Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 22, 1991                   TAG: 9102220522
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

EX-DEPUTY DROPS LAWSUIT AGAINST BOTETOURT SHERIFF

Wolfgang Oedel voluntarily withdrew his suit, filed last June in U.S. District Court.

Oedel had been employed with the department for six years when he was fired in 1988.

He alleged Sprinkle refused to investigate allegations of misconduct against Oedel, even though he was required to under department disciplinary rules.

Oedel's suit said that if Sprinkle had investigated the allegations, he would have found them to be false.

The situation started when a deputy shoved Oedel's wife, he said. Oedel approached the deputy and told him to leave her alone, he said.

The deputy filed a report exaggerating what happened, Oedel said. Oedel was dismissed shortly after.

Oedel alleged he requested information to pursue an appeal of his termination but Sprinkle never responded, a violation of department rules.

Oedel, of Bedford, said Thursday that he decided to drop the suit when he discovered a higher court's ruling in a similar case that concluded a person in Sprinkle's position "is protected and above and beyond the law."