Police search for Wythe County shooting suspect

Where was the suspect spotted? Who’s on lockdown? Click here for an interactive map.

Updated 2:05 p.m.

Wythe County Chief Deputy Keith Dunagan says search teams found an item that officers believe belongs to Jaccard around 12:30 p.m.  Investigators would not say what that item is.

The teams are using search dogs, and a “man tracker” from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF).

The teams believe Jaccard jumped down a hill, about 100 yards from the New River, and is now north of Barren Springs, headed toward Pulaski.

Deputy Dunagan says it is possible that the court case Jaccard was scheduled to make a plea in Wednesday could have had something to do with the shootings, but Deputy Dunagan added that he is not certain.

Deputies say they’ve received dozens of calls from people asking officers to check out their barns.  The calls are similar, usually with the owner saying they thouggt their barn doors were locked, but now they’re open.

Deputy Dunagan believes this is the biggest police search in Wythe County in a “long time.“

Captain Saunders with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office says the deputy who was shot in his bullet proof vest, Deputy J.A. Radcliffe, has been with the sheriff’s office for 14 years.

Updated 12:50 p.m.

State Police Sgt. Michael Conroy says he was mistaken about Jaccard being a convicted sex offender. Sgt. Conroy says he confused the plea scheduled for Wednesday, with Jaccard’s past crimes.

Jaccard is not a convicted sex offender.

Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis tells us that Deputy J.A. Radcliffe was shot.

Sheriff Davis says Deputy Radcliffe’s back was turned, and the bullet clipped his bulletproof vest.  The impact left a small abrasion on Deputy Radcliffe’s back.

Sheriff Davis says Deputy Radcliffe was taken to Pulaski Community Hospital for observation, and is going to “be just fine.“

11:29 a.m.

The online Virginia Court Case Information service shows Jaccard was set to enter a plea to four charges in Wythe County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Those charges include:

  * Indecent liberties with a minor
  * Indecent liberties with a minor younger than 15 years old
  * Possession of explosive material
  * Abduction

The online service also shows that back in 2000, Jaccard was arrested and convicted on a misdemeanor assault charge.  The judge in the case suspended a 30 day jail sentence.

Wythe County Chief Deputy Keith Dunagan tells WSLS that officers believe Jaccard is running through the woods, toward a bridge over the New River just north of Barren Springs.

Officers have evacuated homes along Dyer Road.  Offcers are telling people to lock their homes and cars, then secure their keys.

Chief Deputy Dunagan now tells us that a man was shot and killed.  He is believed to have been a neighbor of Jaccard.

Dunagan also says another man (also a neighbor), was taken to the hospital.

Investigators also believe Jaccard set the house on fire.

Dunagan adds that a woman and teenage boy were inside the home as it burned.  Dunagan says the woman broke a window to get out, but he does not know how the teenager got out.

Wythe County deputies and State Police are searching for a convicted sex offender who they believe shot multiple people Tuesday morning.

Investigators believe Douglas Albert Jaccard shot multiple people at a home off of Route 618, near the Wythe County and Pulaski County line.

One of those people is dead.

Officers consider Jaccard armed and dangerous.