Arson-Arest

On 4 24 11 at approximately 9:40 PM Martinsburg Police along with the Martinsburg Fire Department were summoned to a residence located a 210 West Martin Street apt. 2 Martinsburg WV.

Det Lt GB Swartwood and Det J Luciano were also requested to respond to this incident because it appeared to be a suspicious fire in origin. The occupant of the residence was interviewed by detectives and a recorded statement was taken from him in regards to the fire.

These officers also met with Fire Investigator Jason Hoover in regards to his findings. The investigation revealed that the fire was intentionally set.  Evidence collected showed that the occupant had set fire to a candle that was wrapped in paper and placed in a plastic pill bottle and plastic bin setting fire to the carpet and was later discovered and extinguished by neighboring tenants.

The investigation further showed that a shirt had been placed in the oven and turned on earlier in the day but was not reported to the fire department or police department. There was also another delayed device was discovered underneath the sofa but this device failed to ignite by the progressing fire.

The occupant’s statement was not supported by the evidence found or by the neighboring witness statements.  A warrant for 1^st Degree Arson was sought for the occupant’s arrest and granted by Magistrate Overington. This subject was arrested on said warrant without incident on 4 25 11. He was processed at the police department and placed in the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment.

Arrested :  Marshall Gene Martin Jr.

                   DOB 02 01 11

                   210 West Martin Street Apt. 2 Martinsburg WV

Prostitution Arrest

On April 21^st 2011 officers of the Martinsburg Police Department conducted an investigation into prostitution in the Martinsburg area that culminated with one arrest.

During the course of the investigation contact was made with a female located in the 500 block of Winchester Ave.  Martinsburg WV.  It is alleged that this female entered the vehicle of an undercover Martinsburg Police officer. And after travelling a short distance instructed the officer to touch her in a sexual manner if he wasn’t a cop and kept inquiring if he was a police officer. This action was consistent for the act of enticement by the female. The officer then drove the female to a predetermined location the officer then identified himself as a law enforcement officer and the subject was taken into custody by other officers. The investigation is continuing and ongoing.

The female was charged with solicitation of prostitution and processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and placed into the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment by a State Magistrate.

Arrested:

Ashley Renee Sheffler 

DOB 02 29 92

Listing an address of 53 Crown Court Martinsburg WV

   

Prostitution and Drug Arrest

On April 20^th  2011 officers of the Martinsburg Police Department conducted an investigation into prostitution in the Martinsburg area that culminated with two arrests.

During the course of the investigation contact was made with a female located in the 300 block of West King Street. Martinsburg WV.  It is alleged that this female entered the vehicle of an undercover Martinsburg Police officer. And after travelling a short distance instructed the officer to touch her in a sexual manner if he wasn’t a cop and kept inquiring if he was a police officer. This action was consistent for the act of enticement by the female. The officer then drove the female to a predetermined location the officer then identified himself as a law enforcement officer and the subject was taken into custody by other officers. The investigation is continuing and ongoing.

The female was charged with solicitation of prostitution and processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and placed into the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment by a State Magistrate.

Arrested:

Emily Anne Hardy 

DOB 09 03 83

Listing no fixed address 

In an unrelated arrest on April 20^th 2011 at approximately 9:40 PM Sgt J. Darby of the Martinsburg Police Department arrested two individuals for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a felony after performing a traffic stop on the subject’s vehicle in the area of East Martin Street and Spring Street.

After initiating the stop and subsequent investigation he detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. After further investigation he discovered and seized approximately two pounds of Marijuana in assorted packaging and seized $630.27 in currency.

The driver and passenger of the vehicle was subsequently arrested for said charges. They were processed at the Martinsburg Police Department and later placed in the Eastern Regional Jail awaiting arraignment by a State Magistrate.

Arrested:

Stephan Terrell Jefferson

DOB 01 24 76

Listing an address of 110 Strine Ave. Martinsburg WV.

Kimberly Denise Harrison

DOB 12 30 81

Listing an address of 244 N. Queen Street Martinsburg WV

Copper Wire Theft

The Martinsburg Police Department is currently investigating a theft of copper wire from Allegheny Power, located at 901 Wilson Street.  The incident occurred on Friday, March 18, 2011 at approximately 9:55pm at the business and was carried out by two unknown black males.  During the incident, both males were at the business and stole approximately 10 spools of copper wire from work vehicles.  It is believed that the males may have utilized a white work van to transport the stolen material. 

The Martinsburg Police Department is asking the community’s assistance to help identify the persons involved in this incident.  Anyone with information is urged to contact Det. S.F. Doyle at the Martinsburg Police Department at 304-264-2100.  

Robbery Arrests

On Sunday, February 20, 2011, the Martinsburg Police Department responded to 7-Eleven located at 1015 North Queen Street for a report of a robbery.  At approximately 0120 hours, a black male entered the store and purchased a pack of Newport cigarettes.  The clerk stated that as she was opening the cash drawer, he jumped the counter and grabbed her.  The subject then grabbed money from the cash register and forced the clerk to the ground.  The male then fled the store with an undisclosed amount of money headed south on Queen St.

