Recent FCSD Press Releases
03-02-2008:
An apartment fire early this morning in the City of Oak Hill is being investigated by police as
suspicious. Shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 2nd, notification was received through the Fayette County 911
Center of an apartment fire reported at 216 1/2 Summerlee Avenue in Oak Hill. Responding to this fire were the Oak Hill,
Fayetteville, and Mt. Hope Fire Departments. Also responding to the scene were officers from the Oak Hill Police Department
and the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. The occupant of the apartment was reportedly not home at the time of the
fire. A preliminary investigation of the fire scene leads authorities to believe that the fire is of a suspicious origin.
The fire scene was further processed for evidence later today and is currently being considered as a probable arson.
Any persons having any information concerning this fire are asked to contact the Fayette County Sheriff's Department at 574-3590.
This matter remains under investigation by Deputy Sheriff W.K. Willis of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.
Released by Sheriff W.R. Laird IV: 03-02-2008.
02-25-2008:
A Fayette County man has been arrested and two more charged in connection with the theft of a generator
from the offices of General Ambulance Company in Hilltop (Fayette County) early Saturday Morning. Shortly after 1:00
a.m. on Saturday, February 23rd notification was received through the Fayette County 911 Center reporting the theft of a generator
fro the offices of General Ambulance Company located in Hilltop, Fayette County, West Virginia. The suspects in this
theft were reported to have fled from the scene in a maroon colored Chevy van and were reported to be traveling toward
Glen Jean. A Fayette County Deputy Sheriff on patrol in the Glen Jean area quickly made contact with this vehicle, which
fled from the officer by traveling south on U.S. Route 19 onto Sun Mine Road. After abandoning their vehicle, all three
suspects fled from the area on foot. Following a search of the area, Deputy Sheriffs were able to locate and apprehend
one of the suspects, identified as Timothy Paul Dotson, age 31, of Minden. It was later discovered that the maroon Chevy
van driven by these suspects had been reported as being stolen from the Charleston area. The other two suspects believed
to have been involved in this crime are identified as Sidney G. Owens, age 29, of Minden, and Patrick Neal Lackey, Jr., age
21, of Trinity, North Carolina. Arrest warrants have been filed charging all three men with the offenses of Grand Larceny,
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, and Fleeing from Police. Dotson was arraigned this morning in the Magistrate Court of
Fayette County and was released on a $15,000.00 bond. Lackey was located and arrested near Trinity, North Carolina while
driving a vehicle that he had apparently stole from the Glen Jean area after fleeing from the Deputy Sheriffs. Sidney
G. Owens still remains at large at this time. This matter remains under investigation by Deputy Sheriff T.N. Mooney
(K-9) and Cpl. J.R. McMullen of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.
Released by Sheriff W.R. Laird IV: 02-25-2008.
02-14-2008:
A man wanted on felony charges in the State of New Jersey was arrested earlier today in the Oak
Hill area of Fayette County. Earlier this afternoon, an anonymous tip was received by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department
concerning the possible whereabouts of a fugitive from justice wanted on felony charges in the State of New Jersey.
In response to this information, officers from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department went to Pine Knoll Apartments in Oak
Hill in an effort to locate Rickie Joe Rakes Jr, age 32, who was believed to be residing in the Oak Hill area. At that
time, Rakes was observed to have fled from the back door of an apartment, at which time he was apprehended and taken into
custody with the assistance of a K-9 unit from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. Rakes was wanted in the State
of New Jersey on the felony offense of theft by deception and eluding. Rakes was also charged in Fayette County with
the misdemeanor offense of fleeing from an officer. He was remanded to the Southern Regional Jail pending further extradition
proceedings. This matter remains under investigation by Detective Sergeant J.K. Sizemore of the Fayette County Sheriff's
Department.
Released by Sheriff W.R. Laird IV: 02-14-2008.
01-30-2008:
A Smithers man has been arrested on felony charges of Manufacturing a Controlled Substance in connection
with the operation of an indoor marijuana grow-room discovered at a residence in Smithers earlier last week. On Wednesday,
January 30th, agents from the TRIDENT Drug Task Force, assisted by officers from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department,
Smithers Police Department and Montgomery Police Department executed a search warrant at 26 Stockton Street in Smithers.
Discovered at the time of the execution of this search warrant was what has been described as an elaborate indoor marijuana
grow-room located in the basement of the residence. A total of 42 marijuana plants were confiscated at that time.
Arrested and charged with the felony offense of Manufacturing a Controlled Substance was Johhny Amerigo Glassburn, age 37,
of 26 Stockton Street, Smithers. Glassburn was arrested late Wednesday afternoon and was released following the posting
of a $15,000 bond in the Magistrate Court of Fayette County. The investigation into this matter remains ongoing.
Released by Sheriff W.R. Laird 01-30-2008.
