Virginia State Police welcomes 31 troopers to the force
The Commonwealth graduated the 139th generation of Virginia State Troopers on Friday.
The 31 new troopers received diplomas during the commencement ceremony at the State Police Training Academy in Chesterfield County.
Throughout the 28 weeks of training, graduates received more than 1,300 hours of classroom and field instruction in over 100 different subjects including ethics, leadership, constitutional law, assisting those in a mental health crisis, de-escalation techniques, and emergency medical trauma care, among others.
Troopers will arrive at their assignments this week and begin their final phase of training which includes six weeks with a Field Training Officer.
Graduates from the 139th session come from a variety of states as well as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Saipan.
One local member of the class is James Lloyd Lakey II, who is from Strasburg and will be assigned to Frederick County.
The Virginia State Police is currently hiring for troopers in future Academy classes.
To learn more or apply, click here.
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PCSO make an arrest in abduction case after chase
The Page County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) report being notified that two children were missing and possibly abducted September 8.
During the investigation it was discovered that a court order had already awarded custody of the children to the father.
Authorities worked the notification as a missing persons case after learning of the possible custody dispute.
Virginia State Police (VSP) were then notified, and an Amber Alert was issued for the two children and abductor.
Information came back to authorities that the suspect’s vehicle was spotted in Rappahannock County and possibly heading back to Page County.
Page County Deputies dis spot the vehicle on Route 211 east of Luray and attempted a stop.
The suspect refused to stop and in the process ran into and struck two Sheriff’s Office vehicles and continued down 211.
Once at the intersection of Cave Hill and 211 the driver struck a third Sheriff’s vehicle and stopped.
Francesca Yolanda Long of Luray was taken into custody and charged with 2 counts of child endangerment, felony eluding and assault on Law Enforcement.
The 41-year-old Luray woman also faces 2 counts of abduction one count of disobeying a court order and felony property damage with additional charges pending.
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VSP and VDOT help keep roadways safe Labor Day weekend
Virginia State Police and VDOT are reminding Virginians planning one last summer getaway to share the road responsibly by buckling up and driving sober this holiday weekend.
The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement and education campaign sponsored by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program continues through Tuesday.
During last year’s Labor Day weekend, Virginia State Police arrested 87 drunk drivers, over 4,000 speeders and 1,800 reckless drivers.
A total of 12 individuals died in traffic related crashes over the four day weekend in 2022.
VDOT will attempt to help ease holiday traffic by lifting lane closures and suspending most highway work from Friday at noon until noon on Tuesday.
For up to date traffic information, head to 511Virginia.org or check out the free VA 511 app.
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WPD make arrest in August 2 fatal vehicle train collision
Following the investigation of an August 2 fatal vehicle train collision Winchester Police have made an arrest.
Virginia State Police report by email that they conducted the investigation that led to the arrest of Jeremiah A.T. Greenfield of Winchester.
Greenfield is being charged with one felony count of second-degree murder, homicide and one felony count of eluding law enforcement.
The arrest of the 19-year-old was made by WPD in the 1650 block of South Braddock Street on August 25.
Greenfield is being held without bond in the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center.
The collision involved Greenfield ignoring police pursuit on Route 17 in Fauquier County passing stopped vehicles and colliding with the train.
The collision caused the death of 18-year-old Berryville resident Haidan B. Smallwood a passenger in the vehicle.
The vehicle was reported stolen out of Winchester.
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VSP investigate a fatal single-vehicle crash in Page County
Virginia State Police (VSP) report by email the continuing investigation of a fatal single-vehicle crash in Page County.
On August 11 just past 4 p.m. a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle traveling east on Route 211 failed to maneuver a curve and ran off the left side of the road.
The motorcyclist consequently was unable to correct and collided with a concrete barrier.
The driver of the motorcycle 21 year old Cameron L. Weaver of Lebanon Virginia was killed at the scene.
Despite wearing a helmet Weaver was unable to survive the impact succumbing to his injuries.
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VSP release information on 81 to Front Royal chase
Virginia State Police (VSP) released by email more information on the August 7 chase that ended at Front Royal.
Marguilis T. Boyd of Charlotte North Carolina was the driver of the Ford Taurus involved in the high speed chase.
The 24-year-old Boyd is charged with felony counts of eluding law enforcement in Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren Counties.
In addition felony charges of assault on law enforcement and hit and run in Warren County are being placed against Boyd.
Boyd was transported to Warren Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being transported to the regional jail where he is being held without bond.
The injuries occurred when the Ford Boyd was driving crashed on Route 66 near the Front Royal Walmart.
VSP used a tire deflation device to slow the Ford down before it collided with a Chevrolet Malibu.
After the collision and with deflated tires the Ford continued until it crashed into a VSP cruiser at mile marker 7 on 66 and ended up in the median.
