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Steven Dale Branscome

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• Sunday's search for Branscome
• Community donates food to help Floyd Co. manhunt

Map

• See a map of the search area

State and local police have broadened their Floyd County search for a fugitive wanted in connection with the shooting of a state trooper.

At one point Monday, police had scaled back the manhunt for Steven Dale Branscome, 32, who was seen driving a stolen truck near Indian Valley Elementary School on Sunday.

Members of about 16 law enforcement agencies had searched the area from the air and on the ground for more than 24 hours beginning Sunday morning. But by noon Monday a temporary command center at the elementary school was shut down.

Floyd County Sheriff Shannon Zeman said then that police were working tips out of his office and were waiting for another sighting.

Branscome has not been seen since Sunday, but on Tuesday roving patrols were on the ground in Floyd. The search has now been expanded to include areas outside Indian Valley, state police Sgt. Bob Carpentieri said.

"We think he's still there," Carpentieri said.

Branscome has friends and family in Floyd County and was apparently born and raised there, according to Carpentieri. Police have also said someone may be helping hide Branscome.

Branscome -- whose most recent address is listed as Barren Springs -- is wanted on various charges in Virginia and West Virginia, including stealing guns and a string of vehicles and threatening to kill at least one person. The most recent arrest warrants for malicious wounding and wanton endangerment stem from the shooting of Virginia State Trooper Richard Hughes.

The incident occurred Friday in Giles County as a man -- who was driving a stolen car at the time -- led Hughes and other troopers on a seven-minute chase up a mountain on a dirt road across the West Virginia line before he hit a rock and crashed. He jumped out of the car and ran, police said. Hughes followed on foot.

At one point, the man jumped out from behind a tree and fired about seven shots at Hughes, police said. The trooper was struck once in the neck. He was treated at Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital and released.

Despite an extensive search of that area, Branscome eluded capture then apparently made his way to Floyd County, police said, where he was spotted Sunday driving a stolen pickup truck. Floyd County schools were closed Monday as a precaution.

Anyone who sees Branscome is urged to call 911 or the state police at (540) 380-5700 or (276) 228-3131. The Virginia State Police Help Eliminate Auto Theft program is offering up to $25,000 for information leading to Branscome's arrest.