Thompson

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man faces eight charges after allegedly fleeing from police at more than 100 mph, lying about his name, illegally possessing a firearm and being in possession of $13,000 worth methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Isaiah Hunter Thompson, 25, is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, one count of fleeing while DUI and one count of fleeing from law enforcement officers in a vehicle showing a reckless indifference to safety of others, all felonies.

He is also charged with one count persons prohibited from possessing firearms, one count of obstructing law-enforcement, probation, parole, court security or corrections officer with threats of harm, one count of fleeing from law enforcement officer to evade arrest by means other than a vehicle and one count of DUI, all misdemeanors. 

Thompson is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaints filed by Patrolman First Class Jonathan M. Warner with the Buckhannon City Police Department, on March 5, Warner was dispatched to a reported overdose at the Walmart in Buckhannon.

While en route to the scene, Warner was informed that a male subject was passed out at the wheel of a vehicle “with foil and a pipe in his hand,” the complaint reads. It was then relayed that the male subject was leaving the scene. Warner observed the described vehicle at a stoplight on Route 20 and turned around in the Sheetz parking lot to get behind the vehicle and conduct a welfare check traffic stop.

The vehicle turned left and proceeded north onto the U.S. 33 eastbound on-ramp, then continued on Route 33, the complaint states.

Warner writes that, at this point, the driver showed “no signs of stopping.” A pursuit ensued with Warner and Patrolman C. Spotloe, who was in a separate vehicle, following the male subject.

The driver then passed a truck traveling in the right-hand lane while straddling the center lane, the complaint states. The speed of the pursuit at that time was approximately 96 mph. The driver then made a sharp right turn onto Hall Road, almost striking another vehicle.

According to the complaint, the driver continued in the opposite lane, almost striking another on-coming vehicle near the Heavner Cemetery and then going off the road into a guardrail. After passing the cemetery, the driver then passed another vehicle in the opposite lane near Weyehaeuser. Warner writes that the speed of the pursuit on Hall Road was approximately 105 mph. The driver allegedly continued to drive in and out of the on-coming traffic lane and almost struck yet another oncoming vehicle after passing River Road.

The pursuit continued on Hall Road until the driver made a sharp right turn onto Blackford Road where he struck an embankment, the complaint states. The male subject then reportedly “bailed out” of the vehicle and fled on foot. After being advised by Warner and Spotloe to stop, the male subject was taken into custody.

The male subject allegedly claimed to be William Moriarty “and even possessed a WV drivers license with that name,” the complaint states. It was reportedly later determined that the male subject was actually Thompson.

“Large amounts” of controlled substances were allegedly located in the vehicle Thompson had been driving and on Thompson himself, the complaint states. While Thompson was being checked by Emergency Medical Personnel, Warner reportedly overheard Thompson state that he had used fentanyl and methamphetamine prior to the pursuit. Thompson allegedly displayed signs of impairment, but a field sobriety test was not administered due to Thompson having been involved in a vehicular accident.

According to the criminal complaints filed by Patrolman Cole Bender with the Elkins City Police Department, also on March 5, Bender arrived on the scene shortly after Thompson was detained.

Thompson allegedly had on his person a small black bag where Bender reportedly found $1,070, the complaint states.

Upon approaching the passenger side of the crashed vehicle, Bender allegedly observed a “white powdery substance” along the door, just below the open window. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, Bender also allegedly found a .45 caliber handgun in the driver-side floor board, the complaint states.

Bender also allegedly located a ziplock bag with three separate individual bags of methamphetamine, each weighing approximately 1.98 ounces, the complaint states. A bag of approximately 1.8 ounces of suspected fentanyl was also reportedly discovered along the path Thompson allegedly fled on foot on.

When Thompson was taken to the hospital, officers allegedly located another baggie in his pants that contained two individual baggies of methamphetamine weighing approximately 3.57 ounces, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, the estimated street value of the methamphetamine and fentanyl found in the vehicle, outside of the vehicle and on Thompson’s person is approximately $13,000. Bender writes that the amount of controlled substances and the fact that they were packaged individually is consistent with the delivery and sale of drugs.

Bender writes that Thompson is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a felony conviction of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver from 2021.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thompson on March 11 in Upshur County Magistrate Court.