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

Arrests in Concert Scam

On this day both Mr. Sherman L. Loy and Mr. Dean R. Desana were arrested by this agency. Both subjects have been charged with a felony charge of obtaining money by False Pretenses.

The defendants each cooperated by turning themselves in, at separate times, to the Martinsburg Police Department. Both subjects were processed and brought to the Berkeley County Magistrate courthouse, where they were arraigned by Magistrate J. Overington. Both subjects were released on bond, each posted by a bonding agency.

These arrests are from an ongoing investigation involving the above individuals and the alleged concert which was to take place on April 24, 2010 and to feature both celebrities Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert. The event, however, did not take place and no tickets were ever distributed.

It was found, through investigation that from March 16 – 18, individuals traveled to the Hair salon, “Hair by Luke”, and paid money for tickets which were supposed to arrive in the mail for the concert.

The investigation is continuing.

Juvenile with Handgun Arrested

On Thursday, May 06, 2010, the administration at South Middle School contacted the Martinsburg Police Department in regards to information they had received regarding a 14 year old student. The information that was received, alleged that the 14 year old juvenile had shown a handgun at a residence on the previous date and had made statements regarding brining it to school to resolve matters with students who were picking on him. Upon hearing the information, the administration contacted the Martinsburg City Police and then removed the student from class. A search was then conducted of the student’s personal effects and no firearms were located.

Officers from the Martinsburg Police Department then responded to the juvenile’s residence and conducted a search, which yielded a .22 caliber handgun and ammunition under his bedroom mattress.

As a result of the firearm being located, the juvenile was charged with being a Minor in Possession of a Deadly Weapon and was subsequently detained at the Vickie Douglas Center, per the request of the Berkeley County Prosecutor’s Office.

Due to the immediate response by both the administration at South Middle School and the Martinsburg Police Department, a potential dangerous situation was resolved.