Randolph man facing drug charge
ELKINS — A Randolph County man is facing a felony charge after allegedly being found in possession of drugs, scales and guns.
Darin Joseph Brooks, 29, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $150,000 cash or surety bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate Rob Elbon.
On March 23, Patrolmen A.M. Wyshyvanuk and T.H. Foster, both of the Elkins Police Department, were dispatched to Speedway, located at 1205 Harrison Ave. in Elkins, regarding a woman acting strangely within the store, according to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court.
Upon arrival, Wyshyvanuk spoke to the woman, as well as Brooks, who was at the fuel pumps, police said. While speaking to Brooks, Wyshyvanuk noticed a handgun on the front seat of the vehicle Brooks was preparing to fuel.
Wyshyvanuk patted down Brooks for officer safety as well as the fact that he was aware Brooks had prior arrests for domestic violence that would prohibit him from carrying firearms, the complaint states.
Wyshyvanuk then discovered a black Beretta 96 Centurion pistol “chambered in .40 Smith and Wesson” within a shoulder holster concealed on his person, according to court documents.
Officers also found one large white crystalline object believed to be methamphetamine, later determined to weigh approximately 1.5 grams; one small bag containing a crystalline substance weighing approximately 0.3 grams; a digital scale; three small paper wrappers labeled “try me”; 15 plastic bags or “corners”; two pieces of aluminum foil and one straw, according to the complaint.
Later, when being processed at TVRJ, officers found another digital scale, a notepad listing the names of several individuals with amounts of money next to the names, $130 and a prepaid MasterCard, the complaint states.
Wyshyvanuk conducted a field test on a portion of the 0.3 grams of crystalline substance which tested positive as methamphetamine, police said.
If convicted, Brooks could be sentenced to not less than one year nor more than five years in the state penitentiary, fined not more than $15,000, or both.