Arson Arrest

On August 23rd, 2008 at approximately 9:06 PM Martinsburg Police and Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 109 Centre Street Martinsburg WV. The residence was occupied by at least two female residents at the time of the fire. No one was injured in this fire.

Upon investigation the fire was ruled an arson by Fire Investigator Gregg Hoover and it appeared that it started on or beneath the front porch of the residence.

Martinsburg Police officers Sgt M. Zollinger, Ptlm D. English and Ptlm E. Neely were able to identify witnesses that advised them of an individual speaking about starting the fire and also other information regarding his involvement. These witnesses were later identified and statements were taken from them.

A warrant charging a suspect with First Degree Arson was obtained by Det. Lt. GB Swartwood from State Magistrate Joan Bragg. It alleges in the complaint for warrant that the defendant told a witness that he started the fire by lighting some type of fuse on the porch of the residence and then fleeing from the fire and going home to his residence to change clothes.

Martinsburg police officers after obtaining this warrant arrested the suspect at his residence at approximately 2:00 AM on August 24th 2008 without incident. The defendant was taken into custody and processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and later transported to the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment later in the morning.



Arrested: Allen Keith Starcher DOB 08 22 63 of 117 North Centre Street Martinsburg WV

Kidnapping / Burglary

On 8/7/08 at 8:30 AM Ptlwm. Barrett and Ptlm. Herb responded to an apartment on W. King St for a violation of a Family Protection Order. The officers interviewed the victim who said that she had been woke up in the middle of the night by her ex-boyfriend, 30 yr old Steven Grieco who was holding a knife to her throat. Evidence at the scene indicates that Grieco gained entry to the apartment by removing a window pane, and then laid in wait until the victim was asleeep. Grieco is alleged to have forced the victim from the apartment at knifepoint and led her to his apartment on Boyd Ave. Despite attempts to leave, Grieco held the victim there for several hours. The victim was later released by the suspect after agreeing to contact him later in the day.

Warrants charging the suspect with Burglary and kidnapping were issued by Berkeley County Magistrate Joan Bragg. At 3:15 PM Ptlwm. Barrett monitored a call placed by the victim to Grieco. Grieco agreed to meet with the victim at the intersection of Boyd Ave and W. Race St, assuring her that he would be unarmed at the time. When the suspect arrived at that location, he was taken into custody without incident by Police. At the time of his arrest he was found to be in possession of a large knife consistent with that described by the victim.

A search warrant executed at the apartment of Greico yielded addditional evidence in the case.

Grieco remains in jail

Arrest - Bldg Entered

On Friday, Aug 8 at 3:31 AM the Police Department received a business alarm at the Briarwood Professional Building at 1004 Sushruta Drive Martinsburg. Responding officers found an unsecure door on the front of the office complex. A search of the building resulted in a suspect being located within an office. The suspect entered through the front door and proceeded through the building via an area above the ceiling. The suspect at one point fell through the ceiling before being apprehended by the officers. The suspect admitted he had entered the building for the putpose of obtaining Xanax, a prescription drug.



The suspect Zachary Allan Recht, 25 of Crist Lane Inwood WV was taken to the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment by a Berkeley County Magistrate on a felony charge of Entering withoiut Breaking.

Arrest - Trespass / Vehicle Tampering

On Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. the Police Department received a complaint of a suspicious person in the 800 block of Honeysuckle Drive located in the Briarwood Subdivision. The reporting person stated she observed a man walking out of her driveway. The man allegedly proceeded to the neighbors SUV and attempted to enter the vehicle. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. At 3:16 a.m. the Martinsburg Police Department received a second call of a suspicious person at a separate location in the 800 block of Honeysuckle Drive. The individual was located by police on the front porch of a residence. The description matched that of the individual in the earlier incident. The suspect was positively identified by the initial complainant as being the same individual. The individual was highly intoxicated. The suspect, David Chiveral, Jr., 39 years of age, was arrested and subsequently incarcerated in the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment by a Berkeley County Magistrate on charges of Trespass, Tampering with a Vehicle and Public Intoxication.

Drug Arrest

On Monday, August 04, 2008 at 1104 hours, Ptlm. S.A. Shelton of the stopped a vehicle in the 1300 block of West King Street after he recognized the driver of the vehicle as Donald Watson who did not have a valid license. Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver was identified as Mr. Watson who said that his license was suspended and a female passenger was identified as Roberta Lowe. Officer Shelton received consent to search Ms. Lowe’s property and found a gallon Ziplock baggie full of a green leafy substance in Ms. Lowe’s purse. The substance field tested positive for marijuana and weighed approximately 150 grams.

Roberta Lowe (07-19-1963) of 409 West Race Street #7 Martinsburg, WV was arrested for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. She was arraigned by Magistrate Bragg and transported to ERJ on a $10,000 bond. Mr. Watson was issued a citation for driving suspended and released.