Officials gather to celebrate the Chilhowie Bluegrass JAM-Boree being recognized as an Affiliate Venue by The Crooked Road.
Officials gather to celebrate the Chilhowie Bluegrass JAM-Boree being recognized as an Affiliate Venue by The Crooked Road.
Smyth pursuit suspect faces charges 3 attempted capital murder charges among others
During a Sunday night pursuit, a suspect struck Smyth County deputies’ vehicles and shot toward law enforcement.
The suspect, a fugitive from West Virginia, was arrested following the incident.
According to a Smyth County Sheriff’s Office news release, the situation began about 7:30 p.m. when deputies answered a call to Flat Ridge Road in Sugar Grove about a stolen vehicle. The complainant reported that a 2019 red Nissan Sentra had been stolen. Deputies completed a stolen vehicle report and issued a Be-On-the-Lookout (BOL) alert for the vehicle.
At approximately 8:49 p.m., the release said a Smyth County deputy located the stolen vehicle in Marion. When the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver refused to stop, leading to a pursuit.
During the pursuit, the release said the suspect struck deputies’ vehicles and fired two shots from a handgun out of the vehicle window toward law enforcement officers.
Following a lengthy pursuit, the release said that deputies were able to successfully stop the vehicle and take the driver into custody. The suspect was identified as 41-year-old Christopher Lee Sichette of Pineville, West Virginia. The firearm involved in the incident was recovered from the vehicle.
Sichette was arrested and charged with the following offenses: Attempted Capital Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer (3 counts); Felony Eluding; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon; Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony; Reckless Handling of a Firearm; Shooting a Firearm from a Vehicle; Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle; and Reckless Driving.
Authorities also confirmed that Sichette is a fugitive from justice from West Virginia. He is currently being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon.
The sheriff’s office said that no officers were injured during the incident. Sichette was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and was then released into law enforcement’s custody.
The release also said that this remains an active and ongoing investigation, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
An arraignment in Smyth County General District Court was set for May 12.
The Smyth County Sheriff’s Office extended its appreciation to the Marion Police Department, the Virginia State Police, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Smyth County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for their assistance during this incident.
