BLUEFIELD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – What began as a report of illegal dumping quickly escalated into a criminal investigation after a man was injured during a confrontation with trespassers on his father’s property in Bluefield.
According to the Bluefield Police Department, officers responded Tuesday evening to 104 Mason Street after Robert Buchanan reported catching three individuals dumping trash on his family’s land. Buchanan told dispatchers he had blocked the suspects in with his vehicle and was attempting to stop them when the situation turned dangerous.
Upon arrival, officers found a Dodge truck partially down an embankment, its female driver still behind the wheel, and two male suspects frantically tossing trash back into the vehicle. Buchanan, who appeared visibly shaken, reported that the driver struck him with the vehicle in an attempt to flee.
He told officers he tried to prevent the group from leaving by positioning his truck in front of theirs. The driver, identified as Michelle Brinkley, allegedly attempted to drive around Buchanan’s vehicle, pinning him between the two vehicles. When reversing and trying again, the truck slid down the hill, rendering it stuck.
Multiple bags of trash were found dumped over the embankment and in the truck bed. Police arrested Michelle Brinkley, Randall Mills, and Robert Daniels at the scene.
Further investigation revealed the Dodge truck was unregistered, uninsured, and had no valid inspection sticker. Brinkley was also found to be driving without a license.
All three individuals face multiple environmental charges, including:
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Creating an open dump
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Endangering the environment through dumping
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Unlawful disposal of litter
Brinkley also faces several additional charges:
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Driving without a license
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No insurance
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Improper vehicle registration
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Leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage
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Leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily injury
Buchanan was evaluated by the Bluefield Rescue Squad, who noted abrasions to his stomach and hand, as well as swelling to his knuckles. He declined hospital transport at the time, citing responsibilities as the sole caretaker of his elderly father, but stated he would seek treatment later.
