DURKING

ELKINS — A Barbour County man faces felony charges after allegedly fleeing from police while drunk, trying to take an officer’s gun and threatening to kill an EMT.

Jonathan Nicholas Durking, 26, of Belington, is charged with one count of attempt to disarm an officer, one count of fleeing DUI and one count of terroristic threats, all felonies. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Trooper Thomas J. Sclimenti with the West Virginia State Police, on May 29, Sclimenti conducted a routine road patrol in the area of US 219 in Elkins. During this patrol, Sclimenti observed a vehicle come to a stop in the roadway. The driver then yelled at Sclimenti before accelerating rapidly, causing the rear tire to break traction from the roadway.

Sclimenti turned his vehicle around to initiate a traffic stop, activating his blue emergency lights, the complaint states. The pursued vehicle turned its lights off and turned into the Elkins Walmart parking lot “at a high rate of speed,” causing the rear tires to lose traction once more. The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed and then turned left into a parking spot before coming to a stop.

The driver jumped out the vehicle and began to flee on foot in the direction of the Walmart entrance, the complaint states. Sclimenti gave verbal commands to the driver to stop and return to his vehicle before Sclimenti pursued the driver on foot.

Upon Sclimenti making contact with the driver, the driver turned and “grabbed the grip” of Sclimenti’s holstered service weapon, the complaint states. Sclimenti then disengaged from the driver and secured his firearm in the holster. The driver attempted to flee again before Sclimenti caught and restrained him, placing him in “mechanical restraints.”

Sclimenti wrote in the complaint that he observed blood on the driver’s pants and on his own uniform, prompting him to call EMS for the driver. The driver was allegedly identified through his license as Durking. Sclimenti reportedly observed Durking slurring his speech, having difficulty standing and having bloodshot, watery eyes. He also reportedly smelled the odor of alcohol. Durking allegedly stated that he “could do anything he wanted, even though he had a couple drinks.”

When EMS arrived, they offered to treat Durking’s injuries, the complaint states. During this, Durking allegedly threatened to kill one of the EMTs. Durking consented to having a piece of gauze applied to a wound on his finger, but refused any further treatment.

Durking allegedly also refused to perform standardized field sobriety tests, the complaint states. Sclimenti then transported Durking to the Elkins Detachment of the West Virginia State Police for a secondary chemical test of Durking’s breath. After a 20 minute observation period, Durking reportedly consented to a secondary chemical test of his breath. The result of the test was 0.112.