Mercer Sheriff — Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2009

MERCER SHERIFF

Nov. 27

BREAKING AND ENTERING: Dep. J.D. Ellison responded to Twin Oaks Circle, where a complainant advised someone entered a residence under construction and stole several liquor bottles, saws and more. The case was forwarded to the detective bureau.

DUI, NO INSURANCE: Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to assist Dep. E.P. Parks, who was working a three-vehicle motor vehicle crash on U.S. 460 at the Greasy Ridge Road intersection. One driver involved allegedly smelled of alcohol and exhibited slurred speech when Coburn questioned him. The man advised Coburn he had consumed a few beers earlier in the day. Although the suspect first refused and then failed to provide a valid sample for a preliminary blood test to register his blood-alcohol level, Simon Matney, 34, of Hurley, Va., was charged with driving under the influence and operating a vehicle without valid proof of insurance.

Nov. 28

MALICIOUS ASSAULT: Senior Dep. W.C. Wilborn and Dep. A.M . Ballard responded to Old Oakvale Road, where a male subject was reported attempting to gain entry to a residence. The suspect advised officers he had been another man up “pretty bad.” Wilborn reported seeing a large amount of blood on the front porch, and the officers then proceeded to speak with the alleged victim of the incident. The man was bleeding from the head and appeared to have at least three gashes from the reported altercation. He was transported to Princeton Community Hospital and advised to file a formal complaint upon his release if he wished to pursue charges against the suspect.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION, OBSTRUCTING: Cpl. S.A. Sommers responded to the Bluewell area, where a man was reportedly causing a disturbance near U.S. 52. The officer located the man, who allegedly appeared to be very intoxicated and reportedly refused to be quiet for the investigation. William Dwight Mayhle, 39, of Bluefield, was charged with public intoxication and obstructing an officer.

VIOLATION OF A DVP: Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to a complaint on O'Connor Drive in Princeton, where a woman reported someone threw a beer bottle through her bedroom window and that she had a domestic violence petition against the suspect. She told the officer she saw her husband running away from the scene after she heard glass break. Coburn verified that the DVP was still in effect, and Coburn, Cpl. S.A. Sommers and Dep. J.D. Gills located the suspect on Freedom Road in Montcalm. He allegedly became very upset, shoved Coburn and attempted to avoid being handcuffed. He allegedly threw a punch, which Coburn reported narrowly missed. Roy Lee Smith, 32, of Montcalm, was arrested.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY:

Sgt. G.W. Woods received a complaint that someone removed the cow horns that were mounted on his vehicle while it was parked in the lot at Mercer Mall.

Nov. 29

DUI, NO REGISTRATION: Dep. A.M. Ballard responded to the intersection of West Virginia Route 123 and Mercer Mall Road, where a vehicle was reported to have struck a residence. The driver advised he lost control of his vehicle in some gravel and traveled from Route 123 through an intersection, struck stop and yield signs, traveled over a slope and into two vehicles that belonged to nearby residents. In addition, the yield sign and pole were projected during impact and struck another nearby vehicle. The suspect reportedly failed one field sobriety test and told the officer he was injured and could not complete the other two. Although Ballard called for medical responders, the man allegedly refused treatment when EMTs arrived. The man also advised the officer he was taking three different kinds of medication. Donald Ray Steele, 42, of Princeton, was charged with driving under the influence of controlled substances and operating a vehicle without proper registration.

BURGLARY, PETIT LARCENY: Dep. J.R. Coburn investigated a burglary complaint on Route 5 in Bluefield. The complainants advised they returned home to find the front door open and the residence in disarray. Coburn and Dep. J.D. Gills examined the scene and found palm prints near a window they believed to be the point of entry. Two game systems, a bow and more were reportedly taken from the residence.

Dec. 1

SHOPLIFTING: Sgt. S.J. Cary responded to 7-Eleven on Beckley Road, where a complainant reported a shoplifting incident. The assistant manager advised three white males, approximately 18-19 years old came into the store and another customer believed them to be attempting to steal beer. The assistant manager confronted one of the subjects as they attempted to leave the store and pulled a beer can from his pocket. The three suspects fled the scene, and the employee reported discovering that half a case of beer was missing from the cooler area.

DUI, NO INSURANCE, IMPROPER REGISTRATION: Dep. W.E. Rose responded to a single vehicle wreck on Unity Road, where a vehicle had struck a tree. The driver allegedly advised the officer he was returning from a methadone clinic when he lost control of his vehicle on the “ice and moss” on the roadway. The man allegedly spoke very slowly, slurred his words and exhibited signs of being intoxicated. He also reportedly failed field sobriety testing. Ira Prince Gearheart, 52, of Athens, was arrested.

BURGLARY, PETIT LARCENY: Dep. E.P. Parks responded to a Lilli Belle Lane, where a complainant advised his granddaughter's room had been ransacked. The officer examined the room and reported that the drawers to the room were opened and contents were thrown onto the floor. The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.

Dec. 2

ENTERING WITHOUT BREAKING, PETIT LARCENY: Senior Dep. W.C. Wilborn received a report from a Parkview Terrace woman who reported someone had entered her vehicle using her keys and removed the cash she intended to use for rent.

PETIT LARCENY: A complainant at Fred and Jack's Salvage Yard reported someone stole metal rims and a number of scrapped radiators. Dep. J.E. Coulter filed the report.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Sgt. S.J. Cary received a report that someone vandalized six vehicles parked at a Rocky Branch Road residence. All four tires on each vehicle were allegedly slashed or stabbed.

Dec. 3

GRAND LARCENY: Dep. M.S. Horn responded to Sandstone Park, where a complainant reported someone stole her snowblower. While the officer investigated, Dep. W.E. Rose contacted a nearby pawn shop, where employees reported two subjects were on hand with the machine, a wooden-deck trailer and a Dodge Durango. Officers determined the snowblower appeared to be the one that was stolen from Sandstone Park. One of the subjects also allegedly told officers he and the other suspect had stolen the trailer from Lowe's the night before. Howard Chatman, 46, of Princeton, and Steven Martin, 50, of Bluefield, were charged with grand larceny.

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