Robbery was a False Report

 On Friday July 16 2010 Officers responded to Wal-Mart on Foxcroft Ave for a robbery which had just occurred. Officers responded to the area minutes after the incident had allegedly occurred. All areas were checked and video surveillance was obtained.

The victim, Identified as Mr. William Arthur Leland (DOB 11/10/53), advised officers on scene that he had been sitting in his vehicle in the Wal Mart parking lot when a White male brandished a revolver in his face and demanded $800 cash. He advised he turned the money over to the male, who fled towards Sears.

The video was later reviewed and there was no evidence of a robbery taking place.

 Mr. Leland was interviewed at the Martinsburg Police Department on 7/26/10 during which time he confessed to calling in a false police report. He advised that the money, which was allegedly robbed from him, was in fact a combination of his and his physically handicapped sisters whom he takes care of. He advised that he had gambled the money, and lost, at a local gambling establishment.

Mr. Leland was arrested on this day. He was arraigned by Mag. R. Smith and given a PR bond of $2500.  He was charged with Falsely reporting an emergency incident. 

Arrests

 As of yesterday’s date Clifford Lee Hutchinson (DOB 7/27/64), has been extradited back to the Martinsburg ERJ. Mr. Hutchinson was wanted for two burglary charges stemming from burglaries, in which he is the defendant, from December 2009 in Martinsburg WV

 Mr. Hutchinson was arraigned by Mag. Snow for two felony burglary charges, from the Martinsburg Police Dept, He was also arraigned on one felony escape charge,  through the Berkeley County Sheriffs Dept.

Mr. Hutchinson has been wanted since December 2009. He had fled to western states and was eventually arrested.

Today  Mr. Hutchinson was served with another arrest warrant for Felony Transferring Stolen Goods. This charge also stems from the burglary incidents. He has been served on this day and awaits arraignment by Magistrate J. Overington. He is currently incarcerated in the ERJ. 

Escapee Found

On Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 10:02pm, officers from the Martinsburg Police Department responded to the Vicki Douglas Juvenile Detention Center in reference to a missing juvenile.  Upon arrival, it was advised that at approximately 8pm, a 17 year old juvenile male who was being detained at the facility, was determined to be missing.  A subsequent search around the exterior of facility resulted in clothing from the juvenile being located near a dumpster and a nearby wood line. 

Officers then began looking for the juvenile and located him at approximately 2:09am in a wooded area near Rolling Meadow Drive.  The juvenile was then taken back to the Vicki Douglas Detention Center.   

Arson

On Tuesday, July 06, 2010, at approximately 3:20am, members from the Martinsburg Police and Martinsburg Fire Department responded to a commercial property located in the 600 block of North Queen Street, Martinsburg WV, in reference to a structure fire.  Upon arrival, officers were able to observe a shed structure which was engulfed with flames on the property.  Firefighters from the Martinsburg Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire, which was determined to be arson.

The Martinsburg Police Department is currently investigating the fire and is asking anyone with information to contact Det. Lt. G.B. Swartwood of the Martinsburg Police Department.  The Martinsburg Police Department is also seeking information regarding to recent graffiti to the commercial property, that may be related to this incident.    Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact Det. Lt. G.B. Swartwood at 304-264-2100. 

Fugitive from Justice Arrest

On Thursday, June 24, 2010, the Martinsburg Police Department arrested a female identified as Lauren Elbin as a Fugitive from Justice.  The charged stemmed from an incident in 2004 in Hagerstown Maryland in which she was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  Ms. Elbin was arrested at her residence without incident and was arraigned before Magistrate Sandra Miller.  Ms. Elbin was given a 10,000 cash only bond and was taken to the Eastern Regional Jail.

 Arrested:

Lauren Brooke Elbin

DOB:  12/10/82

108 E. John St., Martinsburg WV 25401

Charge:  Fugitive from Justice

Drug Arrest

On Friday, June 11, 2010, the Martinsburg Police Department executed a search warrant at 304 South Raleigh Street, Apartment 1, Martinsburg WV in reference to an ongoing drug and prostitution investigation. During the course of the search warrant, a quantity of heroin and drug paraphernalia items were located. The occupant of the residence, Timothy Stover, was subsequently arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and charged through the Martinsburg Municipal Court. Mr. Stover was given a $500 cash only bond and was taken to the Eastern Regional Jail.

Arrested:

Timothy Wayne Stover
DOB: 05/09/66
304 S. Raleigh St., Apt. 1, Mtsbg WV
Charge: Poss. Of a Controlled Substance (Heroin)- Martinsburg Municipal Ct.

Arrests made on Multiple Cases

On May 11th 2010 at 9:45 pm members of the Martinsburg Police Department and the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force arrested an individual wanted on numerous felony and misdemeanor warrants which were obtained from the Martinsburg Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department and the West Virginia State Police.

Det Lt George B Swartwood, Ptlm. Eric Neely (MPD) and Det Sgt Kevin Miller (EPDVCTF) arrested Joshua Daniel Stevens at a North Queen Street convenience store parking lot.



The initial investigation to locate the suspect was for his alleged involvement in an arson to a residence off of Central Avenue and the destruction of property and theft to a Martinsburg Police vehicle on April 23rd - 24th 2010.

The arrest came after information was gained advising that the suspect would be hiding in the back of a pickup truck on its way to the convenience store on North Queen Street.

The officers staked out the area and observed said vehicle and located the suspect in the back of the pickup truck. The suspect was arrested and processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and later taken to the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment by a State Magistrate. He was later arraigned by Magistrate Overington and his bond was set at $115,000 cash only. He is currently still incarcerated at the ERJ.

The Martinsburg Police Department would like to thank the community for all of its assistance into this investigation and still seeks any information in regards to this or any arson investigations.
Arrested: Joshua Daniel Stevens DOB 5 30 79 and listing an address of 76 Ritter Drive Martinsburg WV was arrested on the following 12 charges.

Arson 1st degree
Burglary
Grand Larceny
Destruction of Property
Petit Larceny
Malicious Wounding
Armed Robbery
Petit Larceny
Breaking and Entering
Breaking and Entering of an Auto
Domestic Battery
Domestic Battery