PRINCETON POLICE
Jan. 15
• PETIT LARCENY: A complainant told Ptlm. W.M. Bradley that several items were taken from his Stafford Drive apartment while he was out. The man said there was no sign of forced entry and that his roommates, who have keys, were at work with him.
• BATTERY: A man reported to Ptlm. M.B. Gergely that he was walking by Valley College on Harrison Street, when a woman drove by in a GMC Jimmy and pushed him into the ditch. He reported his arm was hurt and that he struck his head when he fell. The officer checked the complainant's jacket and found no signs of dampness on the coat. He reported he just wanted the woman to stay away from him, and he was transported to Princeton Community Hospital for treatment.
Jan. 16
• DRIVING SUSPENDED, LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT WITH DAMAGE, NO INSURANCE, RECKLESS DRIVING: Ptlm. J.S. Bish responded to the scene of a hit-and-run crash on Highland Avenue. The officer located a piece of the front end of a Ford vehicle left behind at the scene and alerted Mercer 911 that the suspect vehicle would be a blue Ford with front end damage and a missing headlight. West Virginia State Police Trooper Marsh located the suspect Crown Victoria and spoke with a man who said his wife had the car out earlier and said she was in an accident. She allegedly left the scene because she was operating the car on a suspended driver's license. Leslie Anderson, 32, of Princeton, also allegedly reported she had consumed illegal substances prior to the crash. She was charged.
• TRESPASSING: Ptlm. B.E. Grimm responded to a call at Pam's Place, where a male subject was reported trespassing on property where only females were allowed. The officer spoke with the subject and advised him to leave the area and not return. The woman who had invited the man to be there was also reportedly asked to leave the home.
• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Ptlm. D.A. Weatherly received a destruction of property complaint at Subway on Courthouse Road. The manager reported finding a box cutter on one side of the property earlier in the day and a leak in the carbon dioxide tubing inside the restaurant.
• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Ptlm. S.R. Pauley and Ptlm. J.S. Bish received a destruction of property report in a rental unit on North Wickham Avenue. The complainant reported the wall had been struck by a vehicle within the last two weeks.
Jan. 17
• FLEEING, RECKLESS DRIVING, SPEEDING, LEFT OF CENTER: Ptlm. J.S. Bish reported seeing a teal sports car traveling at a high rate of speed on Old Bluefield-Princeton Road and passing another vehicle on the left side of the road. He initiated a traffic stop and reported that the driver accelerated, fleeing onto Courthouse Road. Ptlm. M.B. Gergely joined the chase, and the two officers were able to confine the driver and conduct the traffic stop. As Frank Whittaker, 38, of Princeton, was arrested, he allegedly said, “I do give you guys credit. You all have some fast cars.”
• BREACH OF PEACE: Ptlm. J.D. Lambert and Sgt. T.A. Gray responded to a 911 call on Highland Avenue, where a complainant asked if they would remove subjects from her home because they were intoxicated. One subject allegedly persisted in arguing with officers as they asked him to leave the residence. James Green, 47, of Princeton, was charged with breach of peace.
• BURGLARY, GRAND LARCENY: Ptlm. S.R. Pauley and Ptlm. E.T. Pugh responded to Kee Street, where a complainant advised her front door was broken and that someone had taken her desktop computer, a CD player and a porcelain lawn ornament were stolen.
Jan. 18
• BATTERY: Ptlm. M.B. Gergely responded to the intersection of Eighth Street and Ritchie Street, where a complainant reported he was “jumped” by an unknown person for an unknown reason and did not want to do anything about the incident. He also allegedly refused treatment from Princeton Rescue Squad.
• BURGLARY, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Ptlm. M.B. Gergely responded to South Walker Street, where a complainant reported items inside his residence were out of place and that $20 was missing.
Jan. 19
• PETIT LARCENY: Dep. J.D. Lambert responded to Harrison Street, where a complainant reported a stolen license plate. Suspects were unidentified.
• DUI: Ptlm. E.T. Pugh received a report of an intoxicated driver leaving the area of Mercer Street and Honaker Avenue in a gray pickup truck. The officer located a vehicle matching that description and observed that the truck was traveling slower than the posted speed limit and was driving left of center sometimes. Pugh initiated a traffic stop, reporting that the driver failed to yield to the blue lights. He initiated the siren and executed the traffic stop at the Village Store. The driver allegedly told Pugh he had consumed two beers and some pain medication. He also allegedly failed field sobriety testing and registered over the legal blood-alcohol limit.
• DOMESTIC BATTERY: Lt. P.W. Hill, Ptlm. M.B. Gergely, Ptlm. J.D. Lambert and Sgt. T.A. Gray responded to a domestic altercation in progress on Front Street. The adult male present reported he and his girlfriend argued and that she left the residence. The juvenile male there said the girlfriend brandished a knife on his father. The boy also showed officers places where the woman allegedly scratched him. Warrants were pending.
