MEDIA NOTIFICATION
September 22, 2016

Mr. Ron Staton, Director, Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (CVCJA), and Chief Doug Bradley, who is Chief of Police at BWXT, and a Representative from Board of Directors, CVCJA, surprised Sheriff Mike Brown this morning during the monthly meeting of the association. The surprise was an encased ‘Flag of the United States of America’ that was flown over the US Capitol on January 1, 2016, honoring Sheriff Brown for his 50 years in law enforcement (’66 – ’16). The flag and accompanying official document honoring Sheriff Brown was orchestrated by Congressman Bob Goodlatte. The Congressman’s office noted that very few flags are flown over the Capitol for presentation on January 1 as this is a federal holiday. However, Congressman Goodlatte was able to ‘move mountains’ and get it done for Sheriff Brown.

Sheriff Brown’s career encompassed service as a deputy sheriff here in Bedford (’66), military policeman, Washington DC police officer, retired federal agent, and Sheriff of Bedford County, Virginia.

Sheriff Brown commented; “Surprised just doesn’t say enough…I was flabbergasted to say the very least. To be honored in this manner by my peers and my congressman is beyond my ability to express!”

Sheriff Brown will proudly display the shadow boxed flag in the lobby of his office.

PRESS RELEASE
September 8, 2016

Boys With A Dream

This group of young men will leave the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 10:00AM, on Monday, September 12, 2016, in route to the Sheraton Hotel, Tyson Corners, Virginia, for recognition and hosting by the Virginia Sheriff’s Association/Institute and Congressman Bob Goodlatte.  Their schedule includes a Metro ride to a ballgame Monday night, Nationals vs Mets, and a special VIP tour of the US Capitol and lunch at the Capitol.

We want to invite the community to their ‘send-off’ and would request some coverage on this special event.

Transportation for the trip will be provided by Berglund Automotive Group.

‘Boys With a Dream’ will be introduced to the membership of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and other special guests in attendance, Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 8:30 am in the Fairfax Ballroom, Capital A.

PRESS RELEASE
September 8, 2016

Yep, the above font is ‘Chiller’, and that is what Bedford County Deputies called the situation in the county last week after they encountered an adult male, threatening suicide, with a handgun in his hand. The male suddenly turned on them and advanced on the deputies with weapon still in his hand and what appeared to be an elevation of the hand with the weapon toward the deputies. The deputies assumed a defensive position and before the hand with the weapon could be raised any further the subject was Tazered by one of the deputies, whereby averting a tragedy…the weapon in the subject’s hand was a BB gun.

This near tragedy underscored the need to clamp down on the sale of replica and pellet guns that often look nearly indistinguishable from actual weapons.

BB Gun from front

BB Gun from the side

“We train these officers to make split-second, life-or-death decisions,” said Sheriff Mike Brown. “When they have a gun pointed at them, there is no time to think, ‘is that real or a toy? Is the guy 15 or is he 25?'”

I would hope that BB gun manufacturers see the need to put bright colors on certain parts of the toy weapons. This could, hopefully, avert this situation from playing out in other parts of this country where other individuals, not as fortunate as this individual, have lost their lives.

Download the PDF Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
September 6, 2016

The victim of this morning’s shooting is Kimberly Meador, age 47, 1021 Crabapple Lane, Huddleston. Torode and Meador were well known to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office due to their ongoing domestic issues.

On Saturday September 3, 2016, Meador went to the Bedford County Magistrate’s Office and obtained a warrant for Assault and Battery and an Emergency Protective Order for Torode. The protective order stated that he was not to have any contact with her. He was arrested on that warrant and served the protective order on Sunday morning, September 4, 2016 and released from jail on a $2,500.00 unsecure bond.

A man matching the description of George Torode was been found deceased of what appears to be self inflicted injuries. The body will be sent to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke.
Investigators are no longer searching for George Torode.

PRESS RELEASE
September 6, 2016

At 1: 30 a.m. Tuesday morning Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call of a shooting on Crabapple Lane in Huddleston, VA. Bedford County sheriff deputies responded and spoke to a witness who stated that he was in the residence with a female when George Torode entered the residence with a rifle. The witness told deputies that Torode began shooting and when the rifle jammed, the witness was able to run out the back door.  While he was running away, the witness heard gunshots inside the residence. He then went to another residence where he called 911. Upon checking the residence, deputies located a white female deceased inside the residence.

At this time Investigators are still on the scene and deputies are attempting to locate George Torode. Deputies do not have a clothing description and do not know what vehicle he is driving.

Torode should be considered armed and dangerous!!!

GEORGE TORODE

Anyone with information on Torode’s location is asked to call 911,  Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900, or use our anonymous tip submission website. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and can receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00.

Download our PDF Press Release

PRESS RELEASE
August 31, 2016

On Tuesday morning, August 30, 2016, members of the Jefferson Forest High School Ruri-teen Club visited the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office. To show their appreciation and support to law enforcement, the club purchased breakfast biscuits for deputies. Club president Morgan Camper said their club was sponsored by the Goode Ruritan Club. She also said that this is their second year of existence and the club is a volunteer service organization who loves to help out the community. The members of the Sheriff’s Office would like to express our appreciation to this group of teens for their generosity and support.

Members in photo are, left to right; Amelia Jones, Christen Wallace, Morgan Camper, Karishma Nair, Jordan Moon and Kayli Mull. Member not in photo; Taylor Moore and Club Sponsor Chela Rue.

Media Response
August 24, 2016

Mr. Rosenfield’s announcement this week does not change the status of Jens Soering’s conviction. In fact, these results have been publicly known for several years.

Based upon the totality of evidence that was presented in Soering’s trial in June 1990, I remain confident that he perpetrated these heinous crimes.

With the possibility of additional legal actions based upon this announcement; I do not feel it is appropriate to make any additional comments at this time. In June 1990, this case was tried and decided in a court room and not in the media.

Major Ricky Gardner
Chief Deputy