BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WARFIELD — A man’s flight from an apartment complex Monday afternoon on Hode Road prompted Warfield Elementary School to shut down while Martin County Sheriff’s deputies searched the area.

Deputy J.C. Kirk said he was patrolling the complex after law enforcement received a tip that a subject linked to a shooting in Williamson, West Virginia, could be there when he saw a male take off running.

Kirk alerted nearby units, including those across the Tug River in Crum, West Virginia, prompting school officials to issue an alert around 2:30 p.m. telling families to stay away from the campus.

“Due to a current situation where a suspect is currently in the surrounding area, there will be no practices and no one around school premises. Stay off of school grounds. Please stay safe and stay inside if you are in the Hode area,” the school posted on social media.

Deputies searched the riverbank but did not locate the man. As officers were leaving, a male emerged from the riverbank and went into an apartment, Kirk said.

Deputies arrested Dustin Stacy, 34, of Tomahawk, on an outstanding bench warrant.

“He said he ran thinking we were coming for him because he had warrants,” Deputy Kirk said.

While on scene, deputies also arrested Sidney Nicole Webb, 30, of Warfield, on a separate bench warrant.