BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man is facing multiple charges after a chaotic incident at the Dollar Tree on Cumberland Road ended with a hospital visit and a string of profanities.
According to Sgt. H.D. Browning of the Bluefield Police Department, officers responded around 9:20 a.m. to reports of a man causing a disturbance outside the store. Witnesses told police the man had briefly entered their vehicle before heading into the Dollar Tree, where he reportedly concealed several items and attempted to leave without paying.
An alert employee stopped the man outside and recovered the stolen merchandise. However, the man re-entered the store, where Sgt. Browning eventually made contact with him at the front registers.
“It was clear right away he was under the influence of something,” Sgt. Browning stated in his report, noting the man’s slurred speech, unsteady balance, and erratic behavior. For safety and investigative purposes, the man was placed in handcuffs.
A search revealed more stolen items hidden in his hoodie. The suspect, identified as Phillip Prater, had taken $26.50 worth of merchandise in total — $8.50 recovered by store staff and another $18 found during the search.
Due to Prater’s impaired state, Sgt. Browning decided to transport him to Bluefield Regional Medical Center for evaluation. Once inside the emergency room, Prater reportedly began screaming profanities — particularly the word “f***” — repeatedly, despite multiple requests to stop. He eventually quieted down but not before creating a disturbance in the hospital.
Prater is now facing three charges: Public Intoxication, Shoplifting, and Disorderly Conduct.
