Wed Sep 25 08:45:00 UTC 2024: ## Roanoke Man Arrested for Leaving Suspicious Items at Church Linked to Judge in Custody Case
**Salem, VA** – A Roanoke man has been charged with obstructing justice after leaving suspicious materials at a Salem church with ties to the judge presiding over his child custody case.
Matthew Wayne Tanner, 38, was arrested on September 10th and charged with one misdemeanor count of obstructing justice by threats or force. The incident occurred on September 8th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where Tanner left a folded $2 bill with writing on it, along with a church pamphlet and notes.
The writing on the $2 bill included references to Judge Hilary Griffith, a juvenile and domestic relations district court judge in Virginia’s 23rd Judicial District, and Pedro Argote, a suspect in the shooting death of a Maryland judge last year. Tanner’s actions were captured on video and corroborated by church staff, who recognized him from their logbook.
Police investigations revealed a history of conflict between Tanner and Judge Griffith, stemming from a previous custody hearing in 2022. A search of Tanner’s residence yielded additional origami-like items, notebooks, electronics, and binoculars, further supporting the suspicion of intentional misconduct.
Tanner is currently being held without bond at the Western Virginia Regional Jail and is scheduled to appear in Salem General District Court on October 15th.
This incident follows a string of recent public safety news in the Roanoke area, including charges against a real estate developer for bankruptcy fraud and the arrest of a suspect in a Franklin County homicide.
First Piper 