CHARLES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Community members far and wide gathered in Charles City County to mourn the loss of a sheriff’s deputy.
More than 600 people, including Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and around 300 first responders from across the country, attended the funeral for Sgt. Floyd Miles Jr., who died on June 9 from a medical emergency while assisting a deputy near the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway and Wayside Road.
According to the Charles City County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was assisting a distraught moped driver, who had blood on him and said that a group of unknown people were after him and trying to kill him.
Officials put the driver into the back of an ambulance, where he became combative and hit a deputy, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sgt. Miles arrived at the scene and jumped in to help break up the struggle, but as a result of the encounter, Miles suffered a “medical emergency,” according to the Charles City County Sheriff’s Office.
A picture of the beloved Sgt. Floyd Miles Jr. decorated with his many badges and pins circulated on social media after news of his tragic death spread. (Charles City County Sheriff’s Office photo)
Miles served in the United States Army for 16 years as an officer before joining the Sheriff’s Office. A native of Charles City County, Miles went to Charles City high School with life-long friend Justin Hayes, who said he was in disbelief when he found out Miles died.
“We had like 50 kids in our class and we’ve already lost maybe seven of our classmates,” Hayes said. “So it was just like ‘Another one,’ you know, and we just lost one not too long ago.”
James City County Board of Supervisors Chair Byron Adkins also knew Miles his whole life and has helped comfort his family.
“When I first heard the news, I was absolutely devastated,” Adkins said. “Mr. Miles [Floyd’s father] was a person I know that’s grounded in faith and trust, and we had prayer and we had a time to reflect over the quality of life of their son. I know of no loss greater than losing your child.”
Hayes said the feeling of losing his friend won’t go away but knows many in Charles City will always be grateful for the lasting impact he left behind.
“Once people leave, they usually don’t come back, and he came back and served his community,” Hayes said. “For a place as small as this it’s kind of rare. And I believe that his presence around the county, you know, made people feel at ease when they dealt with him and in especially being local and him knowing people.”
CHARLES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Community members far and wide gathered in Charles City County to mourn the loss of a sheriff’s deputy.
More than 600 people, including Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and around 300 first responders from across the country, attended the funeral for Sgt. Floyd Miles Jr., who died on June 9 from a medical emergency while assisting a deputy near the intersection of John Tyler Memorial Highway and Wayside Road.
According to the Charles City County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was assisting a distraught moped driver, who had blood on him and said that a group of unknown people were after him and trying to kill him.
Officials put the driver into the back of an ambulance, where he became combative and hit a deputy, according to the sheriff’s office.
Sgt. Miles arrived at the scene and jumped in to help break up the struggle, but as a result of the encounter, Miles suffered a “medical emergency,” according to the Charles City County Sheriff’s Office.
A picture of the beloved Sgt. Floyd Miles Jr. decorated with his many badges and pins circulated on social media after news of his tragic death spread. (Charles City County Sheriff’s Office photo)
Miles served in the United States Army for 16 years as an officer before joining the Sheriff’s Office. A native of Charles City County, Miles went to Charles City high School with life-long friend Justin Hayes, who said he was in disbelief when he found out Miles died.
“We had like 50 kids in our class and we’ve already lost maybe seven of our classmates,” Hayes said. “So it was just like ‘Another one,’ you know, and we just lost one not too long ago.”
James City County Board of Supervisors Chair Byron Adkins also knew Miles his whole life and has helped comfort his family.
“When I first heard the news, I was absolutely devastated,” Adkins said. “Mr. Miles [Floyd’s father] was a person I know that’s grounded in faith and trust, and we had prayer and we had a time to reflect over the quality of life of their son. I know of no loss greater than losing your child.”
Hayes said the feeling of losing his friend won’t go away but knows many in Charles City will always be grateful for the lasting impact he left behind.
“Once people leave, they usually don’t come back, and he came back and served his community,” Hayes said. “For a place as small as this it’s kind of rare. And I believe that his presence around the county, you know, made people feel at ease when they dealt with him and in especially being local and him knowing people.”