NEWS RELEASES
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Local Men Charged in Theft Ring
(Date of Release: July 11, 2006)
Three Washington County men – two adults and one juvenile – have been charges with 62 criminal offenses as the result of numerous homes, businesses and vehicles being broken into. Thefts occurred on Watauga Road, Lindell Road, Lee Highway, Jeb Stuart Highway and the Creeper Trail. Seventy warrants have also been obtained against the trio by the Abingdon Police Department for crimes in their jurisdiction.
According to Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman, the incidents occurred within the past three months and involve the theft of guns, knives, credit cards, cameras, checks, cell phones, pocketbooks and cash. Charged in the incidents are:
(1) Christopher Matthew Gilreath, age 21, of 25711 Watauga Road, Abingdon, VA
(2) Brian Allen Stroup, age 23, of 1149 Rockwall Drive, Abingdon, VA
(3) An unnamed 17-year-old juvenile from Washington County, VA
The charges range from grand larceny, petit larceny, and unlawful entering into a vehicle with the intent to commit a crime, to contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
“The investigative work of Sheriff’s Office Detectives Mike Martin and Byron Ashbrook, along with members of the Abingdon Police Department, have led to these charges being filed,” said Sheriff Newman. Forty-seven criminal cases, both in the county and town, have been cleared.
According to the Sheriff, many of the thefts were from vehicles that were left unlocked. “The perpetrators would simply locate an area with a large number of residences close together and go from car to car, rummaging through the vehicles for anything of value,” stated Sheriff Newman. “I would ask our county residents to lock their vehicles at all times, whether at home, shopping, or at work,” said the Sheriff. “Many of these thefts can be prevented if the appropriate precautions are taken.”
Both Gilreath and Stroup have been released on $7500 and $10,000 bonds, respectively. A trial date is scheduled for September 20, 2006, in the Washington County General District Court.
The juvenile is being held in Highlands Juvenile Detention.
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SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVES CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRANT FUNDING
(Date of Release: July 1, 2006)
The Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office has received one of forty grants awarded by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Board. The funds come from the Federal Justice Assistance Grant Program.
According to Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman, the grant will assist the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in continuing to make criminal justice system improvements, particularly in the area of technology.
The grant, in the amount of $58, 215.00 does require a 20% match in the amount of $19, 405.00.
“My plans are to appear before our Board of Supervisors in July and request the match be taken from the Sheriff’s Office Police Activity Fund,” stated the Sheriff. “In this manner, the match will not be taken from unbudgeted funds and this will not have an impact on the county budget.”
The total amount of the grant is $77, 620.00.
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Washington County Sheriffs Office – A State Accredited Agency
(Date of Release: July 26, 2006)
The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission’s Executive Board has voted unanimously to grant accredited status to the Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office. The Executive Board met in Charlottesville at the tenth annual meeting on May 25, 2006.
The mission of the Commission is to advance law enforcement professionalism through the establishment of professional standards and the administration of a formal mechanism by which Virginia agencies can be systematically measured, evaluated and updated. The Commission has four basic goals:
(1) Increase the effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of services by law enforcement to the citizens of the community
(2) Provide cooperation and coordination among all components in the criminal justice system
(3) Ensure the appropriate level of training for law enforcement personnel
(4) Promote public confidence in law enforcement
The Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office is one of 26 Sheriff’s Offices, out of 123 agencies, that have attained accreditation. Under the direction of the Accreditation Manager, Captain Gary Coleman, and Office Manager Elaine Smythe, the office worked diligently for over two years to accomplish this goal.
“State accreditation was a long-term goal that I had when I was elected Sheriff over six years ago,” stated Sheriff Newman. “At that time, our Sheriff’s Office was without a policy and procedure manual, so I knew it would be a long time before we would be ready.”
The agency had to meet 180 standards, or request a waiver for those standards that were not within the agency’s area of responsibility. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office requested, and was granted, only four waivers out of the total 180 standards.
An onsite assessment was conducted in April by a three-member assessment team consisting of law enforcement personnel from outside agencies. Their report was brought before the Executive Board to be voted on in Charlottesville on May 25, 2006.
A formal presentation of accreditation will be made before the Washington County Board of Supervisors to Sheriff Newman and his staff on June 27, 2006, at 7:00pm. Making the presentation will be Gary Dillon, Program Coordinator for the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission, and Sheriff F. W. Howard, Jr., VLEPSC Executive Board member from New Kent County, Virginia. ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS MEETING.
“I want to thank all the members of our Sheriff’s Office for their involvement,” said Sheriff Newman. “It took the combined dedicated efforts of everyone to accomplish this goal.”
The agency is up for re-accreditation every four years.
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