MONTGOMERY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man faces charges stemming from an attempt at stealing copper wire from the old WVU Tech football field in Fayette County.
According to reports from Detective Sgt. A. Powell of the Montgomery Police Department, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 2:37pm, Patrolman S. Stout was dispatched to investigate a destruction of property call at Golden Bear Dr. in Montgomery, the site of the old WVU Tech football field.
Upon his arrival at the scene, Stout spoke with Chad Parsons, the complainant and maintenance director for WVU Tech. Parson stated that Donald Wiley, a member of his staff, had witnessed a man carrying a woman down the hill from the football field.
Parsons informed the officer that a large amount of copper wire had been stripped from the electrical boxes surrounding the field area, and that he, along with the WVU Tech staff had recovered a backpack, a small pair of bolt cutters, a socket wrench, and some clothes at the scene.
Parsons also stated that he had photographed the football field in detail before disturbing the found items and revealed that an additional pair of bolt cutters had been found at the power supply box at the football field’s west end.
It was stated that the bolt cutters had been attached to the box, implying that there were attempts made at cutting additional wires.
Also found in the area were a number of yellow jackets, which could be observed flying around the bolt cutters. Parsons and his staff made no attempts to retrieve the bolt cutters for this reason.
Further, it was informed by Parsons that all items which had been removed had been handled using gloves. An immediate estimate for the damage done was approximately $25,000.
At this point, Patrolman Perrine arrived on the scene and canvassed the area along with Stout, taking additional photos along the way.
At the west side of a garage found on the north end of the field, a bordering fence could be seen to have had an opening cut out wide enough for a person to crawl through. Stout observed that the cutting at the edges of the fence appeared to be recent.
A large amount of yellow jackets could be observed on the ground by the bolt cutters attached to a power supply box on the west end.
Authorities took possession of the pair of small, black bolt cutters with blue and black handles, along with a black backpack containing several miscellaneous items, a black Alcatel smartphone, and clothes including a pair of Hey Arnold socks, a pair of black tennis shoes displaying the phrase “just so so,” a gray shirt, and a pair of denim blue jeans with a brown leather belt.
Officers were presented with a photo of the man carrying the female down the hill, and authorities were able to identify the pair as Christopher Hancock and Brittany McBrayer based on previous interactions.
A video statement was taken by Officer Stout from Wiley on his body camera, and Wiley stated that while he was emptying grass he observed a man carrying a woman down the hill from the field.
Wiley asked the man what the problem was and the man stated that the woman had been stung and had to be taken to the hospital.
This was said to have occurred at approximately 10:45am on the same day.
Upon having been presented with a photo of Hancock carrying McBrayer down the hill, Wiley stated confirmed that these were the individuals he had observed.
Wiley stated that after his lunch he had gone to do a routine check on the field and found copper wire strung across the field. He also revealed that tools including a socket wrench and bolt cutters could be seen.
These were confirmed to be the same tools that Patrolman Stout had recovered as evidence.
Later, at approximately 3:59pm, Patrolman Stout conducted a welfare check on McBraver at 800 4th Ave. Apt B in Montgomery, Kanawha County, WV.
There, Stout observed McBrayer on audio and video recording to have marks on her face and arms consistent with insect bites.
Stout, along with Patrolman B. Drake encountered McBrayer again on September 7, 2022, and were asked if she could retrieve the items that she had left at the football field.
When asked why here items had been there, McBrayer stated that she and Hancock had been there, and she had been stung by bees. For this reason, she had to be rushed off the hill to seek medical attention.
Christopher Hancock faces felony charges of Destruction of Property.