The Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Virginia Police Division 6 Dive Team in Buchanan last Tuesday to assist with two ongoing investigations. Divers probed under a bridge on the James River for evidence.
Botetourt County Sheriff Matt Ward gave the community a look at the divers at work in a Facebook post that afternoon.
The Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team (SRT) or “Dive Team” is a part of the services offered to agencies throughout the Commonwealth and surrounding states who request their assistance.
“We are grateful for the working relationships and partnerships we have the Virginia State Police who as a supporting entity to local agencies and others are always ready and willing to assist us in our investigative efforts,” Botetourt County Sheriff Matt Ward stated in a recent email.
The dive team assisted local police in investigating a January shooting and a burglary occurring last December.
“These two incidents are two separate incidents that coincidentally happened to lead us to this part of the James River during our detectives’ investigations,” Ward added. “Our Criminal Investigation Unit reached out to the Virginia State Police Division 6 Bureau of Criminal Investigations for assistance when their investigations led them to a need for the services of the dive team in hopes of recovering possible evidence from the two crimes.”
The SRT Dive Team searches for anything tangible in terms of the evidence, whether clothing, vehicles, jewelry, tools, business equipment, etc., or anything related to a criminal act that would corroborate that crime or be associated with it could be evidence.
The Virginia State Police, along with Botetourt County detectives, were able to recover some evidence related to one of the ongoing investigations.
To watch the video of the dive team in action, visit the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://fb.watch/b0WzBIpo1W/.