BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A routine call to a local Dollar General turned into a costly and chaotic encounter on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, after a woman previously banned from the store created a public disturbance and damaged a Beckley Police cruiser.
Officers responded to the Dollar General at 2907 Robert C. Byrd Drive after reports of a white female standing in the middle of the parking lot causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, police identified the woman as Heather Austin — a familiar name to local law enforcement.
Records confirmed that Austin had been previously trespassed from the store. When officers placed her under arrest for trespassing, she erupted in anger, yelling profanities and threatening to “kill me off this earth,” according to the police report.
Despite warnings, Austin continued to scream and then began kicking the interior of the patrol vehicle. She allegedly broke the in-car camera system during the outburst by kicking it from its mount and snapping the base wires. The damage is estimated to cost the City of Beckley roughly $1,000 in repairs.
The police vehicle will need to be serviced at the Beckley Police Department garage.
The incident occurred within city limits in Raleigh County. In addition to trespassing, Austin now faces charges of disorderly conduct and destruction of property.
