CHRISTIANSBURG (WSLS 10) -- The Montgomery County Sheriff's office confirms long time Lieutenant Lewis "Louie" Heslip died suddenly Tuesday.
Heslip was riding his bicycle on Tuesday when at about 2:15 p.m., a passerby found him unresponsive next to his bike on Centennial Drive outside of Blacksburg. Rescue crews arrived and took him to Montgomery Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Chief Deputy Robert Hall said the cause of death appears to be cardiac arrest.
Community members say the sheriff's office lost one of the best deputies it's ever had.
Lewis began working at the Sheriff's Office on March 23, 1998. He worked his way through the ranks until achieving Lieutenant of a Patrol shift, he was also a Field Training Officer, Bike Patrol Team member, DCJS General Instructor and the SWAT Commander.
Off duty, he spent much time volunteering with Montgomery County Friends of Animal Control & Care.