Off-duty state policeman involved in hatchet attack at Southwest Virginia church

Virginia State Police are searching for the man who disrupted a church service over the weekend by charging at an off-duty officer with a hatchet.

A report issued by the agency said the suspect, a long-haired man who appeared to be in his 30s, banged on the doors of the church located in the Troutdale community of Grayson County and yelled at the state trooper when the deranged man swung his hatchet as the officer tried to shut the door of the church.

The trooper ushered the crowd to the church’s basement for safety precautions then escorted the members to their vehicles after the man left the property. The statement from VSP said the incident occurred just before 8:30 p.m. Sunday night.

The report said the suspect could be heard yelling and howling from the woodline of the property. The state policeman suffered minor injuries in the attack.

(IMAGE: GCVA / FACEBOOK)