Attempted Purse Snatching / Arrest

On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at 11:55am, the Martinsburg Police Department was called in reference to an attempted purse snatching that occurred at Wendy’s, located on North Queen Street in Martinsburg. Upon speaking with the female victim, it was advised that a black male had ran at her in the parking lot but that she clenched her purse tightly so that it was not taken. Witnesses advised officers that that the subject was accompanied by a white male and that they were driving a white Lincoln with a dark top.

Officers searched the surrounding area located a white Lincoln sedan with a dark top in the 400 block of Center Street, which had two black male subjects and one white male subject in close proximity. The subjects were ordered to stop and the white male fled on foot.

The white male was eventually taken into custody after a brief struggle on Avery Street. The male was identified as a 16 year old Juvenile from Hagerstown Maryland. He was charged with a variety of offenses and was detained in the Juvenile Detention Center.

Officers were also able to determine that the Lincoln sedan was reported stolen from Maryland and that one black male at the scene was in possession of a key to it. The male was identified as Corey Bright from Williamsport MD. Mr. Bright was arrested at the scene for Bringing a Stolen Vehicle into the State.


Arrested:
Corey Bright
16908 Cavalry Drive, Williamsport MD
09/06/84
Charge: Bringing Stolen Vehicle into the State

16 Year old Juvenile
Fleeing on Foot, Obstructing, Bringing Stolen Vehicle into the State, Battery on an Officer

Robbery

On Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 1:02 am the Police Department received a call at 255 N. Queen Street in the area of the Variety Bookstore for an armed robbery. The victim was in the alley to the rear of the bookstore as he was approached by a lone B/M wearing a white and black hooded jacket. He said he had a handgun and demanded money from the victim. The suspect took the wallet from this victim after a struggle. The victim was knocked to the ground. The suspect was last seen running toward Spring Street. The suspect is described as approximately 6-2 having a mustache.

The victim of this robbery was Raymond Rock. His address will not be released. Mr. Rock is 55 years of age. He received various minor abrasions and refused medical treatment. The victim stated he had approximately 300 dollars in cash with him.

Abandoned Child

On October 28th 2008 at approximately 3:06 AM Martinsburg Police responded to the 300 Block of South Water Street in reference to an abandoned child. Officers arrived at the scene and located a small infant approximately two to three years of age and also a child safety seat which had been left along the sidewalk.

A witness advised that they observed a vehicle in the area shortly before observing the child. It was advised the child was not in the car seat but was running towards the departing vehicle.

Martinsburg Police Detectives were able to identify the abandoned child after her photograph was released to the media. A witness came forward to the police and advised she recognized the photo of the child as a child that she had previously watched in the past.

At approximately 11:59 AM Martinsburg Police were able to locate a residence for the abandoned two year old infant and Det Lt. GB Swartwood and Ptlm. D. English responded to this Martinsburg West King Street area residence.

The mother of the infant child was located at the residence and she identified the photograph of her child. She was advised her child had been taken into the custody of the Martinsburg Police Department. She also had an additional four year old daughter at her residence. The mother and her daughter were brought to the police department were an interview was attempted.

The mother was later taken by emergency medical personnel to Martinsburg City Hospital after she complained of an illness. Her four year old infant daughter was taken into the custody and care of the Martinsburg Police Department and later released into the custody of a DHHR representative. DHHR currently has custody of both children.

The investigation is ongoing into this matter and criminal charges will be forthcoming. The Martinsburg Police Department would like to thank the media and the community for their prompt response and concern.

Poss with the Intent to Deliver

On October 24th 2008 at 6:00 PM Martinsburg Police arrested an individual on the charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance for (Heroin) and (Crack cocaine). This arrest took place in the area of West Burke Street and Tuskegee Ave, Martinsburg WV.

It is alleged in the complaint for warrants that Ptlm. D. English of the Martinsburg Police Department performed a traffic stop for a windshield obstruction and for failure to stop at a stop sign. After an initial contact with the driver, Ptlm. English asked and was given consent to search the driver and his vehicle. It is alleged that a small amount of Marijuana was located in the vehicle and the driver was then arrested and transported to the police department.

Once at the police department sixteen (16) packages of suspected Heroin were located on the defendant along with five (5) individual packages of suspected crack cocaine. The heroin had a weight of approximately 5.9 grams and the crack cocaine had a weight of approximately 1.9 grams.

The defendant was then charged with the two felonies of possession with intent to deliver Heroin and Crack cocaine. The defendant was processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and later incarcerated in the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment by a State Magistrate.

Arrested:
Nicholas Wayne Deminds
DOB 07 06 88
Listed address of 163 Spreading Oak Drive Martinsburg WV

Drug Arrest

On October 22nd 2008 at 7:00 PM Martinsburg Police uniformed officers and Detectives arrested an individual on the charge of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance. This arrest took place in the 300 block of North Queen Street without incident.