The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 5’8” weighing about 170lbs.  He was wearing a blue wind breaker with black trim, a black toboggan, black pants and tan boots.  The suspect was also wearing a large watch on his left wrist.

At approximately 0435 Berkeley County Central Dispatch received a call that the 7-Eleven at the intersection of Williamsport Pike and Berkeley Station Road had just been robbed by a black male wearing a blue and black jacket.  That subject also jumped the counter and punched the clerk after buying a pack of cigarettes, grabbed money from the register and fled the store.  The subject got into a burgundy Chrysler Sebring convertible and was stopped by Deputy Welcome of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department a short time later.

The driver was identified as Tirrell Andre Morton and the passenger was identified as Sonia Yancey.  The driver matched the description of the suspect and was wearing black pants, tan boots and a large watch on his left wrist.  Mr. Morton and Ms. Yancey were arrested by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department for the robbery of the Berkeley Station 7-Eleven.

Information and evidence has been obtained in the robbery of the Queen Street 7-Eleven and warrants charging Tirrell Morton with the crime are pending.

Delivery of a Controlled Substance Arrest

On Friday, February 18, 2011, the Martinsburg Police Department arrested Trey Cardell Campbell without incident on two outstanding warrants.  The warrants were previously obtained by the Martinsburg Police Department following two controlled purchases of crack cocaine in Martinsburg WV. 

Mr. Campbell was arrested then arraigned before Magistrate Overington at the Berkeley County Judicial Center.  Mr. Campbell was given a $50,000 bond, which was posted by a bondsman.

Arrested:

Trey Cardell Campbell

DOB:  08/08/92

218 North Maple Ave, Mtsbg WV

Charges:  2 counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (crack cocaine)

Law and Safety Day Announcement

18^th Annual  Law & Safety Day Recognition Program

          Outstanding individuals who provide important community 

contributions, In the area of law enforcement, fire fighting, and 

emergency medical services will be honored by Martinsburg 

Elks Lodge 778, on Sunday, February 13, 2011, at 5:00 p.m.   

The prestigious ceremony will be held at the Elks Lodge, 

121 E. King Street, Martinsburg, and will include testimonials

 by commanding officers for this Year’s recipients.

        Among this year’s representatives are individuals

 from the WV State Police, 167^th Airlift Wing, 

Veterans Affairs, Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan County 

Sheriff’s Departments, Martinsburg City Police and Fire Departments,

 Charles Town Police, Berkeley Springs Police, Regional Jail,

 Martinsburg Correctional Center and Office of Homeland 

Security and Emergency Management.

 For further information:

Det. Lt. George B. Swartwood, Chairman

2011 Law & Safety Day Ceremony

(O) 304-264-2100 (Martinsburg City Police)

Elks Recognize

Service Excellence

        Elks lodges throughout the United States accept a responsibility in their communities to foster, support and spearhead projects concerned with community involvement.  Accordingly, for the past fifteen years, Martinsburg Elks Lodge778 has conducted a program that recognizes groups and individuals that provide a community service in the areas of law and safety.

     Annually, the Martinsburg Lodge issues an invitation to commanding officers and directors of law enforcement, fire fighting and emergency medical services.  The letter invites these tri-county leaders to submit nominees from their respective department for Law & Safety Day recognition. In addition to a written statement as to why a nominee is selected, the commanding offers are invited to present testimonials at the awards presentation.

     This year’s Law & Safety Day ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. at 121 E. King Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia.  A delicious buffet will be served on the third floor of the Lodge.  The program, which will follow the meal, will include testimonials and introductions of this year’s award recipients.

Please join us for this year’s ceremony.

Larry Ott, Exalted Ruler

Martinsburg Elks Lodge 778

An Update From the Chairman’s Desk . . . .

     The quality of life in one’s community is, in large part, shaped by those who provide service to others.  All too frequently, these groups and individuals are taken for granted, and are seldom acknowledged in an appropriate manner.

     When a family is awakened in the middle of the night by the sounds of an intruder or the smell of smoke, a prompt response by trained professionals is critical.  When individuals are involved in a serious accident along our highways, caring and attentive help arrives within minutes.  Incidents of this nature are not uncommon in any community.  What is unique in the tri-county area is the degree of expertise with which such occurrences are handled.

     The officers and members of the Martinsburg Elks Lodge 778 take great pleasure in hosting an annual recognition program that focuses on Law & Safety.  Individuals and groups are acknowledged for their dedication, great personal sacrifice, and professionalism.

     This program seeks to bring positive attention to all who, on a daily basis, perform difficult and dangerous jobs in an exceptional manner.  In placing themselves in harm’s way, their professional performance ensures the safety and well-being of citizens in our community.

Det. Lt. George Swartwood

2011 Law & Safety Day Chairman