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Charges dismissed in fleeing case

ELKINS — Charges were dismissed in the case of a Mill Creek man alleged to have led police on a chase before crashing into a gate.

Franklin Bayard Gibson, 38, had been charged with one felony count of fleeing in a vehicle with reckless indifference.

Randolph County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Leckta Poling represented the state while Gibson appeared with Greg Tingler as defense counsel. Randolph County Magistrate Rob Elbon presided.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Aug. 9 Deputy N.D. Caynor, of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, observed a male individual — whom he identified to be Gibson — operating a “non-street legal motorcycle” along U.S. 219 in Beverly.

Caynor pulled out behind the motorcycle, which he noted in the report appeared to accelerate. After Caynor observed Gibson drive on the double yellow line “only feet away from a pick-up (sic) truck” that was forced to swerve, he activated his lights and sirens, police said.

Gibson turned quickly onto Collett Street and then onto Walnut Street. The motorcycle slowed but then accelerated again, as it turned down a one-way alley going the wrong direction, before turning back onto U.S. 219, the complaint states.

Gibson continued south on U.S. 219, passing a truck in a double yellow line area of the roadway and turned onto Crawford Street. Gibson continued into an industrial area “serpentining through buildings and piled objects,” until he crashed into a pole gate beside of Files Creek Laundromat, according to the complaint.

Also in Randolph County Magistrate Court:

∫ Probable cause was ruled to have been met for the arrest of Christian Leann Stinson, 31, of Elkins.

Stinson is charged with one felony count of breaking and entering and one felony count of conspiracy. She remains incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $75,000 cash, surety or property bond.

The probable cause ruling means her case will be bound over to the Randolph County Circuit Court for presentation to a grand jury.

Poling represented the state while Stinson appeared with Melissa Roman as defense counsel. Elbon presided.

• Samantha Christine Dalton, 26, of Philippi, waived her preliminary hearing.

She is charged with one felony count of transporting a controlled substance into a jail. She remains incarcerated at TVRJ on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

Her waiver means her case will be bound over to the Randolph County Circuit Court for presentation to a grand jury.

Poling represented the state while Dalton appeared with Tingler as defense counsel. Elbon presided.

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