-
Man arrested after dropping drugs in Martin County Government Center, police said
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — If you happened to lose a pouch of drugs inside the Martin County Government Center last week, Sheriff John Kirk had a message for you: call the sheriff’s office. He would be happy to help — and by “help,” he meant jail. The odd episode began after hours
-
Williamson fire chief arrested on wanton endangerment charges
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Williamson Fire Chief Joey Michael Carey was arrested Friday night after a roughly three-month investigation into allegations that he fired two handgun rounds into a neighboring apartment in the downtown Williamson building where he lives. West Virginia State Police took Carey, 49, into custody at about 9
-
Woman jailed on storage unit burglary, theft charges
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A woman went to jail last week after investigators say she was caught on video cutting locks off storage units in Inez and stealing more than $1,000 worth of property. Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jameson Wall served a warrant on Rose Ellen Johnson, 54, of Inez, at her
-
Woman shot to death; husband arrested on first-degree murder charge
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN DELBARTON, W.Va. — A man is in jail on a first-degree murder charge after police found his wife shot to death Friday morning at a home on Triton Lane near Delbarton. Mingo County Sheriff deputies were dispatched at approximately 11 a.m. after Mingo 911 received a call requesting a welfare
-
Child neglect charges: Kids left in car while adults played poker machines
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Two Kermit residents face child neglect charges after deputies said they left two young children unattended in a vehicle while they played poker machines inside a Williamson establishment. David W. Compton and Lori A. Messer, both of Kermit, were arrested by Mingo County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. N. Mines and
-
Mingo County Magistrate Court releases multiple arrest reports
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Mingo County Magistrate Court recently released several arrest reports. Ashley Hauser, 39, of Ransom, Kentucky, was charged with child neglect stemming from an incident in September 2025. The West Virginia State Police arrested her. In a separate case, Hauser, now reportedly living at Victoria Courts Apartments in Williamson, was
-
Mingo man charged with sexual abuse of minor
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT DELBARTON, W.Va. — A Delbarton man has been arrested and jailed for what police said was sexual abuse of a minor. Justin Aaron Stepp, 37, was arrested March 2 in the Elk Creek area of Delbarton by the West Virginia State Police Williamson Detachment on a charge of sexual assault by a
-
Wrong-way driver crashes twice before arrest in Inez
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Lowmansville man was arrested Feb. 27 after almost hitting a Martin County Sheriff’s deputy head-on on the wrong side of the four-lane and crashing his car twice. Eric Mollett, 50, faces charges of fleeing or evading police, first degree (motor vehicle), wanton endangerment, first degree (police officer),
-
Four arrested after fight in school parking lot prompts soft lockdown
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WARFIELD — Four men were arrested and one woman was cited Monday after a fight between adults erupted in the parking lot of Warfield Elementary School. The incident prompted the school to initiate a soft lockdown. Officers Nathan Todd and Justin Bellamy with the Martin County Schools Police Department responded at approximately
-
Man charged with attempted murder; three others arrested after shooting
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
