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Parsons man waives preliminary hearing

ELKINS — A Parsons man accused of fleeing from officers before further investigation led to the discovery of more than 250 grams of methamphetamine and over $30,000 in cash waived his preliminary hearing in Randolph County Magistrate Court.

Dustin Bruce Moran, 31, is charged with one felony count of fleeing with reckless indifference, one felony count of terroristic threats, one felony count of attempt to commit a felony and one felony count of possession with intent to deliver/distribute a controlled substance. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond.

Moran’s waiver means his case will be bound over to the Randolph County Circuit Court for presentation to a grand jury and possible indictment.

Randolph County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Leckta Poling represented the state while Moran appeared with David Fuellhart as defense counsel. Randolph County Chief Magistrate George M. “Mike” Riggleman presided.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on April 12, Elkins Police Department Patrolmen D.T. Sayre and C.G. Boatwright attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a dark blue Acura on North Randolph Avenue in Elkins.

The driver of the vehicle stopped near the “truck wash” along U.S. 219 and officers identified him as Moran. Moran stated officers were “stopping him illegally” and he would not “show them (expletive),” the complaint states.

After Moran became “uncooperative” and placed his right hand behind his back, Boatwright attempted to “extract” him from the vehicle while Sayre stood 3 feet from the driver’s side headlight, according to the complaint.

Moran put the car in drive and Boatwright retreated to avoid being drug by the vehicle. Sayre also “maneuvered away” to avoid being struck by the vehicle. Sayre was able to “narrowly escape” and discharged his pistol into the back tire of the vehicle, according to the complaint.

Officers pursued the vehicle and observed it cross the center line several times and travel at excessive speeds.

They also observed what appeared to be “rock salt” coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle as it went out the window, the complaint states. Officers also observed the driver making “throwing motions” out of the vehicle.

Officers said the vehicle Moran was driving collided with the embankment, causing the vehicle to flip. He then exited the vehicle and began shouting obscenities toward officers, according to the complaint.

All occupants of the vehicle were transported by Randolph County EMS to Davis Medical Center.

Sayre and Boatwright discovered two containers, one which was empty and another that contained approximately 260.5 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine.

They also discovered an undisclosed amount of United States currency and a loaded magazine to an AR-15-style rifle. At that time, the search was stopped for a search warrant to be obtained, the complaint states.

Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy B.T. Sharp obtained a search warrant for the vehicle from Randolph County Magistrate Court. Inside it, officers located a rifle, currency, a phone, a smoking device and several pre-paid credit cards.

Senior Deputy D.L. VanMeter, also of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, and Cpl. T.C. Bennett, also of the Elkins Police Department, interviewed two female passengers of the vehicle before they were released from Davis Medical Center. They told officers Moran had thrown a large amount of currency out the passenger side window while fleeing, according to the criminal complaint.

Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Lt. R.K. Swisher and Deputy Z.T. Pingley responded back to U.S. 219 near the original traffic stop location, where they found the currency in the ditch line. The money totaled $30,893.

While waiting for VanMeter to arrive, Moran looked at the EPD officers and stated, “I hope your whole family gets (expletive), and I will make sure it happens,” the complaint states.

On April 17, while entering evidence into the criminal report, VanMeter tested the suspected methamphetamine, which came back positive, according to the complaint.

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