Alderman

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man faces four charges, including attempted grand larceny, after allegedly attempting to break into a vehicle.

Dakota Paul Alderman, 19, is charged with attempted grand larceny, a felony; and one count attempted breaking and entering of an automobile, one count of fleeing on foot from an officer and one count of obstructing an officer, all misdemeanors.

Alderman is currently being held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $10,000 surety/cash bond for the felony charge and a $5,000 surety/cash bond for the misdemeanor charges.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Deputy R.T. Lamb with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, Lamb was notified of an emergency call reporting “suspicious persons” attempting to break into the caller’s vehicle near 401 Valley Green Drive. The caller, according to the complaint, described the “suspicious persons” as one wearing a grey hoodie and the other wearing a black hoodie and a backpack.

When Lamb arrived, the caller informed him that the suspects were running away on foot between the 1000 and 2000 buildings of Valley Green Drive, the complaint states. Lamb pursued the suspects on foot, “announcing ‘Sheriff’s Office,’ to stop running and that they would get tased if they did not stop running.”

The two suspects split up and Lamb continued to pursue the suspect in the grey hoodie, according to the complaint. When Lamb caught up with the suspect the officer instructed him to lie on the ground. When the suspect “ignored lawful commands,” Lamb states that he “had to assist (the suspect) to the ground.”

The suspect in the grey hoodie was identified as Alderman, the complaint states. One large black beanie, one black glove and a yellow and black flathead screwdriver were contained in a fanny pack allegedly found on Alderman’s person.

When Lamb spoke with the caller and her boyfriend, he was informed they had both seen the suspects across from their residence, yanking on the door of their vehicle, according to the complaint. The couple also advised Lamb that the suspect in the grey hoodie, identified as Alderman, was the one attempting to enter the vehicle. They also reportedly informed the two suspects prior to Lamb’s arrival that the police had been notified.

The approximate value of the caller’s vehicle, according to Carvana Value Tracker, is $10,400, the complaint states.