PUTNAM COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man wearing a ski mask inside Dunham’s Sports in Hurricane was arrested Thursday night after deputies discovered drugs and thousands in cash during a suspicious person investigation.
At around 8:54 p.m. on April 17, 2025, Deputy B.M. Hodges and Cpl. J.W. Chandler responded to a call about a suspicious man near the gun counter at the Liberty Square Drive store. The man was described as wearing a ski mask, a blue jersey with the number 13, and blue jeans. Dispatchers also noted that he had allegedly harassed an employee earlier that day.
Upon arrival, deputies found a man matching the description, later identified as Cory Lee Chafin. Chafin was holding a black case and agreed to a pat-down for officer safety. When questioned, Chafin claimed he was shopping with his mother and wore the mask to hide acne.
Noticing Chafin’s bulging pockets, deputies asked him to empty them. Inside, they found a large amount of cash, a blue container holding two smaller baggies — one with a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine and another containing what Chafin admitted was either heroin or fentanyl.
After detaining Chafin, deputies located his mother outside the store near a purple Kia Optima. Although she refused a search of the vehicle, a K-9 unit from Hurricane Police conducted a free air sniff and indicated the presence of drugs. A search revealed a backpack containing a scale, needles, Q-tips, Narcan, and aluminum foil.
Chafin was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute and Wearing a Mask to Conceal Identity. He was found carrying $3,269 in cash.
The substances seized weighed 2.06 grams of a powdery substance and 0.40 grams of a crystallized substance.
Chafin was transported to the Putnam County Courthouse for processing.
