Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, September 22, 1988
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: September 22, 1988
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Apprehended
Detective Richard Samuels suffered a fatal attack during a foot pursuit of an escapee.
Detective Samuels was in the courthouse waiting to testify in a trial when a prisoner broke free of other deputies and fled the courthouse. Detective Samuels, who observed the incident, chased the prisoner towards a neighboring elementary school but suffered a fatal heart attack during the pursuit.
Other deputies apprehended the suspect inside of the school.
Detective Samuels was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.