BRADSHAW, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A McDowell County man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he attempted to forcibly pull a woman into his apartment while holding a knife and threatening to stab her.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on the afternoon of January 1, 2025, and was reported the following day. Detective R.V. Johnson Jr. said he was contacted on Friday, January 2, after Chief Deputy Martin advised that deputies were responding to a 911 call involving an attempted abduction in the Bradshaw area.
Deputy Roberts made contact with the victim at Upon the Rocks Ministry, located along Marshall Highway. She provided both written and audio statements detailing her interaction with Clinton Long, a man she said she had known for approximately one year.
She told deputies she became acquainted with Long due to her workplace being located directly beside his residence. She stated the two spoke frequently during her smoke breaks and had regular daily conversations.
According to the complaint, she said that earlier in the day on January 1, around 1 p.m., she was speaking with Long outside her workplace when he asked her a graphic and disturbing question, asking what she would do if someone put a knife to her throat and raped her. Shesaid she attempted to deflect the comment before returning to work.
Later that afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., the victim said she went outside for another smoke break when Long yelled from his apartment window and asked her to come look at something on his ceiling. Shetold investigators she believed it might be mold, but Long insisted it was something else and urged her to come see it.
the victimsaid she walked to Long’s apartment with the intention of staying at the doorway and not entering. However, once there, Long pointed to an area on the ceiling above the doorframe, requiring her to step just inside the doorway to see it.
At that point, the victim told deputies that Long grabbed her shirt sleeve and attempted to pull her further inside the apartment. She stated he also grabbed her buttocks during the struggle. She said she told Long to let her go and then noticed he was holding a large butcher knife in one hand while pulling her with the other.
According to the complaint, Long told the victim not to scream and threatened to stab her if she did. The victim said she was able to break free and escape the apartment, leaving the area quickly.
She told deputies she delayed reporting the incident due to fear and uncertainty about what to do.
Deputy Roberts reviewed surveillance footage from nearby locations, including the church and the victim’s place of employment, both located beside Long’s apartment. The footage reportedly shows the victim and Long walking toward his apartment door before leaving the camera’s view. A short time later, the victim is seen exiting the area at a rapid pace.
Additional footage from inside the church reportedly shows the victim speaking with another woman about the incident shortly afterward, though portions of that video were lost due to a recording glitch.
Long was located at his residence and detained for officer safety before being transported to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office. While there, authorities said Long made voluntary statements to Chief Deputy Martin, during which he admitted to pulling a knife on the victimand stated he “wanted to kiss her.” He also reportedly admitted to methamphetamine use at the time of the incident.
Detectives later interviewed Long after advising him of his Miranda rights. During that interview, Long admitted grabbing the victim and attempting to kiss her. He told investigators he frequently had sexual fantasies about her and wanted to be in a relationship with her, despite knowing she had a boyfriend. Long also stated that when he uses methamphetamine, there are many things he does not remember.
Investigators noted that Long acknowledged the possibility that he threatened the victim with a knife, stating his memory was impaired by drug use. Near the end of the interview, Long asked investigators how much prison time he was facing.
Based on the totality of evidence, including victim statements, surveillance footage, and Long’s own admissions, authorities charged Long with felony kidnapping, felony sexual abuse in the first degree, misdemeanor brandishing, and misdemeanor assault.
Long was processed at the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the McDowell County Holding Facility, where he is awaiting arraignment before a magistrate.
All events occurred in McDowell County, West Virginia.
