Puckett now being held in NRV Regional Jail in Dublin

Michael Puckett

Michael Timothy Puckett, 55 has been extradited from Surry County, N.C. and is now being held in the New River Valley Regional Jail in Dublin.

Puckett faces an array of charges following an incident in Cana late Friday night which resulted in the death of one Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy and the wounding of another.

After an extensive manhunt following the incident, Puckett was captured Sunday night in Surry County, just north of Mt. Airy.

He was extradited Monday to the jail in Dublin. Carroll County is a member jurisdiction of the NRVR Jail, along with the counties of Bland, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Pulaski, Wythe and the City of Radford.

According to jail records, Puckett is charged with:

  • ASSAULT FIREARM USE IN COMMISSION OF FELONY-(FIRST OFFENSE)
  • Convicted felon (violent) possess/transport firearm
  • Convicted felon possess taser, explosives, ammunition, other weapon
  • ATTEMPTED – MURDER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
  • MURDER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
  • ASSAULT FIREARM USE IN COMMISSION OF FELONY-(FIRST OFFENSE)

Puckett is being held without bond.

Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded Friday night to a welfare check at Puckett’s home on Fancy Gap Highway at approximately 9:30 p.m. When they arrived and made contact, authorities said Puckett opened fire shooting both deputies, killing one and injuring the second. He then fled the scene.

The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives joined a number of regional law enforcement agencies in a subsequent manhunt. The FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information on Puckett’s whereabouts, and the Marshals offered $10,000.

Early Sunday afternoon it was reported on social media by the Wytheville Police Department that Puckett had been photographed by a trail camera early Sunday morning just north of Mt. Airy. Police had asked area residents to review their home and business surveillance camera systems and trail cam footage to help establish a trail of Puckett’s movements.

Deputy Logan Utt, 31 died from injuries sustained in the shooting.  A second depty was hit by gunfire which struck his ballistic vest. He is reported to be in stable condition.

Utt is survived by his wife and two children and had been with the sheriff’s office since 2023.