MERCER SHERIFF
Sept. 18
• DOMESTIC BATTERY: Dep. A.M. Ballard, Dep. G.C. Paitsel and Senior Dep. W.C. Wilborn responded to Roundhouse Mobile Home Park, where a domestic altercation was reported. One woman present reported the other woman present had struck her in the face several times. The alleged suspect reported she did strike the other woman because she ended a romantic relationship with her after seven years, in favor of one with her niece. The officer advised both parties of the domestic violence petition process, and arrested Teresa Lynn Coopen, 42, of Princeton, on charges of domestic battery.
• BATTERY, DISORDERLY CONDUCT, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, PUBLIC INTOXICATION: Dep. J.D. Gills responded to a disturbance on Sherman Oaks Road. The two complainants reported that a man and woman had started a confrontation that began between two women but culminated when the male suspect began kicking the female complainant in the head and threw a large rock at her mobile home. The officer went to the suspects' mobile home and spoke with a woman there, who originally reported the male suspect was not present. After some discussion, the man appeared, allegedly smelling strongly of alcohol. Justin Wayne Blankenship, 21, and Angel Michelle Snead, 24, of Princeton, were charged.
• SHOPLIFTING: Dep. E.P. Parks received a shoplifting report on station from an employee at Belk in Mercer Mall. The complainant advised a male subject stole a yellow comforter set valued at $250. The complainant described a maroon Ford vehicle as the suspect vehicle and provided a registration number. But the ID information did not match any vehicle on record. Charges were pending.
• BREAKING AND ENTERING: Dep. J.D. Ellison responded to Days Inn in Princeton, where an employee reported someone broke into a vending machine. Surveillance video showed two white males acting suspicious around the machines and returning to them several times. One of the males was heavyset and wore a dark-colored T-shirt. The officer noted he had a black eye. The second suspect was thinner and wore a hat.
Sept. 19
• BURGLARY, DESTRUCTIONOF PROPERTY, BATTERY: Dep. G.C. Paitsel responded to Route 71 in Matoaka, where a man allegedly told the officer he had consumed 30 beers and confronted a man he believed to be having an affair with the suspect's girlfriend. He allegedly went to the man's residence to “kick his ass.” The alleged victim reported the suspect arrived at his residence prepared to fight and pushed his way inside. Once there, the suspect allegedly pushed the complainant into two windows and broke the drum set on a video game. Daniel Carr Ernest, 23, of Matoaka, was arrested.
• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Dep. A.M. Ballard responded to a destruction of property call on Coke Plant Road. The officer located the complainant inside a house and the suspect seated in a chair on the front porch. The complainant reported she asked the man to leave several times and that he refused. The woman reported the man had kicked in the back door when she refused to let him in; he then allegedly began to throw things about in the house, causing damage to several items. The man advised he had arrived at the residence to talk with the woman about the way her new boyfriend treated one of their children. The officer advised the woman of the domestic violence protective order process and that he would need a formal complaint in order to pursue charges.
• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Dep. J.D. Ellison arrested Ashleigh Hart, 19, of Bluefield, on a warrant.
• OBSTRUCTING: Lt. J.E. Parks responded to Pinnacle View Road, where a woman reported she had a domestic violence protective order against her ex-boyfriend and the father of her four children. The woman told the officer the ex-boyfriend threatened to kill her. While Parks investigated, he reported seeing the suspect's vehicle drive by the house. The officer waved to the man to stop, but the suspect allegedly waved back and continued driving. West Virginia State Police Trooper A.P. Christian located the suspect in a Bluewell pawn shop, reportedly attempting to retrieve a firearm from pawn. The officer advised the man that there was a DVP against him, and the man responded that he had not been served yet. Christopher Lee Skeens, 33, of Bluefield, was arrested. Skeens was also charged with harassment after he allegedly used the prisoners' phone at Bluefield Police Department's holding area to threaten the ex-girlfriend again.
• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: A Princeton woman reported her boyfriend kicked the door of her vehicle after a fight. Cpl. S.A. Sommers filed the report.
• OBSTRUCTING, UNDERAGE CONSUMPTION: Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to the Pepsi plant in Princeton to assist Dep. J.E. Coulter in an investigation of vehicles behind the plant. The officers talked with the drivers of both vehicles and a passenger in one, who reportedly smelled of alcohol. The passenger was only 20 years old and allegedly registered a blood-alcohol reading of 0.178. Christina Marie Howell, 20, of Lyons, Ga., allegedly was belligerent and grabbed Coburn's arm as he talked with her. She was arrested.
Sept. 21
• DISORDERLY CONDUCT, OBSTRUCTING, ASSAULT ON AN OFFICER: Dep. G.C. Paitsel and Dep. A.M. Ballard responded to Maple Acres Road, where a complainant reported a suspect and another party were involved in an argument in the driveway. Officers separated the subjects. One of the subjects was allegedly extremely belligerent and refused to cooperate with officers during the investigation. At one point, the man allegedly kicked the door of Paitsel's cruiser. When the officer told him repeatedly to quit kicking the cruiser, the suspect allegedly persisted, prompting the officer to administer a short burst of pepper spray. The officer reported that Darren James Matson became very cooperative at that point.
• UNLAWFUL ASSAULT: A man identifying himself as the owner of Pop's Sports Bar reported one of his patrons had been injured in an assault. Dep. J.D. Gills advised Mercer 911 to start an ambulance that way. When Gills arrived, the alleged victim was outside the establishment with blood covering him and gashes in his cheek and the back of his head. The victim reported he had been outside the establishment, arguing over the phone with his ex-wife's husband, when someone attacked him from behind with brass knuckles. He identified the assailant as his ex-wife's husband. Officers went to the suspect's home and arrested Harry Gene Thomas, Jr., 33, of Princeton.
• GRAND LARCENY: Sgt. G.W. Woods received a complaint that some grates had been stolen from the former Lowe's site in Green Valley.
Sept. 22
• ASSAULT: Dep. W.E. Rose arrested Tabetha Lynn Butler, 25, of Bluefield, when she turned herself in on an assault warrant.
• BREAKING AND ENTERING: Sgt. S.J. Cary and Dep. A.M. Ballard responded to Fred and Jack's Auto Salvage, where a complainant reported there was damage to one of the business's garage doors and fresh tracks nearby. Officers investigated the scene, but made no arrests as of last report.
• NO OPERATOR'S LICENSE, OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER: Dep. E.P. Parks responded to a motor vehicle accident on Ceres Hollow Road. The suspect reportedly offered officers an incorrect identity and was later found to be driving one of the vehicles involved in the crash without a valid driver's license. Jackie Darrell Riggs Jr., 28, of Princeton, was charged.
Sept. 23
• DOMESTIC BATTERY: Dep. W.E. Rose arrested William Quiros, 30, of Matoaka, on a domestic battery warrant.
• PETIT LARCENY: A woman reported her purse was stolen from her unlocked car while it was parked at Four Seasons Pharmacy, where she works. Dep. M.S. Horn filed the report.
Sept. 24
• PETIT LARCENY: A Bella Drive complainant reported someone stole a check from U.S. Cellular from his mailbox. Capt. M.L. Gills filed the report and later noted the check was cashed at New People's Bank.
