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Chitop
ELKINS -- What began as a routine traffic stop led to a felony charge for a 27-year old man.
Juan Castro Chitop, address unknown, has been charged with fleeing with reckless indifference after refusing to stop for police on Oct. 30. Bond was set at $10,000 cash only.
Elkins Police Department Patrolman D.T. Sayre was on routine patrol on Harrison and Randolph Avenues when observed a white in color vehicle pass him with no headlights on, according to the criminal complaint. While officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle allegedly accelerated and ran a stop sign in an attempt to flee.
While in pursuit with lights and sirens activated, the vehicle drove off the roadway and through residential yards before it finally came to an abrupt stop in an alley between Robert E. Lee and Lincoln Avenue, the complaint states. When Sayre exited the patrol car, he began to give commands for the driver to stay in his vehicle.
Chitop refused commands and began to approach the officer, stating that "this was his home," according to the complaint. Chitop allegedly continued to disobey commands to surrender, and while attempting to get back in the vehicle, the officer applied a taser to him.
Once secured, officers allegedly retrieved several different items of identification, including one from Guatemala. Patrolman S. Davis assisted with the call and recovered several passports and identification cards, the compliant stated. Social Security cards from North Carolina, Texas and California were retrieved, each bearing a picture of the defendant, but with different names on each one.
Chitop was transported to Elkins City Hall, where Sayre contacted Randolph County E911 in an attempt to properly identify the defendant through various systems. After having no success, officials transported the defendant to the West Virginia State Police Barracks so his information could be run through LiveScan for identification. He was then transported to the Tygarts Valley Regional Jail.