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Mill Creek man charged after pursuit

ELKINS — A Randolph County man is facing a felony charge after leading law enforcement officers on a pursuit.

David Alan Conti, 31, of Mill Creek, is charged with one felony count of fleeing in a vehicle. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash or property bond, set by Randolph County Chief Magistrate Ben Shepler.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, at approximately 3 p.m. on Nov. 12, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Deputy S.D. Kyle was conducting traffic patrol on Back Road near Mill Creek.

Kyle observed a blue Nissan car traveling in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed, approximately 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. As the vehicle passed his cruiser, Kyle noticed the driver was a man with short hair who was wearing a white T-shirt.

When Kyle attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle, the driver accelerated and “made no attempt to stop,” the complaint states.

The vehicle passed multiple vehicles on the roadway causing one of them to drive off the roadway to avoid being struck. He also nearly hit another RCSO cruiser, operated by Deputy Z.T. Pingley.

The vehicle turned onto Dry Run Road, at which time officers slowed down because of traffic on the roadway, according to the complaint.

Upon cresting the top of a hill on the roadway, Kyle observed the vehicle turn into a driveway before the male driver fled from the vehicle and ran toward a nearby residence.

Kyle and Pingley went to the residence but none of the occupants matched the description of the driver. The individuals at the residence said they didn’t believe anyone else was in the home but allowed officers to search.

Pingley located an individual matching the description of the driver, later identified to be Conti, in the back room of the residence laying on the bed.

If convicted, Conti could be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary and fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000.

Other arrests recorded in Randolph County:

• Amy Marie Currence, 31, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of receiving or transferring stolen property.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Oct. 5, Cpl. S.P. Miller and Cpl. J.R. Wince, both of the West Virginia State Police, responded to a possible breaking and entering complaint from Currence at her residence in the Glenmore Loop area of Elkins.

Neither officer found any sign of a break-in at the residence and Currence was not there at the time they arrived.

While on scene, Miller did observe a red Honda Inverter EU2000i generator hooked up to the residence. Miller contacted James Rossi, district engineer/manager for Division of Highways District 8, who confirmed the serial number on the generator matched that of one stolen from the DOH facility near Elkins in September.

The generator is valued at $1,130.80 and was reported stolen on Sept. 12, the complaint states.

• Rachel N. Smith, 29, of Flatwoods, is charged with two felony counts of failure to register as a sexual offender or provide notice of registration changes.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Oct. 31, Miller followed up on a tip that Smith, a known registrant on the sex offender registry in Randolph County, had quit her job at Hardee’s in Elkins and moved to Braxton County without updating her registration.

Miller confirmed with Hardee’s management that Smith’s last day of employment was Oct. 3 and she had turned in her uniforms and was terminated on Oct. 6, the complaint states.

Miller also spoke with Smith’s ex-husband, who said she had moved out of their Elkins apartment on Oct. 8.

He added she was residing in Braxton County but was unable to supply a physical address.

The two counts stem from Smith failing to notify the WVSP that she was moving out of the county and quitting her job within 10 business days.

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