12:15 a.m. 6/25/25 UPDATE: James Pugh is in custody in Pelham, North Carolina. He was arrested without incident.
The Danville Police Department thanks everyone for their assistance, including the public, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police, the Caswell County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
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ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE: Police Searching for Escapee
The Danville Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating James Pugh, II, 38, who escaped from Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute Tuesday, June 24.
Officers responded to Southern Virginia at 5:30 p.m. for an escapee and learned Pugh jumped a fence and ran into the woods around 5 p.m.
Pugh was last seen wearing a blue shirt/gray sweatpants. Officers are on scene securing clothing belonging to Pugh and a Pittsylvania County K-9 has been requested to help with tracking.
Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Danville Police Department by either calling 911, patrol at 434-799-6510 option 4, investigations at 434-799-6508 option 3, and option 1 again, contacting Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000, approach any officer you see, through social media, via email crimetips@danvilleva.gov, or use our crime tips app CARE at www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=818#.
