BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — An early morning alarm call from the Save A Lot on Route 645 in Inez resulted in the arrests of two Salyersville men Sunday.

Martin County Sheriff John Kirk responded to the store alarm before 4 a.m. He discovered 18-year-old Raymond Eugene Keeton Jr. and 39-year-old Sonny Allen Keeton parked behind the building in a white 2007 Mazda. According to Sheriff Kirk, a coat draped over the rearview mirror obstructed the view into the vehicle’s interior.

The pair reportedly refused to cooperate, repeatedly concealing their hands until Sheriff Kirk drew his weapon to ensure compliance at gunpoint.

A subsequent search of the vehicle produced a handgun. Dispatch advised the sheriff that the gun was reported as stolen in Floyd County.

Raymond Keeton, the driver, was using a THC vape pen and displayed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and slowed movements, Sheriff Kirk said. The suspect allegedly admitted to using marijuana.

The sheriff charged both men with trespassing and menacing. Additionally, Raymond Keeton faces a charge of public intoxication of a controlled substance (excluding alcohol).