May 29, 2009
Press Release

Bedford County Man Charged with Attempted Capital Murder against a Police Officer

PRESS RELEASE Friday May 29, 2009

On Tuesday May 26, 2009 Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies charged a Bedford County man with attempted capital murder of a police officer. An investigative sergeant and deputy were investigating a burglary of a garage on Homeplace Road, Bedford, Va. The deputies received information that the stolen property from the garage was in a barn on Homeplace Road. After receiving permission from a family member, who owns the barn, the deputies searched the barn. After finding stolen property in the barn investigative Sergeant Brian Neal was walking to his vehicle to get his camera.  As he exited the barn, he observed a white male, who was carrying a compound bow with an arrow notched on the string, walking towards him. The man raised the bow to eye level and stated he was going to kill a cop and that Neal was going to die. Sergeant Neal drew his handgun. Deputy Tim Shull hearing the commotion ran out the barn with the family member, who had given them permission to search the barn. Both deputies, with drawn guns ordered the man to drop the bow and he refused to do so. The family member also pleaded with the man to drop the bow and that the officers had her permission to be there. The man also had a large combat knife in a sheath behind his back. After seeing the knife, Deputy Shull drew his Taser and after warning the man deployed the Taser. The Taser wires struck the suspect in his shoulder causing him to drop the bow. The man then turned and ran to 2262 Homeplace Road with the deputies in foot pursuit. The man ran in the house and tried to lock the door. The deputies forced their way into the house and the man grabbed an ax and the knife. After negotiating with the suspect, he put the ax and knife on the refrigerator and surrendered.

The suspect was identified as Jay Woodrow Creasy, age 28, 2262 Homeplace Road Bedford, Va. He was charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer and is being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Bedford.

Creasy was not a suspect in the burglary and his family owns the barn. After being arrested Creasy stated the reason for his actions was his anger towards police officers.

Sheriff Brown highly commends both Sergeant Neal and Deputy Shull with their professionalism and restraint in handling a situation that could have easily ended in tragedy.  

Mug shot of Creasy to follow.

Major Ricky Gardner

Chief Deputy

Bedford County Sheriff's Office

1345 Falling Creek Road

Bedford, Virginia 24523

540-586-7699 Desk

540-586-9100 Fax

ROCIC Board of Director

Representative, Virginia