Bedford County Sheriffs Office in Virginia

Bedford County Sheriff's Office
You are here: Home / Press Releases
post

Subject Arrested in Connection with Sexual Assault

At 6:30 a.m., on April 17, 2019, Bedford County 911 received a call from Little Creek Road in Moneta. The caller stated that a female came to her house and said she had been sexually assaulted. The caller also advised that the female appeared to have been beaten. A Virginia State trooper and Bedford County deputies responded and observed the victim had multiple injuries. The victim said that Steve Lorent had sexually and physically assaulted her. He took her cell phone and left the residence on foot. She went to a neighbor’s house to get help. The victim was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of her injuries. She was later released.

Later deputies located Steven John Lorent at a residence in Huddleston. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear from Rockbridge County. Bedford County Sheriff’s investigators later charged Lorent, age 50, with strangulation, object sexual penetration, grand larceny and felony domestic assault and battery. He is being held in the Bedford Adult Detention Center on no bond.

STEVEN JOHN LORENT, 50

post

April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Virginia. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office encourages all drivers to put down the phone and buckle-up. 

Traffic safety researchers say using a smartphone while driving can be extremely dangerous because all three types of distraction – visual, manual, and cognitive – are involved.

In 2017, distraction-related crashes in Virginia killed 208 people and injured more than 14,500.

post

Boys With A Dream to Honor Sheriff Brown

Date: Tuesday, April 16th 2019

Time: 10:30 AM
Where: Bedford County Sheriff’s Office

Boys With A Dream to Honor Sheriff Brown

The Boys With A Dream have been working with local law enforcement to “bring about a more unified and peaceful community” by holding prayer vigils and praying for the safety of all law enforcement officers.

Sheriff Mike Brown was so impressed with these young men he invited them to the National Sheriff’s Convention in D.C. to introduce them and to urge other Sheriffs to bring this initiative into their own communities. Sheriff Brown has continued to promote their mission and support their many activities.

Now, the Boys wish to give back and thank the Sheriff for his support and guidance over the past few years.

Please join us for this special presentation!
Visit: www.boyswithadream.org

post

Suspect Information Sought

April 9, 2019

(For Immediate Release)

On Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m., Bedford County 911 received a call reporting suspicious activity in the area of Holiday Bob Court in Boonsboro. The caller stated  he witnessed a tan or gold Toyota Carrolla park in the area of Holiday Bob Court.

He advised four black males exited the vehicle and went into a residence across the street. Minutes later he saw the four men return to the vehicle and leave the area.

Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies and Lynchburg Police officers responded to the area and found the back glass door shattered in a home on Holiday Bob Court.

Anyone with information on this crime, please contact the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or go online to http://cvcrimestoppers.org. Enter your tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3TIPS app on your mobile device. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00.

Release prepared by Major Ricky Gardner

post

BCSO Warns of FedEx Email Scam

PRESS RELEASE
April 1, 2019
(For Immediate Release)

FedEx Fraudulent Email Scam

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning about a scam involving FedEx. The scammer sends an email with the subject: Dear Customer. The email continues advising “we are in possession of your Parcel…” (which includes a certified cheque worth a very large sum of money, amount varies, and other vital documents) that we facilitate the clearance of the cheque in your country, which is to be couriered to you.

The email continues stating before delivering the parcel the customer needs to pay, amount varies, a FedEx Security Keeping fee. This is a scam…..

For further information go to https://www.fedex.com/en-us/trust-center/report-fraud.html

Release prepared by Major Ricky Gardner

post

Searching For Missing Elderly Woman

PRESS RELEASE

February 22, 2019 


At   1:35 p.m. today, Bedford County 911 received a call reporting Lina Toot, a 83 year old female missing from Toot Boulevard in Moneta. The caller stated that when he arrived at the home the door was standing open. He also said the woman lives alone and she was last seen at 8:00 p.m. last night. She is a white female, 5’ 3”, 113 lbs. and has gray hair. 

Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies, a K-9 from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office along with volunteers from Bedford County fire and rescue are on the scene searching at this time.

Anyone with information on her possible whereabouts is asked to call 911 or 586-7827. 

Release prepared by Major Ricky Gardner

post

BCSO Alerted To Gun On School Property

PRESS RELEASE
February 6, 2019

This morning, a Bedford County Sheriff’s School Resource Officer received a complaint from an assistant principal at Forest Middle School. The principal advised the SRO that he had received information from a fellow student of a possible gun being on school property. After receiving the information, the principal reported that he checked a locker and found a small caliber hand gun. The gun was secured by the SRO and the student identified. The student was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm on school property. He will be held in the Lynchburg Juvenile Detention Center.

Further information about this incident will not be released due to the age of the parties involved.

Release prepared by Major Ricky Gardner

Update:  The handgun found in the student’s locker was loaded.

post

BCSO Investigates Burglary

PRESS RELEASE February 7, 2019

Bedford County Sheriff’s Office investigators are investigating a burglary of Elie’s Market, formally Chamblissburg Supply, located at 10625 Stewartsville Rd. Vinton, Va. The burglary occurred during the early morning hours of Wednesday February 6, 2019.

Anyone with information on this crime, please contact the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-586-7827 or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or go online to http://cvcrimestoppers.org. Enter your tip online at http://p3tips.com or use the P3TIPS app on your mobile device. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00.

Release prepared by Major Ricky Gardner

post

Bedford Man Arrested on Charges of Child Pornography

February 6th, 2019

The following subject was arrested on February 5th, 2019 in connection with an ongoing Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children investigation.

Bryan Andrew Warner, 40 years of age, of Bedford County VA, was arrested by investigators assigned to the Southern Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force. Participating task force agencies included Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Bedford Police and the Lynchburg Police Department. Warner was being held without bond on the following charges:

(1) count of 18.2-374.1:1(C) – Reproduce Child Pornography.
(1) count of 18.2-374.1:1(C) – Reproduce Child Pornography, 2nd or subsequent offense.
(1) Count of 18.2-374.1:1(A) -Possess Child Pornography.
(5) Counts of 18.2-374.1:1(B) – Possess Child Pornography 2nd or subsequent offense.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with any information about this case is asked to call The Southern Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force at 434-534-9521. There will be no further media releases at this time.