BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – An intoxicated man tells police it was the year 1999, grabbed a fence, violently pulled it, and resisted arrest.
On September 23, 2024, police responded to a welfare check on the Rails to Trails path after reports of a person yelling after hours. Upon arrival, officers encountered two individuals on the closed trail, including a shirtless male, identified as Paul Linkswiler, who appeared highly intoxicated and was sweating profusely.
When asked by officers what year it was, Linkswiler responded, “99 of course.” Due to his extreme level of intoxication, officers called EMS for assistance. However, Linkswiler became aggressive, grabbing a nearby fence and violently pulling on it. He then removed a board from the fence and began swinging it around.
Officers quickly intervened, with one officer grabbing Linkswiler’s arm and forcing it behind his back. Despite his resistance, Linkswiler was eventually restrained and placed under arrest. While being transported to Southern Regional Jail (SRJ), he repeatedly kicked the partition in the patrol car. When officers stopped to address the issue, Linkswiler attempted to push his head outside the door, forcing officers to restrain him again.
Linkswiler was safely transported and released into custody at SRJ. The incident occurred within the city limits of Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia.
