Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office
Virginia
End
of Watch: Friday, May 17, 2002
Biographical Info
Age: 43
Tour of Duty:
3 yr
Badge Number: 64
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date
of Incident: Friday, May 17, 2002
Weapon Used: Handgun; .380 caliber
Suspect Info:
Sentenced to life
Deputy Betterton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop
on US Highway 58 near Danville, Virginia at approximately 1430 hours. Deputy Betterton had two vehicles pulled over at this
traffic stop. One vehicle was being driven by a male, and the other vehicle was driven by his girlfriend. After letting the
girlfriend go, Deputy Betterton had the male sit in his patrol car.
The male, who was seated in the passenger seat,
produced a .380 caliber handgun and shot Deputy Betterton once in the head. The male fled the scene but was apprehended the
following morning at approximately 0530 hours. The male was charged and convicted with capital murder and the jury recommended
the death penalty, but the judge instead sentenced the male to life in prison.
Deputy Betterton had been with the
Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office for three years and is survived by his wife, son, and two daughters
This is from "The Officer Down Memorial"
(http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=16277)
