Body found inside Buena Vista home identified as retired assistant police chief who served for 39 years

UPDATE (2/11/2022 at 11:19 a.m.)

The Buena Vista Police Department says the man found dead inside of a home after a reported house fire on Friday was one of their own.

This comes after the Buena Vista Police Department was sent to a home at 13th Street and Cherry Avenue for a welfare check.

Once the fire was extinguished and they were able to enter the home, police found a dead body inside.

The body has been identified as retired Buena Vista Assistant Chief of Police, Phillip “Jay” Patterson.

Law enforcement is heartbroken by the loss of Patterson who served the Buena Vista community for 32 years before he retired in 2014. He also served an additional seven years with Virginia Military Institute Police Department in Lexington, earning the rank of Sergeant before he left the department in late 2021.

“He was a great leader, friend and mentor to the many officers he met and worked with during his 39-year career in law enforcement. Our heartfelt condenses go out to the Patterson family and all of Jay’s friends,” the department said in a news release.

The Buena Vista Fire Department, Buena Vista Rescue Squad, Glasgow Fire Department, Lexington Fire & Rescue, Rockbridge County Fire & Rescue, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office and the Rockbridge County Emergency Communications Center all assisted with the investigation.

At this time, Virginia State Police is handling the investigation.

See our previous reporting below:

ORIGINAL STORY (2/11/2022 at 6:11 p.m.)

A man’s body was found inside a home on Friday after a reported house fire in Buena Vista, according to Virginia State Police.

A large police presence was at 13th Street and Cherry Avenue in connection with the fire, which began around 9:30 a.m.

“I’m pretty shocked, you know. I was really surprised. I would have never expected anything like that,” said Shirley Wheeler, who lives near where the fire happened.

Authorities have not released any identifying information about the person found inside the home.

Stay with 10 News for more on this breaking story.

Source: WSLS News 10