PRESS RELEASE
December 6, 2015

At 1:50 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call to the Shop-In Convenience Store located at 7865 Jordantown Road. The caller reported there was a Nissan Pathfinder parked on the side parking lot of the store with a man in it. The vehicle had been there for two hours and he, the lone occupant, seemed to be unresponsive. Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies and Bedford County Fire/EMS units were dispatched to the scene. A Bedford County sheriff’s investigator was first on the scene at 1:51 p.m. and found a white male slumped over the steering wheel of the vehicle. After several attempts to get a response the deputy was able to get the man to respond. After removing the man from the vehicle he was identified as being Tony M. Borden, age 32, of Salem. He was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital by Bedford County EMS. While securing the vehicle deputies observed a container they suspected to be a possible explosive device. This determination was based on their training and experience. At 2:10 p.m., it was decided to evacuate the store and with the assistance of Bedford County Fire Units set up a safety perimeter around the area. Vehicle travel was diverted around the area of the store. An Explosive K-9 from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene. Agents from the ATF and Virginia State Police explosives investigators responded to the scene as well. At 4:04 p.m. and after determining the container was not an explosive device the safety perimeter was lifted and travel was restored to normal. After determining the device was safe deputies continued to search the vehicle. During the search of the vehicle a loaded hand gun and an assault rifle with loaded magazines were found. Packages containing marijuana, crystal methamphetamines, cocaine and clonazepam were also located in the vehicle.

Saturday night, Bedford County Sheriff’s investigators obtained warrants on Tony Borden for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of schedule 1 & 2 narcotics (cocaine) with intent to distribute, possession of scheduled 1 & 2 narcotics (crystal meth.), and two counts of possessing of a firearm while possessing narcotics. He will be served with the warrants on his release from the hospital.

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PRESS RELEASE
November 30, 2015

On Sunday November 29, 2015, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office received a call to Johnson School Road in Thaxton reference to dogs being shot at. Bedford County deputies responded and identified Jeremy Johnson as the suspect. A warrant was obtained for Johnson and when deputies returned to his residence to arrest him they located evidence of possible narcotics activity. Bedford County Sheriff’s Vice Investigators were notified and a search warrant was obtained to search the residence. While searching the residence investigators located nine one pot methamphetamine labs and two firearms.

Jeremy Lee Johnson, age 25, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty, reckless handling of a firearm and possession of methamphetamines, manufacturing methamphetamines, and possession of narcotics while in possession of firearms. He was transported to the Bedford Adult Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

JEREMY LEE JOHNSON

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PRESS RELEASE
NOVEMBER 19, 2015

On Monday November 16, 2015, Bedford County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Kyler Reid Parker, age 22. Parker was charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor as a custodian, enticing a minor younger than 15 to perform in porn, using a communication system to procure a minor for obscene material and two counts of using a communication system to propose a sex act. The alleged offences occurred between November 2014 and December 2014.

Kyler Parker, Smithfield N.C., is being held in the Bedford Adult Detention Center without bond.

KYLER PARKER

As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information will be available at this time.

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First School District in Virginia to Receive this Program

The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and the Bedford County School Administration will hold a combined press conference on Friday, October 23, 2015, 11:00AM, at Bedford Middle School (503 Longwood Avenue), to formally announce the start of a security project, COPsync, for all elementary, middle and high schools in Bedford County.

After a number of attempts by Sheriff Brown to hire additional School Resource Officers for the elementary schools with negative results, the Sheriff conferred with other law enforcement agencies and school districts throughout the country on alternative methods to provide as much physical and personnel security as possible to the teachers and children in our school system. With recommendations from out of state law enforcement and state school districts the COPsync program was a clear winner.

COPsync operates the nation’s largest law enforcement real-time, in-car information sharing, communications and date interoperability network. The system can inform patrol officers of the threat faster than dialing 9-1-1; hence, the patrol units arrive on the scene quicker and equipped with up-to-the-minute situational information about the unfolding emergency.

