Manhunt ends with suspect in hospital

DUBLIN, Va. (WDBJ) - The Craig County Sheriff’s Office says Shawn Michael Tolbert has been arrested in Dublin and is being treated in a hospital for unspecified reasons.

Tolbert was wanted on a variety of charges, including assault on two officers. He had been on the run since August 15, prompting a multi-county search. The most recent confirmed sighting before Tuesday, August 30, was in the Pandapas Pond area of Montgomery County August 19.

Dublin Police say a person contacted them based on photos circulating in the news about a person who appeared to be Tolbert. The US Marshals Service, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police and Virginia Conservation Police came together to aid in the search.

A Dublin officer in an unmarked vehicle also spotted the person, leading to all units being deployed to a bus in a backyard where Tolbert had been staying. State Police utilized a tactical team and took Tolbert into custody.

The case is believed to be isolated with no further danger to the community, according to police.

The search for Tolbert began August 15, when Virginia State Police spotted a vehicle similar to a vehicle the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office had listed as potentially involved in a theft from a gas station. When the trooper tried to pull over the driver, since identified as Tolbert, Tolbert refused to stop, according to police, leading to a pursuit that ended with Tolbert wrecking the vehicle in the area of Route 42 in Craig County.

Police say Tolbert was wanted for three counts of felony eluding and reckless driving from that incident. The Craig County Sheriff’s Office has also placed charges against him for criminal trespassing, obstruction, false identification and two counts of felony assault on a police officer from incidents that occurred during their end of the pursuit.

In the days following the pursuit and crash, there were potential sightings of Tolbert in Craig and Giles counties. culminating in the Brush Mountain report of attempted Breaking & Entering of a home.