The goal of the program is to show how one’s driving skills diminish when either intoxicated or texting on a phone.  It is of significant timing for SAHS students as their Prom is on Saturday, May 5.

January 2012 by Ward

Feb 2012 by Ward Public

March 2012 by Ward

Matthew E. Bradford

Johnathan Aston

Numerous neighborhood complaints and a lengthy investigation resulted in a search warrant and drug arrest of Matthew E. Bradford (29 yoa from St. Albans) and Johnathan Aston (21 yoa from St. Albans).  The investigation culminated in a Search Warrant served on Bradford’s home in the 2000 block of Wilson Avenue on the evening of Sunday, April 29, 2012.

Bradford was charged with Distribution of Opana.  Aston was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Opana.  Both were arraigned by a Magistrate and lodged in the South Central Regional Jail on $25,000 bonds.

This investigation is part of the SAPD’s new Special Enforcement Unit.  This is another of the new programs SAPD will be rolling out this year.  Currently funded exclusively by overtime, this unit will become full time in the near future.  Along with drug investigations, it will perform duties like  serving arrest warrants, DUI patrols, stakeouts, speed enforcement patrols, and more.

NATIONAL TAKE BACK DAY APRIL 28, 2012

It’s time again to get rid of your unused, unwanted, or unneeded medications.  The St. Albans Police Department is again working with the Drug Enforcement Administration by taking part in the National Take Back Initiative.  This is the third time SAPD has participated in this event.  In the last two events SAPD has collected over 75 pounds of drugs for proper disposal.  This keeps them out of the hands of those that may abuse them and also out of the garbage and waste water system.

Bring any unused, unwanted, or unneeded medications to the St. Albans Rite Aid for collection.  These medications can be over the counter drugs, prescribed drugs, or even pet medications.  Pills, capsules, and even liquid medicines can be collected.  Liquids must be in the original container, however.  One should mark out any identifying information on any original containers dropped off.

The only limitations are NO NEEDLES can be collected.

David Chester II

David Chester II (24 yoa from St. Albans) was arrested on Tuesday, April 24 on warrants for Kidnapping & Domestic Battery.  The charges stemmed from a complaint filed during the day on Saturday, April 21.  A woman, Beth McCutcheon (25 yoa from Charleston) reported she was on a date during the evening of April 20, with Chester with whom she’s had a relationship.  They reportedly got into an argument and she drove Chester back to his SA residence. Once there, Chester allegedly refused to let her go and grabbed her threw her to the floor injuring her arm.  She said Chester forced her to a bedroom and grabbed a knife and sat in a chair in the doorway of the bedroom.

McCutcheon said she was able to escape after Chester fell asleep.  She was treated a local hospital and released.  She received a broken wrist in the assault.

Chester turned himself in at SAPD on the warrants.  He was taken before a magistrate and remanded to jail pending a bail hearing in front of a circuit judge.  Only a circuit judge can set a bond for kidnapping.

David Jeffrey

At around 5:30pm on Friday April 20, 2012, SAPD received some calls about a man going underneath people’s homes in St. Albans.  An initial search yielded nothing, but after another call in the 2200 block of Washington Avenue,  several witnesses pointed out where the offender ran to.  He ran to the railroad tracks in the area of Wilson Avenue where he was located by an officer hiding in some shrubbery.  The offender ran again with Ptl. K. A. Davis in foot pursuit.

Ptl. Davis caught up with the offender on Wilson Avenue and attempted to deploy a TASER which failed to stop the offender (most likely due to the darts getting caught in clothing).  The offender began to struggle with Ptl. Davis over the TASER.  He managed to get it pointed back at Ptl. Davis shocking Davis in the collar bone area.  The offender who elbowed Davis in the face at least once.  Davis & the offender continued to struggle with the offender striking him several times with knees and hands.  The offender kept fighting Ptl. Davis until he was able to get the offender’s back and apply a neck restraint.  This enabled  Davis to get the offender under control and handcuffed.

A check on the offender revealed his name is David Jeffrey (47 yoa from Parkersburg).  This was not known to SAPD officers prior to and during the encounter.  Jeffrey had been placed in NCIC and was wanted to Parkersburg PD for Robbery (http://www.wowktv.com/story/17635392/update-st-albans-police-have-robbery-suspect-in-custody)

Ptl. Davis received injuries to his jaw, knees, forearms, and hands.  After examinations at a local hospital and with his personal physician, Ptl. Davis only had some stretched tendons in his knee, abrasions to his forearm, and a sprained hand.  His jaw was swollen for a day, but has since returned to normal.

At 1:45 pm today, two cars collided at the intersection of US 60 & the St. Albans Mall entrance.  Sara Maynard (28 yoa from Charleston) was headed east on US 60 in a Cadillac when she collided with a Mustang driven by Brad Watson (29 yoa from St. Albans).  Both drivers were taken to CAMC General with serious injuries.

The crash is still under investigation by Sgt. Mark Burdette.

SAPD’s newly established extra bicycle patrols are getting off to a good start.  Patrolmen Mike Page & Kenny Davis were on bicycles in the 2300 block of Grant Avenue at about 9:00pm on Friday, March 30 when they heard a man & woman screaming at each other.  The officers found them in the middle of the street.  Officers separated them.  In a protective sweep, they discovered the man was carrying a loaded Smith & Wesson 38 revolver in concealed his waistband.  Also discovered was a bag of about 14 pills believed to be Xanax and one Lortab.  The male does not have a permit for the gun.

The male, Jameson D. Edwards (24 yoa from St. Albans) was arrested for Carrying a Concealed Weapon w/o a Permit and Possession of Controlled Substances, both Misdemeanors.

The woman, Cindy Meadows (also from St. Albans) was cited for Public Intoxication and taken to CARES.

Due to being on bicycles, the officers were able to get right on top of them without being seen.  The bike patrols are being funded through overtime for now and are part of the some new initiatives SAPD will be rolling out in the coming year.

The crash is still under investigation by Ptl. P. A. Bass.

Mr. Scott was taken to Thomas Memorial Hospital.  His injuries aren’t thought to be life threatening.