BELINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Barbour County man was taken into custody Monday evening after a verbal altercation escalated.
At approximately 6:13 p.m. on March 31, officers responded to Locust Avenue following reports of a man yelling at neighbors and acting erratically. The caller suspected possible drug involvement, and authorities noted that EMS had visited the residence the previous day for a potential overdose.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with the caller and his mother, who identified the individual as Mathew Eli Whitehead. They expressed concerns that Whitehead may have mixed marijuana with his prescribed medication. Shortly after, Whitehead was seen walking back toward the residence, yelling aggressively.
When officers attempted to engage him, Whitehead ignored commands and made alarming statements, including claims that robots had replaced his family and that he wanted to “shoot his dog” to prove it. As he neared the porch of his home, officers attempted to detain him for safety reasons. Whitehead resisted, reaching for an officer’s duty belt and taser, leading deputies to restrain him and request EMS assistance.
Although initially refusing medical attention, Whitehead later agreed but changed his mind again, becoming combative. After attempting to step out of a police cruiser, he was placed under arrest for obstructing an officer.
Whitehead was medically cleared on the scene before being transported to Tygart Valley Regional Jail for processing. During transport, he calmed down but continued making concerning statements about his family and pets. He was turned over to jail staff without further incident.
