VSP report on the Memorial Day holiday weekend

VSP official patch and logo used by permission by Information Officer Brent Coffey

Virginia State Police Superintendent Colonel Gary T. Settle remarked in an email that if the past weekend is any indication of what summer has in store Virginians need to make a committed effort to buckle up, share the road and drive distraction free.

Over the Memorial Day weekend State Troopers recorded the death of 9 individuals including four motorcyclists.

There were almost 2,000 crashes investigated across the state citing almost 5,000 speeders and almost 2,000 reckless drivers.

Two of the four fatal motorcycle crashes occurred in Shenandoah County and two in Loudon County.

Where the numbers are devastating during the same holiday in 2022 there were 16 individuals who lost their lives.

Caution is always recommended when traveling the roads in Virginia as law enforcement will always remain vigilant.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Commonwealth Attorney Bell’s statement on Warren Co.’s Sheriff

thanksgiving activity boxes

Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney John Bell released an email statement regarding a case involving Sheriff Mark Butler.

After a number of inquiries by citizens following an online article involving in part the filing made by Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney John Bell’s office released a statement.

The filing in a pending Circuit Court case involves Warren County Sheriff Mark Butler.

It is a prosecutor’s legal and ethical duty to disclose exculpatory evidence and information that casts doubt on the truthfulness of a witness.

The Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney is obligated by law to make a disclosure in the case of the Commonwealth verses Hutzell.

That is a Circuit Court case in which then Town of Herndon Police Officer Mark Butler made an arrest.

Two Internal Affairs investigations were conducted by the Town of Herndon Police Department after the 2019 arrest.

The results of the investigation resulted in the then Officer Butler being accused of falsifying statements in two separate incidents.

In light of this information the Commonwealth’s Attorney is unable to call Sheriff Butler to the witness stand as a credible witness.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is now evaluating all cases where Sheriff Butler is a potential witness to see if the prosecutions can proceed without him.

There will also be a review of some prior cases to evaluate the impact of Butler’s participation.

In the released statement from John Bell’s office this was called a painful duty when the witness is a law enforcement officer.

The statement went on to say it is a particularly painful duty when the officer involved is the elected sheriff.

Below is a copy of the full statement from Warren County Commonwealth Attorney John Bell’s Office.

Statement of Commonwealth’s Attorney Bell on

Case Filing Regarding Sheriff Butler

Warren County Commonwealth’s Attorney John Bell issued the following statement.
“This office has received a number of inquiries in response to a recent online article which
discusses, in part, a filing made by this office in a pending Circuit Court case involving Sheriff
Butler. All prosecutors have a legal and ethical duty to disclose exculpatory evidence about a
witness, that is, any information that casts doubt on the truthfulness of that witness. It is a
painful duty when that witness is a law enforcement officer. It is a particularly painful duty when
that officer is your elected Sheriff.
“We were obligated to make such a disclosure in the case of Commonwealth v Hutzell, CR22-
533, a Circuit Court case in which Sheriff Butler was the arresting officer. The disclosure
consists of the results of two Internal Affairs investigations conducted by the Town of Herndon
Police Department when Sheriff Butler was employed there as an Officer in 2019. The Town of
Herndon concluded that then-Officer Butler falsified statements in two different official Police
reports about two separate incidents.
“As a result of this information, we are unable to call Sheriff Butler to the witness stand as a
credible witness. We are currently evaluating all cases where Sheriff Butler is a potential
witness to see if the prosecutions can proceed without him. There will also be a review of some
prior cases to evaluate the impact of his participation.”

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

River Report: 6-2-23

In this edition of the Shenandoah River Reports, Mark Frondorf updates us on river conditions, and if you’ve ever wanted to go fishing but don’t know how to start, Mark points you in the right direction. It’s also a weekend of Free Fishing Days in Virginia. Our reports are brought to you by Front Royal Outdoors. Let Don Roberts and his crew get you out on the South Fork this Summer! Visit https://frontroyaloutdoors.com to find out more!

LCSO seeks the public’s help after human remains are found

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) reports the launching of a death investigation after human remains were found.

The remains were discovered by a hiker who notified the LCSO.

The remains were found in the Sugarland Run Stream in Sterling Virginia around 7:35 p.m. on May 31.

The remains were in Sugarland Run behind Brookfield Circle and Meadowland Lane.

Authorities have transported the remains to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for identification and attempts to determine the cause of death.

Investigators LCSO are asking for any information in relation with the discovery.

If you have any information or perhaps know of a missing person you should contact LCSO Detective T. Rodriquez at 703-777-1021.

You can submit an anonymous tip at 703-777-1919 or use the LCSO app.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Gov. Youngkin sends National Guard Troops to the U.S. boarder

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that he has issued Executive Directive Four which deploys National Guard Troopers to the Southern U.S. Border.

The directive is in response to the Emergency Management assistance request from Texas to address the ongoing Southern U.S. Border Crisis.

Texas requested assistance from all states and territories through the Emergency Management assistance compact of which Virginia is a founding member.

Per Governor Abbott’s request for military support to assist in managing the conditions Virginia will send 100 troops at first, in response to the Texas request.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced that his state will also send troopers.

South Carolina and a growing number of other states are also sending National Guards Troops to assist Texas.

Abbot sighted the continued instability along the border that includes the increase in illegal drugs and human trafficking in the request for military support.

Governor Youngkin noted that the ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state.

Youngkin went on to say given the intense resource demands on Texas the Commonwealth will do its part to assist in key aspects of their mission to secure the border and reduce the flow of fentanyl and illicit drugs that have caused the death of five Virginians a day on average.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

News Maker Rachael Walker on new programs at WC’s Pool

Warren County’s pool had a great opening starting Memorial Day weekend.

We spoke to Warren County Parks and Recreation’s Supervisor of Recreation and Aquatics Rachael Walker about it in our latest news maker.

News makers are sponsored by Warren County Together We are Community.

Rachael tells us about the opening and a rescue having been made on the very first weekend.

She also tells us about the new programs and packages that are available at the pool this year.

Rachael also fills us in on other Parks and Recreation activities including bus trips to National’s Park.

Click here for Rachael’s news maker.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.