Published: May 20, 2009 09:07 pm      

Police arrest suspect in McDowell robberies

WAR — McDowell County deputies arrested a suspect Wednesday afternoon, charging him with one count of armed robbery, one count of robbery and two counts of petit larceny related to robberies at two different Hillbilly Market stores.

Scotty Lee VanDyke, 40, of War fled when officers tracked him to a residence in War, according Chief Field Deputy Mark Shelton of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities were called to the Hillbilly Market in English at 7:30 a.m., in response to a report of an armed robbery, and were called to the Hillbilly Market in War about 10 minutes later, also in response to a reported robbery.

Shelton said that in the first robbery, the suspect showed a knife to the clerk, but in the second robbery, the suspect did not show a knife.

“Deputies on patrol in the War area spotted a vehicle that met the description of the vehicle involved in the incident,” Shelton said. “They looked inside the vehicle and observed clothing that matched the clothing the suspect allegedly wore during the robberies.

“When the deputies approached the residence, the suspect took off running,” Shelton said. “VanDyke fit the description. The deputies took him into custody.” The suspect was arraigned before McDowell County Magistrate Pete Beavers.

McDowell County deputies also investigated a break-in at the Black Diamond Pharmacy in Northfork. Shelton said deputies were dispatched to the scene at 2:45 a.m., Wednesday morning.

“They took an inventory and determined that no narcotics were missing,” Shelton said. “They gained entry through the front door. Shelton said the department does not have any suspects in the pharmacy break-in at this point.

Shelton said the West Virginia State Police are investigating a break-in at the same pharmacy that occurred on Tuesday.

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com