Standoff

Ends With No Injuries

Armed County Suspect Arrested After 6 Hours

A six-hour standoff between a wanted suspect and officers from the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office in the Cameron Street area of Natural Bridge Station last Tuesday ended with the suspect in custody and no serious injuries.

“If it wasn’t for the professionalism and patience of our deputies, the situation could have ended a whole lot worse,” RCSO Deputy Chief Tony McFaddin told The News-Gazette this week.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 2, deputies from the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office went to the 90 block of Cameron Street in Natural Bridge Station, near the old Natural Bridge High School, to serve outstanding warrants on two individuals.

One, Cameron Casey, was taken into custody without incident on a warrant for one count of grand larceny. The second, Daniel Hedrick, who had outstanding warrants for one felony count of unlawful injury and one felony count of abduction by force, ran from police and barricaded himself in a garage.

Deputies were able to establish contact with Hedrick, but he refused to comply with officers’ instructions that he exit the building. Hedrick had a pistol, which he was pointing at his head.

Police eventually used tear gas to force Hedrick to exit the garage, at which point he climbed onto the roof. He fired one shot, but no officers were hit. Deputies were able to climb onto the building and take Hedrick into custody.

In addition to the two outstanding warrants, Hedrick was also charged with three additional felonies: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and reckless handling of a firearm.

A preliminary hearing on the three new charges is scheduled for Oct. 7 in Rockbridge County General District Court.