Johnson

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man faces a felony charge and multiple misdemeanor charges for allegedly fleeing from police after being involved in a DUI crash.

Kenneth Ray Johnson, 59, is charged with fleeing from a law enforcement officer in a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a felony; and driving under the influence in an impaired state, leaving the scene of an accident with vehicle damage, possession of controlled substance without valid prescription and driving with an operators license that was suspended or revoked for DUI, all misdemeanors.

Johnson is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $15,000 cash-only bond for the felony and a $7,500 cash-only bond for the misdemeanors.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Cpl. Tyler A. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on May 30, Gordon witnessed a collision near the intersection of Vicksburg Road and Old Elkins Road in Buckhannon. A silver SUV with West Virginia registration had pulled out in front of and collided with another vehicle while exiting the parking lot of Woody’s Bowling Center. Gordon then witnessed the silver SUV speed off and fail to stop after the accident.

Gordon writes that he attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the silver SUV with the use of his lights and sirens; however, the vehicle failed to stop, “intentionally fleeing.” The vehicle continued onto Tahoe Street and into a driveway on Angler Street.

The driver, identified as Johnson, was placed under arrest. According to the complaint, Johnson “smelled of marijuana and alcoholic beverages” and was “extremely unsteady” on his feet with “slurred speech and bloodshot watery eyes.”

Gordon located a cigarette pack with marijuana inside alongside a smoking device in Johnson’s pocket, the complaint states. After being advised of his Miranda rights, Johnson allegedly admitted to Gordon that he had smoked two marijuana cigarettes and had four “double mixed drinks containing Crown Royal.” Johnson also allegedly admitted numerous times to being drunk.

According to the complaint, Johnson’s Florida driver license had been revoked for two DUI convictions, with effective dates on April 1, 2007 and July 19, 2007.

Johnson was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital for a BAC blood draw to be sent to the West Virginia State Police lab for analysis, the complaint states.

A preliminary hearing for Johnson has been scheduled for today at the Upshur County Magistrate Court.