MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS)– Thomas Mitchem was arrested on July 7 for threatening his wife and sister-in-law with a shotgun.
Dispatch received a call from a nine-year-old boy about his dad threatening his mother with a gun. Officers were en-route to Coal Heritage Road in Bluefield and were notified that the suspect fled the scene. They talked to Mitchem’s wife and sister-in-law about the situation.
“She stated that her husband came into her home, and he and her sister-in-law began fighting. She stated that the suspect struck her sister in the face, grabbed her by the throat, and threw her to the floor,” stated the report.
The victims told officers that Mitchem went to his car after his wife made him leave. Mitchem grabbed a shotgun with a broken handle and began to load it. He then kept loading the gun in front of his wife and sister-in-law and stated he would shoot both of them. After threatening them, Mitchem left the scene with his friend, Ray Benson. Both victims said Mitchem could be found at Benson’s residence.
Police found Mitchem at Benson’s residence and detained Mitchem without further incident. After asking Benson about the gun, he told officers it was his black .410 Taurus Circuit Judge Long Barrel Revolver with a broken handgrip, which matched the gun Mitchem loaded.
“He must have taken it without my permission,” said Benson to officers.
The gun was seized as evidence, and officers took Mitchem to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. Mitchem told officers that he only grabbed the weapon to scare them.
Mitchem was placed under arrest and charged with battery, second offense domestic assault, and persons prohibited from possessing firearms.