It is alleged that the suspect did enter into a criminal conspiracy with a confidential police informant to purchase heroin from a third person. The transaction was to have occurred at a location in the Old Court House Square shopping plaza. The arrangement was conducted via cell phone transmissions and conversation. The defendant was arrested and processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and later incarcerated in the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment by a State Magistrate. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

Arrested:

Larry Richard Wilson
DOB 4/01/64
Listed address of 602 West King Street Martinsburg WV (Martinsburg Rescue Mission)

Breaking and Entering

On Thursday October 23, 2008 at 1:58 am the Police Department received a call at the Quick Check Convenience Store at 301 Rock Cliff Drive for a burglar alarm. Officers found the front door to this store had been broken. Officers awaited the arrival of the store owners and accessed the in store surveillance system which showed the person that broke in.

The man used the front of his white Honda sedan to break open the front doors. Once the doors had shattered he went in and was seen in and around the counter area of the store, and it appeared that nothing was removed as the audible alarm caused him to leave quickly

Other officers received the description of the vehicle and method used in the crime and began a search for the vehicle. Cpl. Craig Phelps located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Martin’s on S. Foxcroft Ave. The vehicle was unoccupied at 2:50 AM. Officers checked the area and located the same suspect from the Breaking and Entry inside of Martin’s. The suspect was wearing the same clothing from the Quick Check and was taken into custody. The exterior of the vehicle showed evidence of the crime (broken glass and paint exchange) from the front of the store.

Arrested was John Andrew Jollon age 44 of 214 Polo Green Drive Apartment 53 Martinsburg WV. Jollon was taken into custody without incident, processed and will be arraigned by a magistrate for the charge of Breaking and Entry. Jollon is currently incarcerated in the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting that arraignment. The investigation continues.

Guilty Plea

On Thursday, October 16, 2008, Mr. Roger Fazio of 116 East King Street, Martinsburg WV (King’s Daughter Court), pled guilty to one count of Battery and was issued a $50.47 fine in Berkeley County Magistrate Court. The plea was accepted by Magistrate Overington.

Mr. Fazio was initially charged and arrested on Battery from an incident that occurred on August 25, 2008 at the King’s Daughter Court apartment complex, located at 116 East King Street, Martinsburg WV. During the incident, Roger Fazio had a verbal altercation with a 78 year old female tenant as she attempted to enter the building. Upon entering the building, Roger Fazio shoved the door shut on the female’s arm, which caused it to be lodged in the doorway. As a result of the incident, the victim sought medical treatment and was observed with bruising to her arm.

Drug Buy / Arrest

On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 4:47pm, the Martinsburg City Police Department conducted a controlled purchase for narcotics using a confidential informant in the 200 block of South Maple Avenue, Martinsburg WV. During the investigation, a transaction occurred in which the confidential informant provided money to an unknown person in exchange for marijuana. Following the transaction, the person was arrested and found to be in possession of other marijuana and money used in the transaction with the informant. The person was identified as Ronald Cox.

Ronald Cox was charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) and was taken to the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment.

Arrested:

Ronald Anthony Cox
207 South Maple Avenue, Martinsburg WV 25401
DOB: 11/26/62

Stabbing / Arrest

On Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 1:30 AM the Martinsburg Police Department received a call concerning a fight in the 200 block of S. Kentucky Ave. As officers were in route we received information that a person had been stabbed.

Officers arrived and located several persons in the 200 block of S. Kentucky Ave. and the victim of the stabbing. The victim had received several lacerations in the head, rear of the neck and his back with what appeared to be a razor knife. The victim is Thomas T. Nicholson III 402 W. King Street Martinsburg age 21. These wounds are not life threatening and Nicholson’s was treated and released from City Hospital.

The male assailant in this case is 16 years old. This stabbing was a result of an on going disagreement between these two people. The assailant was treated at City Hospital for wounds that occurred in the altercation with Nicholson. The assailant was processed, arraigned and was detained by the court in the Juvenile detention Center. The juvenile was charged with Malicious Wounding.

Battery Arrest

On Thursday, October 02, 2008, Richard Moore, a teacher at North Middle School was arrested on a battery charge. The Martinsburg Police Department was notified of the incident, which was investigated by Ptlm. Neely. It is alleged in the warrant that Mr. Moore did commit a battery against a 14 year old juvenile male at North Middle School.

Mr. Moore surrendered himself to the Martinsburg Police Department without incident, accompanied by his attorney Byron C. Manford. Mr. Moore was then arraigned at the Berkeley County Judicial Center by Magistrate Jim Humphrey and was given a $2,500 bond. Mr. Moore posted the bond and was released.

Arrested:

Richard Brian Moore
DOB: 10/13/63
68 Dorset Drive, Martinsburg WV

Heroin Arrest

On Thursday, September 25, 2008, the Martinsburg Police Department conducted a controlled purchase of narcotics utilizing a confidential informant. During the incident, the informant met with an unidentified female, who arranged to purchase heroin from another individual. The female then left the C.I., met with another subject and then returned back to the C.I. At that point, a transaction occurred in which the C.I. received the purchased heroin. Following the transaction, officers arrested the female and identified her as being Mistie Keeney.

Mistie Keeney was charged Delivery of Heroin and was taken to the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment.

Arrested:

Mistie Lillian Keeney
DOB: 05/24/82
250 East Burke Street, Martinsburg WV 25401