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Browning
BUCKHANNON -- A man who was wanted for putting a Buckhannon Police Department officer in a choke hold in May was arrested by the Lewis County Sheriff's Department Tuesday.
Blaine Browning, 33, of Buckhannon, was arrested for strangulation, a felony, in the May 31 incident in which he choked Patrolman Sam Kraemer.
Officers had been looking for Browning since the incident on May 31.
"It is my understanding deputies in Lewis County got a tip of a possible wanted person at a location in Lewis County," Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory said. "They responded to that and were able to find him and apprehend him on our warrant. It's good to know that he has been apprehended and was apprehended without incident."
Kraemer was treated and released from the hospital the day the incident happened. He did not miss any work as a result of the strangulation.
"The day it happened was his Friday, so he had two days off after that and was able to return to work after those two days," Gregory.
The incident began when Kraemer and Patrolman Angel McCauley responded to the report of a suspicious person on First Street.
"Two officers responded to the call of a suspicious person on the railroad tracks behind the trade school," he said.
The officers began looking for the individual and were separated at the time of the incident.
Kraemer observed Browning walking west along the railroad tracks and approached Browning before ordering him to stop, according to the criminal complaint filled out by Sgt. Tom Posey with the BPD.
Browning continued to walk away and not comply with orders at which time Kraemer displayed his Taser and ordered Browning to drop the bike frame he was carrying.
Browning complied and Kraemer put away the Taser and the two talked briefly.
"The defendant then became non-compliant and attempted to leave the scene," Posey wrote.
Kraemer attempted to grab ahold of Browning and a struggle ensued in which Browning put Kraemer in a choke hold.
Kraemer can be heard on his body cam, which recorded the incident, saying he was losing breath from being choked. The officer then punched Browning and the two tripped over the train tracks where Browning got on top of Kraemer and punched the officer in the face multiple times before fleeing into the woods.
Since May 31, Gregory said that his department, the Upshur County Sheriff's Department and West Virginia State Police had been working with each other to try to locate Browning based on the tips that came in.
"I know there were several tips that came of possible leads where he might be," he said.
Browning was arraigned in Lewis County Magistrate Court where Magistrate Michael Gissy set bond at $125,000 -- $25,000 cash only and $100,000 surety. He remained in the Central Regional Jail Wednesday.
If convicted, Browning faces a fine of not more than $2,500 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for one to five years, or both.