OCEANA, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Wyoming County man is facing multiple charges after police say he struck a 19-year-old with a pickup truck and allegedly threatened several people with a handgun just hours after admitting to stealing potting soil from a local supermarket.
According to the Oceana Police Department, officers responded at approximately 8:24 p.m. on June 25 to the Oceana Apartments after receiving a report that a 19-year-old man had been struck by a white Ram 3500 and that the driver was armed with a handgun.
When officers arrived, they located the white Ram 3500 parked near one of the apartment buildings before making contact with the injured victim.
Police said the victim displayed a large red mark on the right side of his chest and complained of difficulty breathing. He was instructed to remain seated until emergency medical personnel arrived.
Witnesses identified the driver as Matthew Rupert Martin.
According to investigators, Martin stated he had come to the apartment complex because he believed someone had stolen $50 from his truck earlier in the day. He told officers he attempted to locate the individual but denied striking anyone with his vehicle.
However, multiple witnesses provided a different account.
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses told police Martin exited his truck, pointed what was described as a .40-caliber handgun at several people, and demanded they retrieve his belongings.
Witnesses further alleged that after one individual began walking away, Martin placed the truck in reverse and struck the 19-year-old with the driver’s door. The victim then ran around the front of the truck as Martin allegedly attempted to hit him a second time.
Another witness also reported seeing Martin waving a handgun before the victim was struck by the truck.
Police later obtained Martin’s consent to search the vehicle but did not locate a firearm.
The incident came just hours after Martin allegedly admitted to participating in the theft of potting soil from Goodson’s Supermarket in Oceana.
According to police, surveillance footage captured two men arriving at the store in a white dual-wheel pickup with Michigan license plates at approximately 3:22 a.m. on June 25. The pair allegedly loaded 10 bags of potting soil into the truck before leaving.
Investigators, assisted by Oceana Police Chief Tyler Dunigan, later identified Martin and Shawn Sterling Cline as the suspects.
Police said Martin admitted he and Cline stole the potting soil and took it to a residence in Lynco. Officers recovered nine of the 10 stolen bags, with the total value of the stolen merchandise estimated at $98.91.
Martin now faces charges stemming from both the alleged assault at the apartment complex and the supermarket theft.
The charges are allegations, and Martin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
