Dancy

BUCKHANNON — A man is behind bars after allegedly taking a vehicle for a “test drive” that lasted more than six hours and ended with him being pulled over and arrested in Braxton County.

Matthew Jason Dancy, 47, is charged with grand larceny, a felony. Dancy was placed on a $15,000 property/surety bond set by Upshur County Magistrate Judge Alan Suder.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Cpl. Dakota Linger with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Oct. 9, Linger received a call regarding a stolen vehicle from Jenkins Ford in Buckhannon.

When Linger arrived on the scene, he spoke with the company owner and an employee, who had directly dealt with the accused, Dancy, the complaint states. The employee informed Linger that Dancy came to Jenkins Ford and inquired about a white 2023 Dodge Challenger he wanted to test drive. The employee said he received Dancy’s information, including insurance, and allowed Dancy to drive the vehicle. The test drive began at 1:14 p.m.

The employee further told Linger that he waited until 2:30 p.m. before calling Dancy, but he received no response, the complaint states. The employee then texted Dancy and asked where he was, to which Dancy responded that he was in Orlando, West Virginia. Linger writes that, according to Dancy’s license, Dancy resides in Orlando, which is in Lewis and Braxton counties.

Dancy sent another text to the employee, calling the vehicle “beautiful” and asking if Jenkins Ford had anything “with more bottom end and torque,” the complaint states. The employee responded, “Not right now.”

At approximately 3:28 p.m., Dancy sent another text, advising that he was north on I-79, the complaint states. The employee told Linger that was the last he heard from Dancy. The employee said the company then logged into the AirTag that was attached to the vehicle’s license plate to track Dancy.

According to the complaint, Dancy allegedly took the vehicle from Jenkins Ford in Upshur County and drove it through Lewis, Clay and Braxton counties for “approximately six hours” before he was stopped at approximately 7:28 p.m. by West Virginia State Police in Braxton County.