Court briefs

July 25, 2006|by MATTHEW UMSTEAD

Shoplifting incident leads to police chase

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A man who authorities said shoplifted more than $250 in groceries from Martin's Food Market on Saturday left the items in the parking lot before fleeing in a vehicle from police at high speeds with his 4-year-old son riding unrestrained in the back seat, police said.

Bradley Allen Bowers, 24, of 8194 Sine Trailer Court, was arraigned Monday on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, driving a vehicle while his license was revoked for DUI, fleeing from an officer and shoplifting, first offense, Berkeley County Magistrate Court records show.

A $10,500 bond was set for the case by Magistrate JoAnn Overington.

Martinsburg Police Department Patrolman C.R. Williamson attempted to stop the vehicle Bowers was driving in the 400 block of West King Street after the accused fled from the grocery store off Foxcroft Avenue, but was unsuccessful, records show.

The driver passed vehicles and drove on the wrong side of the road, traveling about 60 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone on Raleigh Street before later turning onto Wilson Street without stopping, Williamson said in court records.

At that point, the officer said he noticed a small child in the back seat "looking at me as I followed the vehicle."

The pursuit continued onto New York Avenue and then Apple Harvest Drive, where Williamson said Bowers traveled 70 miles per hour through a red light at the intersection of U.S. 11 and W.Va. 45, records state.

Williamson abandoned the pursuit, but police later determined the suspect vehicle, a gray Saturn, was registered in Bowers' name.

Police later determined Bowers' license had been revoked for driving under the influence in Arizona.

Man arraigned on kidnapping charge

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Authorities have jailed a Martinsburg man who police believe kidnapped and robbed a 67-year-old veteran the day after he arrived home from about a month of treatment at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Berkeley County.

Charles Carey Jr., 51, 9001/2 Wilson St., is being held in Eastern Regional Jail without bond on felony counts of kidnapping and first-degree robbery, Berkeley County Magistrate Court records show.

On Feb. 23, the victim told police Carey was his roommate and that the accused the day before kept asking him for more money after he paid him $200 for rent and another $50 for a couch and television, records show.

"...Carey became irate and stated that he "would take (the money) if he didn't give it to him," and at one point began to suffocate and choke the victim with his own shirt by pulling it over his head and face, records allege.

The victim then attempted to flee from the home, but was wrestled to the floor from behind and dragged into the living room. Carey allegedly began to wrap his legs together with duct tape, records allege.

Fearing for his life, the victim told Carey he would give him another $100, but then the accused supposedly demanded $200 for "his troubles," according to records.

The victim told police his weakened medical condition prevented him from fighting back and was unable to call for help because there was no telephone in the home, records state.

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