Apparent address error results in alleged assault on two New Kent deputy sheriffs

An alleged assault on a pair of New Kent County deputy sheriffs at the hands of a man they were assigned to transport Friday afternoon to a local mental health facility apparently did not have to happen — at least not to the New Kent officers.

A magistrate’s order that sent deputies Stan Belback and Cathy Day to Gloucester County to pick up 24-year-old Xavier Brown for transport to a facility in Williamsburg contained an error, listing Brown’s address as being in New Kent. Now authorities say Brown lives in the 200 block of York River Road, Shacklefords, which is in King & Queen County.

“We were told [Brown] was a resident of New Kent County,” said New Kent Chief Deputy Joe McLaughlin. “It appears, and I have to underline the word ‘appears,’ that [Brown] is a resident of King & Queen County, but we had the magistrate’s order and we had to follow through on it.”

McLaughlin said incorrect information was provided to the magistrate, and he is unsure which 9th Circuit Court magistrate issued the order.

Belback and Day arrived at the Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck Community Services Board offices, located on Route 17 just north of Gloucester Courthouse, around 2 p.m. McLaughlin said the worker on duty opened a door to a room allowing entry for the deputies and at the same time announcing to Brown, who was seated inside, that the deputies were here to pick him up.

“The worker had not briefed the deputies or told [Brown] that he was being transported,” the chief deputy added.

Suddenly, and before the deputies had opportunity to take Brown into custody, the 5-foot-7, 150-pound suspect bolted through the open door, shoving aside the deputies.

“The first contact they had with him was when he was running past them,” McLaughlin said. “They gave chase and had their hands on him a couple of times, but he was able to pull away. The deputies were shoved against the door and a wall, but were not forced to the ground or injured in any way.”

The suspect escaped into nearby woods, triggering a four-hour manhunt that involved Gloucester sheriff’s deputies, state police troopers and a canine unit, and an airplane supplied by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. New Kent sent five additional deputies to assist with the search effort.

Shortly after 6 p.m., Gloucester deputies found and arrested Brown without further incident in a wooded wetland just over a mile from the services board building. He was taken to Gloucester County Jail.

The suspect is charged with two counts each of assault on a law enforcement officer and obstruction of justice. The case will be handled by the Gloucester court system.