MOUNT HOPE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Mount Hope man is in jail after leading police on a high speed chase in Fayette County.
On June 7, 2024, at approximately 6 pm, Officer Sergeant S.M. Jasper Jr. from the Mount Hope Police Department was performing routine traffic patrol on the northbound lane near the Mount Hope city exit on US Route 19, within the city limits of Mount Hope, Fayette County, West Virginia. The officer observed a black car rapidly approaching from behind his vehicle. The officer activated his fixed rear radar to determine its speed, which was measured at 94 mph in a posted 65 mph speed zone.
When the officer caught up with the vehicle at the intersection of US Route 19 and West Virginia Route 16 in Glen Jean, West Virginia, the Black Mitsubishi Outlander with West Virginia registration N06480A was making a left turn onto Legends Highway. However, as soon as the Outlander turned onto Legends Highway, it accelerated without stopping for police signals. The Outlander continued along Legends Highway, crossing the center line at the intersection of WV Route 16 and WV Route 61 before turning onto Scarbro Road.
As the officer tried to get alongside the vehicle, the Outlander continued north on Scarbro Road, frequently crossing the center line. At one point, it turned onto Mossy Road (WV Route 612), nearly colliding with a southbound vehicle on West Virginia Route 61. The pursuit continued down Mossy Road until the Outlander turned left into the gravel parking ride across from the T and C gas station. It then returned to Mossy Road and made a sharp left onto Paint Creek Road. The officer continued the pursuit on Paint Creek Road when he received radio contact from a West Virginia State Police officer informing him that spike strips had been set up just past Horse Creek Road. In preparation, the officer backed off, allowing the State Police to deploy the spike strips.
The spike strip deployment successfully punctured both front tires of the Outlander. The vehicle continued southwest on Paint Creek Road, passing Kelly’s Corner, where it attempted to make a right turn onto Sweenysburg Road and eventually stopped. The male driver, later identified as Bryan Keith Griffith (WV E885368), promptly exited the vehicle, causing the officer to draw his firearm. Mr. Griffith then tried to reenter the Outlander, but with the assistance of other officers, they were able to apprehend and take him into custody. Mr. Griffith was subsequently transported back to the Mount Hope Police Department for processing.
Griffth was charged with speeding, reckless driving, and fleeing.
