BERKELEY COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – One man has been arrested after handing out political pamphlets at a West Virginia polling place.
According to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at approximately 12:27 PM, deputies responded to 580 Needy Road for a trespassing complaint.
The church at this address was being used as an official polling station for the voting occurring around the county.
The caller notified dispatchers and advised that they had asked a male subject who was later identified as 40-year-old George Melik-Agamiriam of Charles Town to leave the property.
The caller also told dispatch that when asked to leave the property he became very agitated.
Police say upon arrival on scene a male presented himself to deputies in the driveway of the church and then handed them pamphlets as they proceeded inside the building as it was thought the suspect was inside the polling station.
Once inside, the poll workers advised that the individual in question had been inside the location earlier wearing a political pin on his shirt and was attempting to distribute political pamphlets to other voters.
The poll workers stated that the individual the deputies were responding to was in the driveway of the church, the same individual deputies had already made initial contact with.
The information that the individual was dispersing was reviewed and found to be political pamphlets.
These pamphlets violate West Virginia electioneering laws, which prohibit an individual from being present at any official voting location attempting to distribute political materials that would affect individual citizen’s decisions in an election.
Once contact was made with Mr. Melik, deputies observed him wearing a political pin and holding pamphlets. It was explained to him the reason for the deputy’s response to the location.
While talking with Mr. Melik, deputies attempted to gather his driver’s license to obtain his identity, but he refused to comply with these lawful orders.
Mr. Melnik was then arrested for electioneering, trespassing, and obstructing an officer.
Once transported to Eastern Regional Jail Mr. Melik refused to provide his fingerprints while deputies were attempting to process him.
