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BUCKHANNON -- A man is behind bars after he allegedly led law enforcement officers on a chase at speeds topping 100 miles per hour.
Marshall Francis O'Connor, 38, is facing a felony charge of fleeing with reckless indifference. He is currently being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $45,000 cash-only bond.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Upshur County Magistrate Court by Buckhannon Police Department Patrolman J.M. Warner, on Sept. 13, Warner was informed of a vehicle traveling 104 mph while heading east on U.S. Route 33. The vehicle, a 2015 Ford Fusion, passed Patrolman W. Loudin's location near Red Rock Road and then proceeded towards Warner's location along WBUC Road.
According to the complaint, Warner clocked the vehicle traveling at 97 mph on his stationary radar gun while it was traveling towards him, and again clocked the vehicle's speed at 93 mph as it passed. Loudin activated his lights and sirens and attempted a traffic stop.
As Warner and Loudin attempted to stop the vehicle, it made a turn onto Brushy Fork Road and the officers lost sight of the car and stopped the pursuit.
The Upshur County Sheriff's Department and West Virginia State Police were contacted for assistance in locating the vehicle, the complaint states. A license plate reader along WBUC Road gave officers the car's registration. Warner was informed by other officers that they saw the vehicle leaving Brushy Fork Road as they were responding to assist. Officers observed the car cross U.S. 33 and head toward the Old Weston Road, and make a right-hand turn toward West Main Street.
According to the complaint, officers obtained video from Buckhannon Toyota showing O'Connor turning off his driving lights while making the turn onto Brushy Fork Road and then turning right into the Jenkins Ford car lot. The video allegedly show O'Connor later leaving the lot and turning his driving lights back on after officers traveled along Brushy Fork Road.
Officers also received video footage from the Baxa Motel showing the defendant pull into a parking spot, exit the vehicle and enter his room with his dog, the complaint states.
Warner wrote that the events took place within approximately six minutes after he attempted to stop the vehicle.