×

Officials investigate syringes

A pile of syringes and other paraphernalia was located along a trail leading to the spillway on Georgetown Road in Elkins. The discovery has prompted an investigation by the Elkins Police Department as well as anger from many in the community.

ELKINS — The Elkins Police Department has launched an investigation into a large amount of syringes and spoons found near a popular fishing spot in Elkins.

Pictures of the paraphernalia, discovered along a hiking trail that leads to the spillway along Georgetown Road, surfaced on Facebook and has led to anger from community members, as well as outcries on social media for action against what many in the public are calling an “epidemic” drug problem within Elkins and Randolph County.

“Officers retrieved around 15 syringes and needles associated with those up by the spillway yesterday,” interim Elkins Police Chief J.C. Raffety said. “That was based on a public call we got from a citizen.”

Police are unsure if individuals are going to this location to use controlled substances or are just dumping used drug paraphernalia there to get it out of their residence or vehicle.

“What I’m presuming is, or what most people would presume, is that there is a number of people out there at a certain location, time and date, and they’ve, for lack of a better word, engaged in that conduct,” Raffety said. “Or, some individual or individuals have collected these and just chose to use that as a place to dispose of them as opposed to keeping them in their house, apartment or vehicle.

“We don’t know, just from this fact that you had a number of syringes there, you would not know if that was just one person dropping them off to dispose of them or if that were a group of individuals getting together to engage in that kind of conduct,” he continued.

Among the Facebook responses to the photo, several local residents expressed their disgust with the discovery.

“Oh my goodness. I’m soo (sic) appalled but yet disappointed this even ruined my day…what is wrong with people?” one poster from Belington wrote.

“I don’t care how far gone you are on drugs, there’s no excuse for this,” another poster wrote.

Others expressed a need for a rehabilitation center or other forms of assistance for intravenous drug users.

“Why we need a needle exchange program so needles stop littering the streets and get properly disposed off as they normally would in a hospital. Access to clean needles is a big deal too hepatitis c is a very big problem in the area and continues to spread,” one individual posted.

In comments on, and shares of, the picture on Facebook, individuals indicate there are several other local places where similar paraphernalia has supposedly been found, such as “near Central School,” “the graveyard near the bowling alley in Elkins,” “in front of the Coca-Cola warehouse” and in the yards of personal residences.

“I am interested in the fact that there appears to be other locations, probably inside and outside the city, where people are finding similar items,” Raffety said.

Raffety said law enforcement is going to continue to address drug abuse in Elkins but recognizes it will come with challenges.

“We are looking at it but the reality is unless we are able to identify anyone who disposed of those, it would be difficult to reach a successful conclusion,” Raffety said. “It is, basically, an indicator that this activity is ongoing and we will take steps to continue our efforts to address these issues. It’s a difficult issue. It’s a social issue as well as a law enforcement issue. It’s a community issue as well as law enforcement.

“We will do what we can to address it from a law enforcement standpoint but recognizing there’s some social challenges there, community challenges as well,” he continued.

Raffety said the EPD maintains a Facebook page to communicate with the public. He added it was an easy way for the community to report crimes and incidents similar to this and can be used privately. The page can be found by searching “Elkins Police Department” on Facebook.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today