Christiansburg, was taken into custody without further incident and was charged with one count each of felony strangulation: 18.2-51.6, felony abduction: 18.2-47, misdemeanor assault: 18.2-57, and misdemeanor willfully preventing calling 911: 18.2-164.
Touchet is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.
While the situation with the domestic assault and barricaded person was ongoing, Christiansburg police received a call of a stabbing on Roanoke Street, near the intersection of Arrowhead Trail. A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived on the scene first and found an adult male suffering from stab wounds to the upper body. The deputy began first aid and summoned additional assistance.
A witness stated the suspect had fled the scene on foot and provided a name and a description. A search for the suspect was initiated, and he was located on foot in the 500 block of Republic Road in Christiansburg a short time later.
The suspect, Kade Dominic Carter, 21, of Christiansburg, was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with one count of felony aggravated malicious wounding: 18.2-51.2.
Carter is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail.
The victim, Michael Lee Ponce, 50, of Goodview, was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.
A prepared statement from the police department said, “While an exact cause for the altercation is not known, all involved parties have been accounted for and the suspect has been arrested. There is no ongoing danger to the community.”
In the statement, the Christiansburg Police Department declared its appreciation to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. “Their quick response and immediate initiation of first aid to the victim prevented this crime from resulting in a more tragic outcome,” the statement said.
The department also acknowledged the members of Christiansburg Rescue, Christiansburg Fire, Lifeguard 11 and the NRV 911 Communications Center, “all of whom played vital roles saving the victim. This multi-agency spirit of cooperation is what makes us successful in responding to critical incidents in the New River Valley,” the police department’s statement said.
“Last, but not least,” the statement continued, “we want to recognize patrol officers, detectives and supervisors of the Christiansburg Police Department who responded to two simultaneous, violent and critical incidents and successfully and peacefully resolved both.”