THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 28, 1995 TAG: 9506280451
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Windsor Supervisor L. Lorenzo ``Ren'' Spivey remained hospitalized in Suffolk on Tuesday, almost a week after exhibiting what various witnesses called strange, irrational behavior on the streets of Windsor.
Spivey did not attend a county Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday afternoon. Instead, a hand-written letter from him was sent to the board by fax Tuesday from Louise Obici Memorial Hospital's psychiatric-care center. In that letter, Spivey endorsed Patricia Ann Flemming for a School Board appointment.
It was Flemming's house he had gone to last Wednesday, knocking on the doors and walls and screaming, according to several witnesses. From there, he went to Windsor High School and continued what the witnesses termed unusual and irrational behavior until an emergency call summoned an ambulance.
``On my doctor's advice, I will not be at our scheduled 3 p.m. meeting today,'' Spivey wrote in his letter Tuesday. ``I hereby reiterate my endorsement of Patricia Ann Flemming, for reasons previously assigned and explained, to serve the Windsor District and Isle of Wight County.''
The county board, however, nominated and unanimously approved incumbent School Board member Pamela J. Edwards, who is serving her second term.
In the Hardy District, Supervisor Henry Bradby nominated Herb DeGroft, personnel manager at Smithfield Packing and a retired Marine. DeGroft's nomination also was approved unanimously.
Spivey was taken to the Suffolk hospital by ambulance a week ago today after a 911 emergency call to the Sheriff's Department alerted officers to a ``strange occurrence,'' Sheriff Charles W. Phelps said.
In his letter to the board Tuesday, Spivey said he appreciated all the prayers, thoughts, concerns and good wishes expressed to him by many people since last week's incident.
``I hope to rejoin you soon in carrying out the duties of my office,'' he wrote. ``I very much would like to be with you but must follow my doctor's advice until he releases me to return home.''
Family members have declined to comment about his condition.
Spivey, serving his first term on the Board of Supervisors after a special election last year, is a former member of the Windsor Town Council, the town planning commission and the county planning commission. He is an adult-probation and parole officer in the 5th Judicial District in Suffolk.
This is what happened last Wednesday, according to several witnesses who spoke on condition they not be named:
A Windsor resident said he noticed Spivey getting out of his car, which he parked at Duke and Church streets, about 3 p.m. When he approached Spivey, he said, Spivey began to run down Church Street toward Flemming's home, where he knocked on the doors and walls and screamed.
Spivey crossed Church Street to the high school, another witness said, and alternately cursed and quoted scripture as he stood in front of the school. The witness said that when he offered help, Spivey became ``belligerent.'' The 911 call was made by someone in the high school. Soon afterward, Spivey was taken to Obici Hospital in Suffolk. by CNB