One person remained in the Ford after it stopped and was taken into custody without incident.
Three people ran from the car into the Front Royal Walmart where they were apprehended a short time later.
Two unidentified females from North Carolina were detained and transported to the Hospital for minor injuries.
No charges were filed against the females as they were treated and released.
A 40-year-old unidentified male from Decatur Georgia was transported to the hospital for minor injuries with charges pending.
The officer in the cruiser that was struck was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
Several narcotics and two handguns were recovered at the scene.
One of the handguns was reported stolen out of Richmond Virginia.
The pursuit up Interstate 81 exceeded speeds of 115 miles per hour at times.
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VSP seek the public’s help in hit and run involving a Trooper
Virginia State Police (VSP) report that they are seeking the public’s help in finding a tractor trailer involved in a hit and run.
An Augusta County Deputy was traveling on Interstate 81 northbound near mile marker 220 on August 6 9:48 p.m.
The Deputy entered a work zone at a reasonable rate of speed with his marked cruiser when an unknown tractor trailer struck him from behind.
The impact drove the cruiser approximately 100 feet down the interstate and into a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) work truck spinning the cruiser around.
The driver of the tractor trailer did not stop continuing north on Interstate 81.
The Deputy was wearing his seatbelt which helped him to sustain only minor injuries, but his cruiser sustained severe and major damage.
The VDOT crew who witnessed the event rendered immediate aid to the deputy who could not call for assistance due to the damage to his cruiser.
The deputy was transported to Augusta Health for treatment, there were no other known injuries in the crash.
Due to the impact the tractor trailer would have to have some front-end damage.
The VSP is asking anyone with any information in the incident to contact them at 1-804-674-2000.
Pictures of the incident and damage caused are found here.
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Frederick County pedestrian is struck and killed on Interstate
Virginia State Police (VSP) report by email that they continue to investigate a fatal accident involving a Frederick County pedestrian.
On August 6 at 11:15 a.m. a 2022 Freightliner Tractor Trailer traveling on Interstate 81 suddenly had a pedestrian run east across his path in the Northbound Lane.
The tractor trailer was unable to stop and struck 35-year-old Nicholas B. Cooke of Winchester who was killed by the impact.
The driver did pull over immediately and remained at the scene near mile marker 310.
The tractor trailer driver and a passenger of the truck were uninjured in the incident.
Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact VSP at 1-804-674-2000 or at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
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VSP needs your help in cruiser competition
Virginia State Police Encourages Virginians to Help Vote Virginia’s Cruiser the Best Looking
The American Association of State Troopers (AAST) is conducting its annual “Best Looking Cruiser” contest for the 10th year in a row. The contest began as a friendly competition between state agencies and proves time and time again that healthy competition between communities and departments are a great way for various states to interact with their law enforcement divisions. Various police cruisers from every state are photographed and sent towards the AAST foundation, and the public can vote on which photos showcase the police cruisers to the fullest. The 12 lucky photos that receive the most votes are featured in the AAST’s “America’s Best Looking Trooper Cruisers 2024 Wall Calendar.” The grand prize for the state police or highway patrol agency that receives the majority vote shall earn a “Best Looking Cruiser Award” and will win a place on the calendar’s cover. Calendar sales benefit the AAST Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to dependents of AAST member state troopers nationwide.
In the first year of the contest, the Virginia State Police (VSP) won a spot in the calendar and has worked hard on reaching that goal again. To emphasize the design of the cruiser and the beauty of our state, this year’s photo submission was taken outside Arlington National Cemetery on July 4, 2023. It features the Washington, DC skyline in all of its glory featuring our capitol in the distance and a brilliant display of fireworks above.
The public is invited to cast their vote and support the VSP in this upcoming vote. To vote, access the website link through the Virginia State Police social media pages, as well as the AAST Facebook page, or click here and scroll through the state agency photos to find VSP’s cruiser. To cast your vote, scroll through the photos and at the bottom of the page select your favorite cruiser from the drop-down menu. Agency rankings are posted on the Facebook page daily at 4 p.m. Don’t delay in voting, however, as voting closes on July 31st.
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DUI arrest follows fatal car crash in Madison County
Virginia State Police are investigating a single car crash that occurred in Madison County on Sunday July 16th at 12:20 AM, according to Corinne Geller, a representative of the State Police.
A 2003 Ford F-150 was traveling South on Old Blue Ridge Turnpike, less than a mile from Finks Hollow Road, when it ran off the road and struck several trees.
The passenger, Maya D. Powell, 20, of Culpeper, died at the scene.
The driver, Shawn A. Lohr, 19, of Rixeyville, suffered minor injuries.
Neither were wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact.
Lohr was arrested for a DUI and driving under the influence while under the age of 21.
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