HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — An unusual and chaotic disturbance outside Southside Elementary School Wednesday morning ended with one woman in custody and facing multiple charges after she refused to cooperate with officers — all while wrapped in a blanket and shouting about her bags.
At approximately 7:17 AM on April 9, Huntington Police responded to 930 2nd Street after Cabell County 911 reported a disturbance involving a woman loitering near the west side of the school building.
Officers located the suspect — a Black female wrapped in a blanket — at the intersection of 2nd Street and 9th Avenue. According to police, the woman immediately began screaming at Officer Mathis, claiming she was trying to retrieve her belongings, which she said were inside the school.
Officers spotted a red and blue bag sitting on the school steps nearby, matching her description. When asked why she was attempting to enter the school building, she refused to answer and continued yelling.
Despite repeated warnings to calm down and comply, the woman refused to provide her name or date of birth. Officers informed her that failure to identify herself during a criminal investigation would result in arrest — which she still ignored.
After being placed under arrest, the situation escalated further. The woman intentionally dropped to the ground, refusing to get up or walk to the police cruiser. She was physically escorted into vehicle 212 and transported to HPD Headquarters.
There, she again refused to exit the vehicle and had to be carried into the holding area by officers. A pat-down search of her belongings uncovered a container of green leafy vegetation suspected to be marijuana, weighing approximately 5.9 grams, hidden inside a pink bag within her blue Chase Bank bag.
The woman continued to resist all commands and refused to cooperate during arrest processing.
Police have not released her identity as she still has not been formally processed due to noncompliance. Charges are expected to include obstruction, failure to provide identification, and possession of marijuana.
Authorities confirmed that at no point did the woman gain access to the school building, and no students or staff were endangered.