Suspected police killer apprehended in Mount Airy | News | mtairynews.com
By: John Peters (mtairynews. com)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Cana, Virginia man wanted in connection to the Friday night shooting death of a Carroll County Sheriff's Office deputy was captured Sunday evening in Mount Airy, after a two-day manhunt across North Carolina and Virginia.
The Carroll County Sheriff's Office issued a statement around 9 p.m. that the suspect in the Friday night shooting which killed a deputy had been apprehended.
Michael Puckett, of Cana, Virginia, had been on the run since fleeing the scene of the shooting Friday in Cana. That night, he shot two deputies who had arrived at a residence there for a well-being check on another individual. His shots struck both deputies, killing three-year Deputy Logan Utt, and striking another deputy in the ballistic vest. Neither that deputy's name nor condition has been released.
Earlier Sunday, Surry County officials had issued an advisory to Mount Airy residents in the North Franklin section of Greenhill and Lakemont in Mount Airy, warning people in that area to remain indoors. A heavy police presence, including officers from multiple jurisdictions, SWAT officers and air support were visible in the area much of the day Sunday, after a nearby resident shared a trail cam photo that showed Puckett in the area.
The search involved a number of area law enforcement agencies, including Mount Airy, Surry County, Carroll County, neighboring agencies, Virginia State Police and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The FBI had offered a reward of up to $50,000, and the U.S. Marshal agency had offered a $10,000 reward, for information leading to Puckett's capture.
Friday night shooting
Carroll County Deputy Logan Utt was shot and killed Friday night when he and another deputy responded to a call for a welfare check at 13658 Fancy Gap Highway. Arriving on the scene around 9:30 p.m., the two made contact with Michael Puckett, who opened fire on them, according to a statement released by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. They returned fire, despite both being struck, but Puckett was able to escape.
Utt died from his injuries, while the second deputy, whose name has not been released, was struck "in his ballistic vest," Sheriff Kevin Kemp said Friday. He has not released any additional information on the second deputy.
Puckett, who has a criminal history in both Carroll and Patrick counties, eluded police for nearly 48 hours.
The Mount Police Department issued a statement Saturday, in which officials there said they were involved in the search for Puckett, and cautioning city residents to be careful, and to consider Puckett armed and dangerous. Sunday, it became clear the search centered in a portion of Mount Airy not far from the state line and the Cana community.
Suspect has criminal history
Puckett has a long history of weapons and violence-related charges.
In October 2023, he was charged in Patrick County with arson involving a personal property loss of $1,000 of more, a felony.
Several years earlier he was the subject of a manhunt originating in Patrick County on 11 charges stemming the discovery of what authorities described as a makeshift camp site in Ararat. There they found items ranging from Molotov incendiary cocktails to a pipe bomb and a hand grenade, as well as an AK-47 assault rifle, an improvised trip device capable of discharging a shotgun shell and ammunition stockpiles. Nazi and Aryan paraphernalia was also found at the camp.
In that case, he was eventually apprehended in Mount Airy, while in possession of a handgun. At that time, additional charges were added, including possession of methamphetamine, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was sentenced to 41 years in that case, but a Patrick County, Virginia court spokesperson said at that time his active sentence was just one month for each felony charge, meaning he only spent eight months in prison.
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Virginia's latest cop killer was a Nazi who should have been behind bars.
maga!
Just shows how long a sick movement can continue decades after its disgraced demagogue psychopath is gone.
Which doesn't bode well for us.
It only matters to republicans if he's an undocumented migrant.
not surprised