9 arrested in joint investigation (2024)

BUCKHANNON — Seven law enforcement agencies jointly executed search warrants this week arresting nine individuals on a variety of charges involving stolen firearms and other items along with controlled substances.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, Buckhannon and Weston detachments of the West Virginia State Police, West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations/Mountain Lakes Drug and Violent Crime Unit, West Virginia State Police Special Response Team, Buckhannon Police Department, Lewis County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia National Resource Police and Buckhannon Fire Department tactical medics all participated in the execution of search warrants in Upshur and Lewis counties on Tuesday, according to a press release.

Thirty-three law enforcement officers and three K-9s conducted six residential searches in Upshur and Lewis County. In Upshur County, the investigation led by UCSD Chief Deputy Michael Coffman and Sgt. Rodney Rolenson as well as Cpl. Marshall O’Connor with the Buckhannon Police Department yielded numerous stolen items such as tools, ATVs, a tractor and firearms.

Coffman said that the majority of controlled substances recovered were methamphetamine but there was also some marijuana found. The controlled substances seized totaled over 80 grams.

Four people were arrested in Upshur County.

* Phillip R. Ogden, 33, of Crawford, was arrested for malicious or unlawful assault, a felony, and obstructing an officer, a misdemeanor, according to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s office.

On Jan. 6, the alleged victim was at Ogden’s residence on the Rock Cave Road and both individuals were in a dispute over four-wheelers, Sgt. Theron Caynor wrote in the criminal complaint.

The alleged victim thought Ogden had taken one belonging to him earlier and took one belonging to Ogden, the complaint stated. Then, Ogden had the alleged victim come over to his residence to confront him about the four-wheeler and allegedly swung a claw hammer at the alleged victim’s head.

“The victim used his hand to shield his head from being struck and received lacerations from the blow,” Caynor said.

Ogden allegedly made several threats about beating the alleged victim’s head in. The alleged victim then told Ogden where the four-wheeler was and Ogden sent a third party to find it, police said.

Ogden then allegedly forced the alleged victim and his girlfriend to stay at his residence, give up their cell phones and stood between them and the door with the hammer barring them from leaving until the third party came.

In a separate case, Lt. Marshall Powers with the sheriff’s department arrested Ogden for obstructing an officer.

On Feb. 3, Powers and several officers traveled to Ogden’s residence to serve a search warrant. Powers and K9 Officer A.J. went to the back of the residence and Deputy Tyler Chidester heard brush cracking over a steep ravine behind the residence, the criminal complaint said.

Powers could see someone went down the ravine due to the snow covered group and gave clear verbal commands for the subject to come out of the woods or he would get bit by the dog if he didn’t comply, police said.

When the subject, later determined to be Ogden, did not comply, Powers, Deputy Chidester and AJ went down the ravine and caught up to Ogden, the complaint states. Powers instructed Ogden to back up as AJ was climbing over a large log, but Ogden did not and AJ bit Ogden on the left leg, detaining Ogden until he was handcuffed.

Magistrate George Riggleman set bond at $75,000 cash only.

If convicted, Ogden faces two to 10 years in prison for malicious or unlawful assault and a $50 to $500 fine and/or up to one year in jail.

• Eric Chidester, 38, of Crawford, was arrested for conspiracy, a felony, by Caynor, for his involvement in the incident.

Felony conspiracy is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary for one to five years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, or, in the discretion of the court, by both imprisonment and fine.

Magistrate Mark Davis set bond at $15,000.

• Deputy Cole Bender arrested Eddie Bennington, 60, of Crawford, for receiving or transferring stolen property, a felony.

Bennington allegedly possessed a 1990 Kawasaki motorcycle at his residence concealed under a tarp that was reported stolen from Harrison County in 2019 and valued at $3,000.

Riggleman set bond at $10,000.

• Michelle Smith, 37, of French Creek, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, by Bender. On Feb. 23, the search warrant was executive on property belonging to Chidester. Smith was detained and allegedly had a small glass container of a substance believed to be meth in her right front pocket.

Riggleman set bond at $1,500 personal recognizance.

If convicted, Smith faces 90 days to six months in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine.

• In Lewis County, the investigation headed by Trooper F.J. Turansky recovered controlled substances and stolen firearms and resulted in the arrests of five individuals: Dusty Turner, Dusty Turner, Jr., Roger Williams, Jessica Stalnaker and Cody Shaffer. Approximately $35,000 in stolen property was recovered and about 50 grams of controlled substances were received.

The release states that further arrest warrants have been issued.

Anyone with additional information should contract the UCSD at 304-472-1182, or the West Virginia State Police Lewis County detachment at 304-269-0500.