BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NORTH MATEWAN, W.Va. — Deputies arrested four men late Friday night in connection with an attempted murder investigation on Rutherford Hollow near Matewan.
Bruce Blankenship, 42, of Nolan Street, Williamson, faces charges of attempted murder, wanton endangerment, possession of a controlled substance, drug conspiracy, child neglect creating a risk of injury and being a prohibited person with a firearm.
The Mingo County Sheriff’s Department responded to a shots-fired call in Rutherford Hollow. According to the criminal complaint, Kimberly Perkins-McCoy told deputies that after an altercation, her boyfriend, Blankenship, threw her to the ground and fired a shot at her. She reported that two other men with Blankenship kicked her while she was on the ground.
Deputies recovered a 9mm shell casing at the scene.
Authorities said Blankenship and three other men left the area in a red Jeep Cherokee.
Later that night, deputies found four men passed out in the Jeep at Magnolia Gardens (apartment complex) in North Matewan. After opening the vehicle door, deputies ordered the men to show their hands, removed them from the Jeep and placed them under arrest.
During a search of the vehicle, officers observed a Glock 9mm handgun in plain view and secured it.
Deputies also reported finding drugs believed to be fentanyl, Suboxone strips and Suboxone pills, some crushed into powder, inside the vehicle. According to the police report, some of the defendants also had drugs on their person.
Investigators determined that a juvenile identified as Blankenship’s nephew was present during the Rutherford Hollow incident and was transported in the Jeep to Magnolia Gardens. Authorities said a concerned citizen removed the child from the vehicle to a nearby apartment while the four men allegedly used drugs and lost consciousness.
The three other men arrested along with Blankenship face multiple charges.
Roberto Damron, 43, of Matewan, faces charges of possession with intent to deliver and drug conspiracy.
Adam Pierce, 41, of Freeburn, Kentucky, faces charges of possession with intent to deliver and drug conspiracy.
Timothy Cline, 35, of Wharncliff, faces charges of possession with intent to deliver, drug conspiracy, child neglect creating a risk of injury and DUI.
The Mingo County Sheriff’s Department made the arrests with assistance from the West Virginia State Police. They lodged all four men at the Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden.
The four appeared before Mingo County Magistrate Dave Justice for arraignment. The court set Blankenship’s cash bond at $80,000. Cline’s bond is $41,000, Pierce’s bond is $30,000 and Damron’s bond is $30,000.
Editor’s note: All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.