PAGE COUNTY, Va. — On Tuesday, Page County Sheriff Chad Cubbage defended the county’s continued use of Flock license plate reader cameras and cooperation with federal immigration authorities, while also addressing the recent shooting involving a sheriff’s deputy.
In a roughly five-minute video statement on August 25, 2026, Cubbage reflected on an incident the previous week in which an Alexander Michael Morgan of New York state allegedly destroyed several local Flock cameras, fired at a PCSO deputy and struck the deputy’s vehicle.
In the video statement, Cubbage criticized social media posts he alleges portrayed Morgan as a hero.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
To provide context, the administrator of a Facebook page shared a post from an out-of-state blogger who praised Morgan and referred to him as a hero.
Within the comments, the page administrator expressed support for law enforcement.
However, the decision to share the “hero” post at all was interpreted by some commenters as an expression of support for Morgan.
Heated exchanges among local residents, the page administrator and even members of law enforcement subsequently appeared across multiple Facebook pages.
The Sheriff’s video statement continued …
“If someone comes to this area trying or attempting to harm a law enforcement officer or an innocent citizen, we will use whatever force we have to use to stop that threat,” Cubbage said.
The sheriff also addressed controversy surrounding Page County’s use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras, saying his position on the technology has not changed.
“We’re going to continue with Flock,” he said.
According to Cubbage, five administrators within the Sheriff’s Office have access to the system, and parameters have been established to prevent its misuse.
Cubbage cited a recent investigation as an example of the technology’s usefulness, saying authorities recently used Flock cameras to help apprehend a suspect accused of abducting a woman.
The sheriff also addressed the department’s participation in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program and its cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Cubbage said an ICE operation conducted in the community several weeks ago resulted in the apprehension of a member of Tren de Aragua — a Venezuelan criminal organization designated by the federal government as a foreign terrorist organization.
“If it had not been for the ICE operation several weeks ago, right here in our community, we were able to apprehend a Tren de Aragua member who was a very high-ranking official that will be sentenced to life in jail,” Cubbage said.
Cubbage did not identify the individual or provide additional details about the case in his video statement.
A photo of the subject was provided, but with his eyes hidden by a black bar.
Cubbage did not indicate how he already knew that a subject only arrested in June would be receiving a life sentence.
Tuesday’s video statement did not address concerns about the arrests of Luray dairy farm workers on June 12 - a heated topic that has divided the local community.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
A June, 2026 “ICE Monthly Encounter Report” released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement states that the PCSO “encountered” a Venezuelan gang member on June 12, but also does not mention the dairy farm workers.
In Tuesday’s video message, the sheriff said some information that reaches his office is sensitive and cannot always be released publicly.
He asked residents to trust that the Sheriff’s Office is working to protect the community and said keeping Page County safe remains his top priority.
RELATED NEWS LINKS
Page County dairy loses half its employees in immigration sweep (Part 1 of a 2 part story) - Via WMRA & Randi B. Hagi
Body cam footage, documents illuminate Page County collaboration with ICE (Part 2 of a 2 part story) - Via WMRA & Randi B. Hagi
Body camera footage shows Page County immigration stop that led to farm workers’ deportation - Via WHSV-TV and Mason Willett
Suspect Accused of Setting Flock Cameras on Fire and Shooting at Police in Luray - Via Shen-Valley Times and Tracy Leicher