CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. — A recent string of arrests in Mingo County includes allegations of parking-meter thefts in downtown Williamson, the cutting and removal of hundreds of feet of communication cable near Matewan, and other charges.
– Second arrest in parking meter thefts –
Police arrested a second suspect on charges of damaging and stealing coins from several parking meters in downtown Williamson.
Brian Daniel Thompson, 37, of Williamson, was the latest arrest by officers of the Williamson Police Department (WPD) for destruction of property, petit larceny and conspiracy.
Police charged Danuial Chafin, 25, of Williamson, in September.
The WPD received a complaint in late August of two males breaking into parking meters. Upon arrival, officers observed surveillance video of the two suspects breaching several meters on Second and Third Avenues and Logan Street.
The two allegedly used hand tools to break into the meters and remove coins, then left the scene.
In all, 15 meters were damaged, at an estimated cost of $3,000. The amount of coins taken was less than $100.
Trio busted for cable theft
Three people are facing felony charges after West Virginia State Police say they worked together to steal hundreds of feet of communication cable from railroad property near Matewan.
Troopers arrested Timothy Westmoreland, 48, of Phelps, Kentucky; Austin Michael Bryant, 26, of Red Jacket, West Virginia; and Kisha Nicole Layne, 28, of Freeburn, Kentucky, on Nov. 7.
All three face charges of grand larceny, destruction of property and conspiracy.
According to court records, the trio allegedly cut and removed roughly 400 feet of Frontier Communications cable from the Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor.
Police say Bryant drove the pickup truck carrying the stolen cable, Layne rode as a passenger, and Westmoreland participated in the theft.
The suspects allegedly cut the cable into sections and placed it in the rear of the vehicle, where police reportedly found an electric chainsaw and a hacksaw.
The trio were arraigned in Mingo County Magistrate Court.
Other arrests
Micheal Williams, 34, of Varney, was charged by the WVSP with destruction of property.
Shelia Kay Rutherford, 62, of Williamson, was charged with falsely reporting an emergency to EMS and 911. She was arrested by the WVSP.
Matthew John May, 38, Delbarton, was arrested by the WVSP on malicious assault and battery charges.