Posted on 02/22/2017 5:15:58 AM PST by sevinufnine
A Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputy has a message for the community after his bike was taken from his home earlier this month by a stranded 19-year-old. The deputy took to his Facebook page to express his concerns for her safety.
“A young lady found my bicycle and she was out here alone in the dark and decided she needed it for a ride home. So she took my bike,” said Bowden.
Bowden said he didn’t know it was missing until it was returned to his grandmother’s house next door with this note, apologizing for taking it without permission. The 19-year-old wrote it was 2 a.m. She had no cell phone, money or a ride because of “drunk boys.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wsls.com ...
“Somebody they can coax or force in their car. That scares me and that’s what I think of most. She could have been hit by a car. I don’t know what condition she was in. I would have much preferred her to come knock on my door,” said Bowden.
Bowden responded to her note on Facebook in a post that now has more than 1,000 likes and 2,000 shares and plenty of comments from all over Virginia and beyond praising the deputy for his kindness.
“It’s a lot of courage to come back and bring the bicycle back with a letter knowing that she borrowed it off of a law-enforcement officer,” said Bowden.
Bowden is hoping this can help the girl and others like her to make better choices when it comes to safety.
Bowden ended the letter with the hastag #helpsavethenextgirl, a national non-profit organization formed in honor of Morgan Dana Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who was abducted and murdered in 2009.
This story has touched our community, and many hope this young lady comes forward.
The roads she traveled to get back to Blacksburg are very, dangerous. I know I live in the county. She took a huge risk whether walking or riding the bike. Dangerous enough driving in a car!
I like the general tone of her letter.
I know. Poor thing just wanted to get home. The “due to drunk boys” tells me the fellas who were happy to bring her to the party weren’t much interested in getting her home safely. Hope she’s not going to have anything to do with them going forward :(
God watches over His children ...
From Pulaski to Blacksburg, it is all 4 lanes on Hwy 11 until you get past the Arsenal. It is also pretty well lit. Past the Arsenal, it is dangerous even in a car. I hope she didn’t take Prices Fork Rd.
Radford to Blacksburg is the same road.
Yes he does :)
My son had his bike stolen while a student at Radford University a short distance from where this deputy lives. Sadly, it was never returned.
How about hills?
Wouldn’t the up hill make the journey on a bike difficult?
Note: There is a deputy that lives on Peppers Ferry Rd just before the New River Bridge. He parks his Explorer in the yard.
The problem is that Prices Fork is uphill and all blind curves. The only downhill is just past the Arsenal and not that bad.
I drive this route all the time for Emmaus stuff.
I’m confused. She borrowed the bike, used it and returned it with a note. Why would she come forward at this point?
I like this story.
“From Pulaski to Blacksburg, it is all 4 lanes on Hwy 11 until you get past the Arsenal. It is also pretty well lit. Past the Arsenal, it is dangerous even in a car. I hope she didn’t take Prices Fork Rd.”
EXACTLY MY THOUGHT! If she did take Prices Fork God had to be with her.
You must be a local like me. I live out Robinson Tract, but use to live in Fairlawn and work in Christiansburg so yeah, I’m familiar with those roads.
“Radford to Blacksburg is the same road.”
Not sure what you mean by that. She could have gone up old Route 11 through east end Radford to C’burg. Or down 114 entire way and then 460. OR Prices Fork Road which is most direct...and dangerous way.
“Note: There is a deputy that lives on Peppers Ferry Rd just before the New River Bridge. He parks his Explorer in the yard.”
Yes, I’m thinking it’s him. I do hope the young lady comes forward. The “helpsavethenextgirl” thing would benefit from her speaking of the dangers she was fortunate enough to face and live through that night. I mean..all those drunken folks driving home after Superbowl? She took a terrible risk.
“I’m confused. She borrowed the bike, used it and returned it with a note. Why would she come forward at this point?”
yes, you are confused. point is she could speak out about safety. if you read the article you know the deputy helped in the search for Hannah Graham. the young lady who took and returned that bike put herself in a situation to be another statistic. It would be real good if she’d speak out about finding better means to get home safely. No one wants to judge her at this point.
Radford to C’burg is almost as bad.
I live on Brush Mountain. Bicycles are a constant problem because they don’t understand the concept of “Some roads aren’t good for cycling”. Toms Creek Rd for example. Too many blind curves and no shoulder. Much like Prices Fork.
One of my sister’s friends lost a son doing this exact same thing.
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