Williams

ELKINS — A Randolph County man faces a felony charge after allegedly stealing more than $2,000 in tools from a home on Central Street.

Joshua Nolan Williams, 35, is charged with one count of burglary, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Patrolman J.H. White with the Elkins City Police Department, on Jan. 12, White responded to a breaking and entering that occurred on Central Street the night before.

The alleged victim said he had left the residence around 5 p.m. on Jan. 11 and had returned the morning of Jan. 12, the complaint states. When the alleged victim returned to the residence, he found several tools, power tools and a torpedo heater were missing. He then noticed that the backdoor to the residence was left ajar and the crawlspace had been forced open. The missing items had a total estimated value of $2,272.

White writes that, due to the direction of bootprints found on the scene, the crawlspace was determined to be the point of entry. During his investigation, White noticed distinct bootprints in the snow with a “plus” logo, as well as small tire tracks “appearing to be a bicycle and wagon.” The tire tracks led to an abandoned building on Main Street, which White discovered was “unsecure.”

Upon entry, White came across Williams in a room on the second floor of the building, the complaint states. When White asked Williams where the tools were, Williams allegedly said “in the wall.” White writes that all of the stolen items were allegedly located in a hole in the wall of the building.

White also allegedly located a size 14 boot, which is reportedly Williams’ size, with a tread matching the one found in the snow, the complaint states. After being taken to the Elkins Police Department for an interview, Williams allegedly said he possessed a bike and a wagon.