Published: July 07, 2009 05:36 pm      

Mercer Sheriff — June 25-29, 2009

MERCER SHERIFF



June 25

• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Cpl. J.J. Ruble responded to Bluestone Road, where juveniles were reported shooting BB guns. The complainant reported she had an ongoing problem with the juveniles and that they had shot her side window just days before. The officer investigated and identified the juvenile who reportedly shot the window, and the child's mother agreed to pay for the damage.

June 26

• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Sgt. S.J. Cary responded to Worrell Street, where a complainant reported her ex-son-in-law stopped by her house, appearing to be intoxicated and behaving belligerently. Family members reportedly escorted the suspect away from the property, but he allegedly returned to the yard of the home and ripped the complainant's vegetables from her garden. The complainant advised the officer she did not wish to pursue charges but did want some form of documentation of the event.

• MALICIOUS ASSAULT, ASSAULT, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Dep. A.M. Ballard and Senior Dep. W.C. Wilborn responded to Joywood Road, where a possible domestic dispute was reported. The complainant was located with bruised, bleeding eyes and an injured mouth. She reported the suspect accused her of taking the suspect's medication and began beating her with her fist while the complainant was sitting at her computer desk playing online games. The complainant allegedly attempted to flee, but the suspect reportedly chased her outside, grabbed her hair and pulled her back inside, where she again beat her. The complainant was eventually able to escape to a neighbor's residence, where she remained until authorities arrived. Officers arrested Penny Yvonne DeGraw, 48, of Princeton, and reported she continued to threaten the complainant as she was escorted to Bluefield Police Department for holding.

• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Dep. G.C. Paitsel responded to Monte Vista Cemetery official reported workers found one of the marble vault markers damaged. The officer investigated and reported seeing another vault marker that was leaning, as though it might fall. Workers on hand reported juveniles had been seen in the area the day before, and they believed the young people might have vandalized the property.

• ASSAULT: An employee at Rose's in Mercer Mall reported a coworker threatened her. Witnesses retrieved the license plate number from the suspect's vehicle, and Capt. M.L. Gills reported the investigation was ongoing.

• SPEEDING, SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSE, EXPIRED REGISTRATION, NO INSURANCE, POSSIBLE DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, OBSTRUCTING: Dep. J.D. Gills was conducting routine patrol on West Virginia 123, when he noticed a silver Hyundai traveling 66 mph in a 55 mph zone. By the time the officer caught up with the suspect, the driver had pulled into the Skatetown parking lot in Green Valley. The officer asked the driver for his license and vehicle information, and the driver allegedly reported he didn't have any of that information. The driver allegedly offered a name and birthday, which proved incorrect, according to a Mercer County 911/DMV search. Sean Jeremy Hill, 28, of Princeton, was arrested on an obstructing charge, for allegedly providing false information to an officer. A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed several needles in the center console. Meanwhile, Dep. E.P. Parks searched passenger Sandra Christian's purse, allegedly locating needles and a prescription pill. Christian was cited for possession of a controlled substance, while Hill was charged with obstructing, speeding, driving on a suspended license, expired registration, no insurance and possible drug paraphernalia.

June 27

• PETIT LARCENY: Dep. C.M. Williams responded to Stony Ridge, where a complainant reported a cell phone and digital camera had been taken from his vehicle.

• OBSTRUCTING, ASSAULT: Dep. J.R. Coburn responded to Dobbins Road, where Glen Lyn, Va., authorities advised a suspect wanted on warrants was living in Mercer County. Officers searched the area of the residents and continued the investigation up a logging trail, where the suspect was allegedly having a party. A male and female reportedly ran behind a building as officers approached the gathering. Coburn ordered the pair to stop, which they did, but the two subjects allegedly refused to lie on the ground as ordered. The man allegedly told officers he would get on the ground when they advised what they would do with his wife. When Coburn told him he would be sprayed with pepper spray if he failed to comply, the man allegedly responded, “You'll have to use it.” The officer administered a short burst of OC spray, and the male fell to the ground. Cheryl Cecil Holdren, also known as Cheryl Ferrar, 33, was arrested on the warrant pending in Giles County, Va. Her husband, Michael Ferrar, 41, of Oakvale, was arrested on warrants from Tazewell County, Va., and Mercer County, as well as new charges of obstructing and assault on an officer. He allegedly continued to resist arrest and processing once transported to Bluefield Police Department for holding.

June 29

• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Cpl. S.A. Sommers was dispatched to Union Drive, where a witness reported a juvenile was taunting the children at the complainant's residence and started throwing rocks. One rock allegedly hit the bottom of the house, and another hit the side, leaving a hole in the siding. Further investigation revealed the suspect in question had allegedly been taunting adults as well as children in the area. The mother of the suspect reported she had also been the victim of destruction of property but had not reported it. She allegedly said she hoped the children could work out the problems on their own. The officer reported he was unable to determine who threw the rock that caused the damage involved in the report.