INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s office reported the following arrests:
Jeffery Looney, 31, of Louisa, was arrested Tuesday on Trace Fork Road in Tomahawk for alcohol intoxication in a public place, resisting arrest, fleeing or evading police, escape, and terroristic threatening.
According to Deputy Justin Bellamy, deputies were dispatched to Trace Ridge Road following a collision where a vehicle had run off the side of the mountain, with the driver suspected of being intoxicated.
While driving on Trace Fork Road, officers heard someone yelling for help from the woods.
“We got out and arrested Donald Cornette, who was involved in the incident, on a separate citation,” Bellamy stated. “While we were dealing with Mr. Cornette, suspect Jeffery Looney came walking toward us down Trace Fork.”
Bellamy reported that Looney exhibited signs of intoxication, including the odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech and red, bloodshot eyes. When Bellamy attempted to arrest Looney, he jerked away and fled.
“Mr. Looney ran straight off the roadway down a steep area of the mountain and fell several times,” Bellamy reported.
Deputies pursued Looney on foot and apprehended him using “soft open-hand techniques.” Looney continued to resist until officers placed him in handcuffs and escorted him to the police cruiser.
While Bellamy was gathering information at the collision scene, Looney managed to slip his handcuffs from behind his back to the front and attempted to escape again by reaching through the cruiser’s divider window and unlocking the door.
“I had left the dividing window cracked open to allow air conditioning to reach Mr. Looney while I worked the collision,” Bellamy said.
Deputy Bellamy chased Looney on foot again and apprehended him. During transport to the Sheriff’s Office, Looney allegedly made threats toward the deputy, saying, “I’m gonna beat your a** for all these bulls*** charges,” “As soon as I serve my time I’m gonna find you and [expletive] you up,” and “I’m gonna shoot your a** first next time.”
Donald Cornette, 54, of Tomahawk, was also arrested Tuesday on Trace Fork Road for alcohol intoxication in a public place. Police said Cornette was involved in the automobile accident with Looney. When deputies arrived on Trace Fork Road, Cornette was yelling for help from the woods. Officers noted he had an odor of alcohol on his breath, slurred speech, red, bloodshot eyes, and appeared under the influence of alcohol.
“Mr. Cornette was stumbling around and having trouble maintaining his balance,” Deputy Bellamy reported.
Cornette appeared to have a broken arm and was transported to the hospital by ambulance, accompanied by a deputy, where he was medically cleared. He then joined Looney in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Tammie Johnson, 65, address unknown, was arrested Saturday in Lovely for public intoxication of a controlled substance (excludes alcohol).
Special Deputy David Reffett responded to a 911 call about a woman staggering in and out of traffic. He located Johnson in Lovely and reported that she was “sweating profusely, was unable to follow instructions or maintain balance and had slurred speech.”
Johnathan Perry, 33, of Tomahawk, was arrested Friday in Tomahawk on bench warrants for court. Deputy David Reffett made the arrest.
Alexandria D. Moore, 32, of Warfield, was arrested Friday in Warfield on a bench warrant for court. Deputy Reffett made the arrest.
Eric Bowens, 46, of Tomahawk, was arrested Thursday at Fields Trailer Court in Tomahawk for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle prohibited, resisting arrest, assault of EMS, fire, rescue squad, fleeing or evading police (on foot), and a bench warrant for court.
Bowen was taken into custody at Fields Trailer Court after a series of events that began with a call to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office about a drunk and aggressive individual at a residence on Mollett Branch. According to Deputy Bellamy, officers responded to the call around 9:11 p.m. The caller, identified as Haley Bowens, reported that Eric Bowens was intoxicated and refusing to leave the premises.
As officers entered Mollett Branch, they observed a shirtless man, later identified as Bowens, driving away in a blue Chevy Silverado with another individual, his adult son, slumped over in the passenger seat.
Law enforcement learned that Bowens had left the scene in the blue truck and began searching the area, including Rockhouse Road and Tomahawk Road. During this time, Bowens’ sister arrived on the scene, informing officers that her brother was at her home at Fields Trailer Court.
When officers arrived at Fields Trailer Court, they found Bowens sitting on the porch, visibly distressed and appearing under the influence. Bowens allegedly admitted to drinking a pint of Everclear grain alcohol and taking approximately 20 hydrocodone pain pills. A search of his vehicle revealed a nearly empty Everclear bottle and a prescription bottle of clonazepam.
Bowens denied he had been driving and claimed a friend gave him a ride but did not provide a name.
During the arrest, Bowens resisted, requiring four deputies to successfully handcuff him and escort him to the police cruiser. Once in the cruiser, Bowens slumped over and stopped breathing, prompting Deputy Bellamy to administer sternum rubs and Narcan, which revived him.
As EMS from Patriot Ambulance arrived to assist, Bowens struck EMS worker Thomas Flanery in the genitals and briefly fled on foot from the police cruiser. He was quickly apprehended but continued to resist being placed in handcuffs and onto the EMS gurney. Police transported Bowens to a hospital, where he refused a blood test but was held for evaluation.
During the arrest process, Deputy Bellamy discovered that Bowens was wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for Martin District Court.
James M. Scott, 29, of Lovely, was arrested Thursday on Riverfront Road, Lovely, on a bench warrant for Martin Circuit Court. Deputy J.C. Kirk made the arrest at 8:09 p.m.
Lonnie Mitchell Pauley, 61, of Inez, was arrested Thursday at Quail Hollow Apartments in Inez for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), trafficking in marijuana less than 8 ounces, trafficking in controlled substance less than 20 dosage units drug unspecified, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Kirk and Deputy J.C. Kirk responded to complaints regarding suspected drug trafficking activities at Pauley’s apartment. Upon their arrival for a routine “knock and talk,” the officers immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the door. Pauley allegedly admitted to having “a dusting” of marijuana and allowed the officers to search the premises.
During the search, law enforcement discovered a white substance believed to be methamphetamine, marijuana, gabapentin pills, a firearm, scales, money and baggies.
Kathern V. Stepp, 42, of Inez, was arrested Thursday at Sycamore Estates in Inez for first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), trafficking marijuana less than 8 ounces, trafficking in a controlled substance less than 20 dosage units drug unspecified, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Deputy J.C. Kirk reported that Stepp was at the residence of Lonnie Mitchell Pauley at Quail Hollow Apartments in Inez when police searched the residence for suspected trafficking of illegal drugs.
Deborah Ross-Hill, 53, of Lenore, West Virginia, was arrested June 19 in Warfield for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of controlled substance.
Chief Deputy Chris Kidd responded to a report of a potentially intoxicated driver operating her vehicle recklessly. Upon arriving in Warfield, Kidd observed a vehicle matching the given description. The deputy said that the vehicle crossed the center line and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road.
During a traffic stop, Deputy Kidd noted that Ross-Hill exhibited several signs of impairment, including glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and difficulty speaking.
According to the police report, Ross-Hill admitted to having used “slow and go” and marijuana. When asked what she meant by “slow and go,” Ross-Hill allegedly clarified that she was referring to fentanyl and methamphetamine. She then expressed gratitude to the officer, saying, “Thank you for getting me off the road and saving my life.”