ELKINS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – An attempted four wheeler theft did not go according to plan Wednesday when a homeowner noticed activity occurring outside his residence.
According to reports from Deputy Pingley of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department, on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 912 dispatched a theft in progress at King’s Run Road at approximately 2:30 AM.
The caller stated that he had heard noise outside his Scott’s Lake Road residence and left his home to investigate.
Outside, the caller witnessed an individual stealing his four wheeler, at which point the caller utilized his own personal vehicle to give chase to the thief.
The caller pursued the victim through Scott’s Lake Road, Mount Carmel Church, Files Creek, and King’s Run Road, where the suspect drove up a private driveway and into the tree line.
The caller did not bring his phone along due to the speed at which the situation had unfolded, so he opted to make contact with the sleeping property owners at their residence where Sergeant Cogar and Deputy Pingley responded to the scene.
After making contact with the property owners, deputies worked as a team with the caller and property owners in attempts to canvas the woods behind the residence to locate the suspect and/or stolen four wheeler, the latter of which was ultimately found and recovered.
A clothing description was provided for the suspect, who fled through the woods on foot in an unknown directions.
The circumstances called for a request for K-9, and Deputy Knotts along with K-9 Twix responded to the scene.
A manhunt them got underway with K-9 Twix picking up a scent and tracking the suspect for approximately half a mile.
The scent trail ended on Files Creek Road where the suspect is believed to have been picked up by an accomplice for transport.
This case remains under active investigation.
Additional LOOTPRESS crime coverage for Randolph County can be found here.
