Mercer County Sheriff — Sept. 10-16, 2009

MERCER SHERIFF

Sept. 10

• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Cpl. S.A. Sommers responded to Lashmeet Ruritan building, where a complainant reported the window of the back door had been broken by rocks.

Sept. 11

• FUGITIVE: Det. D.W. Sparks Jr. arrested Robert N. Mills, 22, of Bluefield, on a fugitive warrant from Tazewell County, Va.

• PETIT LARCENY: Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to Eads Mill Road, where a complainant advised a firearm was missing from her gun cabinet. She suspected a family member may have been involved in the theft, but the investigation was ongoing as of last report.

• SIMPLE POSSESSION: Dep. J.E. Coulter requested assistance from Cpl. S.A. Sommers at Knob Street Park. There, Sommers spoke with a man involved in an investigation and searched the subject, allegedly locating a small bag of a substance believed to be marijuana. Charles David Blackburn Jr., 35, of Princeton, was cited for simple possession and released.

Sept. 12

• DUI, FLEEING, DRIVING SUSPENDED: Dep. J.E. Coulter reported seeing a blue motorcycle traveling west on U.S. 460, apparently following a small black car and weaving in the lane of traffic. When he observed the vehicle cross the white line on the right side of the road, the officer initiated a traffic stop, but the motorcycle operator reportedly failed to yield to the emergency vehicle. Coulter reported attempting several times to get the driver's attention, but the operator allegedly continued to ignore him, eventually passing the black vehicle it was originally following, without giving a signal and traveling at speeds up to 72 mph. The motorcycle then proceeded onto Mercer Mall Road and entered the mall parking lot before coming to a stop. The driver was taken into custody immediately, and Coulter noted a strong odor of alcohol. His operator's license was also found to have been suspended in Virginia. Christopher Wayne Stables, 18, of Princeton, reportedly refused a blood-alcohol test and simply “stared blankly” at the officer multiple times when Coulter asked him to comply with field sobriety testing. He was arrested on multiple charges.

• DUI: Dep. A.M. Ballard responded to Goodwill Hollow Road to investigate an ATV collision with a tree. While en route, Mercer 911 advised the officer that the driver of the ATV had left the scene for medical attention and that the vehicle had been loaded on a trailer. Ballard reported seeing the ATV in question on a trailer that appeared to be unsecured and activated his blue lights for a traffic stop. Ballard also reported the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time he observed it. The driver, Steven Edwards, was cited for reckless driving, and his wife responded to take him to the hospital to check on the driver of the ATV. Ballard investigated the scene of the crash before speaking with the ATV driver at Bluefield Regional Medical Center, where the man's blood-alcohol content was reportedly 0.132, over the legal 0.08 level. Bryon Hale, 29, of Bluefield, was cited for DUI.

• DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE: Cpl. S.A. Sommers responded to Simmons Circle, where an alleged assault victim was requesting medical attention. The officer spoke with the woman, who seemed uncertain who hit her, but named someone related to her ex-husband. Sommers talked with the other party involved, who reported the complainant had come to their house with an axe handle and left shortly thereafter. The officer advised both parties of the intake and domestic violence petition process.

Sept. 14

• CAPIAS: Sgt. G.W. Woods arrested Edward Luke Seay, 48, of Bluefield, on a failure to appear warrant .

• OBSTRUCTING: Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to Hill Top Lane in Princeton, where a female had sustained a laceration. When the officer arrived, he located a male who advised his girlfriend had been cut on her lower back when she fell outside on the front porch. Coburn noted the man appeared to have scratches on his face and that he looked as if he had been involved in an altercation just before officers arrived. When officers attempted to speak with the victim alone, the man allegedly became very loud and belligerent, refusing to leave them alone. Adam Paul Cecil, 23, of Princeton, was arrested.

• PETIT LARCENY: Dep. E.P. Parks responded to Oaks Mobile Home Park, where a push lawn mower was stolen. The complainant reported the mower was taken sometime throughout the day.

Sept. 15

• DRIVING REVOKED: Sgt. S.J. Cary responded to the intersection of U.S. 19 and Nubbins Ridge Road, where a motor vehicle accident was reported. The officer located the driver, who reported he was attempting to turn onto Nubbins Ridge Road when he was distracted by an incoming text message, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the ditch. A driver's history check revealed the man was operating the vehicle at a time he did not possess a valid license. Joshua Allen Walker, 28, of Beeson, was arrested.

• BREAKING AND ENTERING: Dep. D.A. Furches responded to Hatcher Hollow Road, where a complainant reported someone pried the door of a storage area open and stole several tools.

• FAILURE TO APPEAR: Dep. W.E. Rose arrested James Ray Myers, 48, of Bluefield, on failure to appear warrants.

• WANTON ENDANGERMENT, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Mercer 911 advised all officers to be on the lookout for subjects involved in a shots-fired complaint from Walmart on Greasy Ridge Road. The complainant involved reportedly fled south on Interstate 77 in a freightliner. Cpl. S.A. Sommers traveled to John Nash Boulevard in an attempt to intercept the vehicle; Mercer 911 advised the complainant to take Exit 1 to speak with the officer. The man reported three shots were fired into his vehicle after a verbal dispute with his child's mother. Sommers located two bullet holes and reported he attempted to contact the child's mother. The woman later contacted Dep. J.D. Ellison to report the complainant had become physically aggressive with her when she refused to have sex with him. The case remained under investigation. The complainant was not injured.

• BREAKING AND ENTERING, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, PETIT LARCENY: Dep. C.M. Williams responded to the area of Shinbrier Mountain, where a complainant reported someone broke into his home, cut copper utility wires and removed the wire. While the suspect or suspects removed the wiring, portions of the ceiling and wall were damaged, as well.

Sept. 16

• TRESPASSING, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Sgt. S.J. Cary responded to Princeton Village Apartments, where a woman reported another woman broke the glass out of a back window, gained entry to the apartment and left. The complainant advised the suspect had attempted to speak with the resident by knocking on the door, but a male acquaintance visiting at the time allegedly told her not to open the door. When the officer spoke with the suspect, she allegedly advised she was pregnant with the male's baby and had knocked on the door to confront him when she discovered he was cheating on her. The suspect told the officer she was sorry for breaking the glass and vowed to pay for its replacement.

• OBSTRUCTING, DISORDERLY CONDUCT: Sgt. S.J. Cary and Senior Dep. W.C. Wilborn responded to Lorton Lick Road, where a male and female were reported to be causing a disturbance. The complainant reported both parties appeared to be intoxicated. The complainant did not believe the man was trying to hurt the woman, but they were unsure. Officers investigated and found the female to be loud and profane, despite repeated orders to be quiet. During the course of the investigation, officers learned there were outstanding trespassing and no-proof-of-insurance warrants for William Kevin Vincent, 41, of Bramwell, and arrested him. Meanwhile, his girlfriend allegedly persisted in being belligerent. Christina Allison White, 21, of Freeman, was arrested on charges of obstructing and disorderly conduct.

• DOMESTIC BATTERY, OBSTRUCTING, LITTERING: Dep. J.E. Coulter, Dep. C.M. Williams and Dep. M.S. Horn responded to Rustic Hills, where a man allegedly battered his wife, hit her in the back with a full can of beer, screamed at their children and broke their toys before leaving the residence. The man allegedly fled through a nearby field, but deputies detained him, at which time, they reported he was belligerent and refused to cooperate with the investigation. Patrick Eric Neal, 27, of Princeton, was arrested.

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