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Charge filed after man struck by car

Andrew Stephen Purdum

ELKINS — One man is in critical condition and another behind bars after an altercation led to the alleged victim being struck by a vehicle.

Andrew Stephen Purdum, 28, of Montrose, is charged with one felony count of malicious assault after being accused of striking Jonathan Tanner with his vehicle. Purdum is housed at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate George M. “Mike” Riggleman.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, at approximately 2:14 a.m. Tuesday, Randolph County Sheriff’s Deputy D.D. Pennington received a call from Randolph County E-911 in reference to a male beating on a vehicle in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, located at 721 Beverly Pike in Elkins.

While en route to the scene, Pennington was told an individual, later identified as Tanner, had been struck by a vehicle.

Once at the location, Pennington observed Tanner laying in the parking lot, bleeding from his head and mouth, the complaint states.

Pennington attempted to speak to Tanner but he was unable to provide information due to the injuries he sustained; however, Elkins Police Department Patrolmen C.G. Boatwright and D.T. Sayre were on scene prior to Pennington’s arrival, police said.

They said Tanner told them the person driving the truck was Purdum, the complaint states.

Pennington also spoke to one witness who was with Tanner and said Purdum had told them it was OK to borrow “the truck” to get gas and to stop at Wal-Mart.

She said when attempting to leave Wal-Mart, Purdum came “out of nowhere” in a black car and started to beat on the truck. She added she stopped the vehicle, and Purdum pulled Tanner out of the passenger seat of the truck, according to the complaint.

At that time, Tanner fled on foot, at which time Purdum pulled her out of the drivers seat, got into the car and pursued Tanner, clipping him with the vehicle, police said.

Pennington obtained footage recorded by a separate witness, taken on their cell phone, that showed Tanner running from the truck while it made a “quick U-turn” and proceeded to chase him. The footage shows the driver miss on his first attempt at running Tanner over then turning and accelerating at a high rate of speed before striking Tanner and continuing his path of travel onto the Beverly Five-lane, the complaint states.

Pennington described the vehicle as red or burgundy and appearing to be a Chevrolet Colorado truck, which is what the witnesses described, according to the report.

Pennington was also able to obtain Wal-Mart surveillance footage that also shows the incident taking place, police said.

Randolph County Sheriff Mark T. Brady said Tuesday afternoon that Tanner was transported to Davis Medical Center by Randolph County EMS before being taken by HealthNet to Ruby Memorial Hospital.

Brady said he received head injuries and underwent surgery Tuesday morning for head trauma. Tanner is listed in critical condition as of presstime.

The investigation is ongoing and there could be additional charges forthcoming, Brady added.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact the RCSO by calling 304-636-2111 or 304-636-2100.

If convicted on the malicious assault charge, Purdum could be sentenced to not less than two nor more than 10 years in the state penitentiary.

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