RAINELE, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A key witness in a Greenbrier County arson and burglary investigation was allegedly threatened and harassed by the main suspect just moments after leaving a police interview on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
At approximately 11:23 a.m., a West Virginia State Trooper and Sergeant S.A. Murphy conducted a recorded interview with Steven Lee Johnson, a witness in an ongoing investigation involving a burglary and arson at a home on Hunter Road in Rainelle. During the interview, Johnson claimed the suspect, identified as Anthony Brown, had been threatening him with bodily harm for weeks in an attempt to intimidate him into silence.
Following the interview, Johnson led authorities to a location containing several stolen firearms linked to the case. At approximately 12:06 p.m., after returning to the Rainelle detachment with Johnson, the Trooper observed the accused, Brown, sitting across the road from the station. Johnson was safely escorted inside and released after providing a further statement.
Less than 20 minutes later, Johnson called the detachment, with a loud disturbance audible in the background. Troopers immediately responded to Johnson’s home on Greenbrier Avenue, where it was reported that Brown had followed Johnson home and began yelling threats at him and others inside the residence.
Upon arrival, troopers discovered that Brown had fled the scene. He was located a short time later and taken into custody without further incident.
Johnson later confirmed in a recorded statement that Brown had appeared at his back door, shouted for him to come outside, and threatened both him and his family members.
Brown now faces charges for intimidation of a witness and assault under West Virginia State Code §61-6-9 and §61-2-9(b).
