VICTOR, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Fayette County man faces charges following a hit-and-run incident involving the owner of a vehicle he had previously borrowed and failed to return.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at approximately 5:28pm, Deputy Sheriff R.T. Gunnoe with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a hit-and-run incident which occurred at the Midland Trail Sunoco in Victor, Fayette County.
EMS was on the scene at the time of Deputy Gunnoe’s arrival, and the caller – the stepmother of the victim – described the events which had just taken place. The victim’s stepmother – identified as Mrs. Donna Faye Workman – advised that the victim – identified as Mr. Dennis Alan Workman – had been riding with her in her car when the victim identified a vehicle – a Chevrolet Malibu – parked at a pump as his own.
Exiting Mrs. Workman’s vehicle, the victim approached the Malibu and was said to have tapped the top of the car at which point the vehicle took off and ran over the victim. The vehicle then continued and proceeded toward the Ansted area along US Route 60.
Security footage was requested from the employees of the Sunoco location and a statement was taken from the victim at Plateau Medical Center. The victim stated that his vehicle had been taken without his consent by Michael Grimmett and Kandi Morris, though no report indicating the theft was ever submitted.
The victim stated that this was because he had hoped they would simply return the vehicle in time, and due to a fear that the offenders would attempt to flee with the vehicle if he had reported the vehicle stolen.
The registration of the vehicle was tracked to the previous owners who presented documentation of a deal having been made with the victim – Mr. Workman – in which he would assume ownership of the Malibu.
Cpl. Olson reviewed security footage from the Sunoco, revealing that the vehicle in question had pulled up to a fuel pump for approximately 15 seconds before taking off when the victim approached and placed his hands on top of the vehicle. The victim was pulled with the vehicle for a short time as a result before falling to the ground and limping out of frame.
Authorities apprehended the vehicle on November 19, 2023, at an Oak Hill McDonald’s. The driver, Michael Grimmett, provided a statement indicating he had “borrowed the vehicle to grab cigarettes and kept it for 2 days before the incident.”
Grimmett alleged that Workman had attempted to bust out a window of the vehicle when he approached it at the Sunoco location. Grimmett was also aware that Workman had “rolled off” the vehicle when he had driven away. Kandi Morris was identified as a passenger in the vehicle during this exchange.
A warrant was attained for the arrest of Michael Grimmett, and on Sunday, December 17, 2023, Grimmett was taken into custody on charges of Joyriding, Hit-and-run with Bodily Injury, and Fugitive from Justice.
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