Mr. Brandon Flanagan, CEO, will be present to discuss how the system works and what the benefits are of having this system in all of our school facilities.

Also present will be Ms. Debbie Bell, Community Outreach Coordinator, Office of the Attorney General. Governor McAuliffe has expressed great interest in providing additional security measures for the commonwealth’s schools and will be following our progress with great interest and hopefully making available grants for this program to other school systems in the state.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Doug Schuch and Dr. Mac Duis, COO, have been a part of this operation since its inception and have provided invaluable assistance throughout this lengthy process.

October 23, 2015

11:00AM,

Bedford Middle School, 503 Longwood Avenue, Bedford, VA

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On October 9, 2015, at 11:30 AM, EOC Room, Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Mr. Fred Wilson, Director of Training, National Sheriff’s Association, Alexandria, VA, will be at the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office to present this prestigious award to Sheriff Brown for his Rural Bike Patrol Program (RBP).

The Innovation Award is an award for Sheriff’s Offices, nationwide, whose achievements promote institutional excellence. The award signifies a significant advancement in the implementation and effective delivery of a highly innovative idea for the institution of The American Sheriff.

The award highlights some of the following items:

• Improve the Sheriffs Office’s community policing efforts.
• Crime Prevention.
• Advanced extra duty patrol at large events.
• Easily deployable for focused patrol in apartment complexes, subdivisions, state parks, business districts, and strip malls.
• Eight deputies, all volunteers, are the core of the unit.
• All expenses for the formation of the unit, to include all of the equipment…special bikes, and uniforms, was donated by the following businesses and individuals. No county funds were used to put this special crime fighting unit in the field!

The RBP Unit will be present to preview their unit and their equipment, answer questions and demonstrate their riding skills.

Attending ceremonies for special recognition:

• Acute Designs ,
• Bedford Ready Mix,
• Black Water Bike Shop
• CEO, Centra Health
• Clyde A Smith Plumbing & Heating
• Cooke’s Glass Service
• Dominos
• Elena Black, DDS
• Emerson Creek Pottery
• Garland G. Gentry DDS
• Joe H. Coleman Construction
• President, Lynchburg Mazda/Mabry Automotive Group
• President, Maddox & Son Construction/Grace Properties
• New London House
• Summit Mortgage Corporation
• Regional Manager, Wal-Mart

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PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2015

On October 1, 2015 at 12:39 a.m. Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call from John Clarke, 1257 Green Mountain Road. He advised that his brother-in-law; Paul Thomas was in his vehicle tearing up their private road. Deputies responded to the location and spoke to Clarke, his wife, Vicky and Paul Thomas. The deputy advised the Clarkes to obtain warrants against Paul Thomas for property damage. Paul Thomas told the deputy that he would stop what he was doing.

At 1:42 a.m., John Clarke called dispatchers back and advised that Paul Thomas was on his tractor and again tearing up the road. At 2:00 a.m. and while deputies were responding, Clarke called in and said Vicky had shot her brother Paul. After arriving on the scene deputies found Paul Andrew Thomas, age 55, 1205 Green Mountain Road, Vinton, lying on the ground dead from a gunshot wound to the chest.

After arriving on the scene, deputies learned that after Clarke called the second time, he and Vicky got into their vehicle and drove down to block Paul from entering their driveway. There were words exchanged and Vicky shot Paul, who was unarmed. The victim, along with several other Thomas family members lives on Green Mountain Road.

Vicky Thomas Clarke, age 54, 1257 Green Mountain Road, Vinton, was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder and the Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. She is being held without bond in the Bedford Adult Detention Center.

VICKY CLARKE

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PRESS RELEASE
September 30, 2015

Bedford, VA – Lloyd Welch will make his first court appearance in Bedford County Circuit Court at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2015.
At that time he will be appointed an attorney and will then be advised of the charges being brought against him in reference to the Lyon sisters case.

LLOYD WELCH

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