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ELKINS -- An Elkins man is accused of intentionally smashing his pick-up truck into his neighbor's side by side UTV, doing thousands of dollars of damage to the vehicle, and then driving in circles on his neighbor's lawn.
Paul Angelo Rhodes is charged with destruction of property, a felony. Bond was set at $10,000 personal recognizance by Randolph County Magistrate George M. Riggleman.
According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Trooper K.D. Tenney, of the Elkins detachment of the West Virginia State Police, officers were dispatched to Apache Drive in Elkins on Oct. 25 at about 3:30 a.m. Upon arrival, officers saw "a Polaris RZR side by side with front-end damage and a Dodge Ram emblem stuck in the front gate." They also observed "truck parts" lying in the front yard of the residence.
The resident of the property said his neighbor, Rhodes, drove his 2014 Dodge Ram up to the gate at the entrance of the property, according to the complaint. The resident said he drove his side by side up to the front entrance of the property and stepped out of the vehicle.
"Immediately after Mr. Rhodes drove his truck into the front of the (side by side), pushing it back approximately 200 feet," the complaint states. The resident added that "Mr. Rhodes continued to drive the truck in circles throughout (the) yard … then Mr. Rhodes drove (the truck) back onto his own property."
Officers then spoke with Rhodes, observing a "Dodge Ram with front-end damage on Mr. Rhodes' property." Rhodes allegedly told the officers "he was tired of hearing (his neighbor) running the four-wheeler back and forth throughout the night," the complaint states.
Rhodes allegedly told officers he got into his truck "and parked in front of the bridge that leads to (his neighbor's) property gate," court documents state. Rhodes allegedly admitted "that he drove his vehicle into" the side by side, adding that he "tried to turn around and go back to his own property, but the headlights were no longer working on the Dodge Ram due to the collision."
Also on Oct. 25, officers observed video of the incident, which allegedly showed a Dodge Ram driving into the side by side, "pushing it back approximately 200 feet from the gate" and then "making several laps" in the yard of Rhodes' neighbor, the complaint states.
Elkins Motor Sports Repair estimated that the damage to the side by side was $7,176.89, according to the complaint.