Latest news with #MercerCountySheriff'sDepartment
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
County commission asked to look at creating pawnshop ordinance
princeton – A ordinance connecting pawnshops to an easier way for reporting potentially stolen guns and other times to law enforcement has been proposed to the Mercer County Commission. Capt. Steven Sommers with the Mercer County Sheriff's Department spoke Tuesday afternoon with the commissioners about how pawnbrokers can better work with his department. 'This is just a request for the county commission to reevaluate, with some of the new commissioners, a pawnshop ordinance,' Sommers said. 'The ordinance would mimic state code, but what we're looking for is that ordinance designate the sheriff as the individual responsible for designating to the pawnbrokers how they are to electronically record. For the last nine years we have been using Leads Online, which as law enforcement, we have to pay for that; but Leads Online allows us to search names, serial numbers, description of any pawned items, scrapped items nationwide, regionally or within the county.' Pawnshops now report pawned items either on a paper form, an Excel spreadsheet or by fax, Sommers said. This includes reporting pawned firearms. 'Leads Online is connected to NCIC (National Crime Information Center) so any known serial number that is reported to NCIC is automatically reported as a post about a possible stolen item for investigation,' Sommers said. Pawnbrokers can sign up to Leads Online for free. 'Leads Online will accept and digest just about any format that a pawn broker has to get that information online and they can do it absolutely free,' Sommers said. 'The only people that pay are law enforcement, so I just ask that the county revisit and look at a pawn shop ordinance.' Sommers called Leads Online access 'a force multiplier' for the sheriff's department. 'Instead of making 100 phone calls or traveling five, six, seven, eight, 10 different pawnshops, if everybody's reporting from the computer in a keystroke, we can see if the item we are looking for is at any of the pawnshops and even initiate a case and initiate a request with the pawnshop from the computer and hey, this is stolen property and we believe it is and we are on our way,' he said. Commission President Bill Archer said that a county pawnshop ordinance had been addressed back in 2021, but one was never implemented. Archer asked Sommers if the commission could get sample ordinances from other places. Sommers said the commission should have a copy of Kanawha County's pawnshop ordinance and he could get a copy of the one used in Barboursville, a town in Cabell County. Commissioner Greg Puckett asked if the sample ordinances could be changed over to what Mercer County could use and then given to Prosecuting Attorney Brian K. Cochran for review to make sure the county is complying with state code. Once the commission is sure the proposed ordinance is in compliance, it could be presented for consideration. Sommers said the county's cities should be asked about participating in Leads Online, too. The ordinance could be presented in June and it would have to go through two public readings before it is enacted, Puckett said. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
988 Lifeline decals to be added to Mercer County Sheriff's Office cruisers
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) — Decals will be placed on cruisers with the Mercer County Sheriff's Office to help raise awareness for mental health resources in the Mountain State. According to a press release, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline decals will be placed on all Mercer County Sheriff's Office's department cruisers as part of a partnership between Community Connections, the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities, and the Mercer County Sheriff's Office. Concord University receives grant from Truist West Virginia Foundation By placing these decals on patrol vehicles, we're sending a clear message to the community: help is always available, and it's okay to reach out. We're proud to work with the Mercer County Sheriff's Department to promote this life-saving resource. Candace Harless | Chairperson of the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities The press release stated that the addition of the decals during Mental Health Awareness Month in May will mark the first time a sheriff's office in the Mountain State added 988 decals to their cruisers, and is part of the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities' goal to increase access and raise awareness to mental health support in the Mountain State. We see this daily – the mental health crisis that is going on and sometimes that flows over to our guys. So, this is a dual-purpose thing for us. If our guys can help those that are in need, then they see it is okay for them to ask for help as well Sheriff Alan Christian | Mercer County Sheriff's Department Sheriff Christian's department has been undergoing crisis intervention training, which will help them better communicate with those who are suffering from mental health issues. Sheriff Christian and Harless hope that other departments around the state will get on board to make everyone aware of 9-8-8's services. Three Mercer County Robotics teams headed to world championship in Dallas According to the press release, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which allows people to get into contact with trained crisis counselors by using a three digit number 24/7 especially for those dealing with suicidal, mental health, or substance use crises, was launched in July 2022. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mercer County woman charged with felony child neglect
princeton – One parent has been arrested and a warrant is ready for another after three children were found living in conditions both law enforcement and state Child Protective Service personnel called 'deplorable.' Ashley Nicole Smith, 30, of Princeton has been charged with three counts of gross child neglect and another three counts of concealment of a minor child, according to a criminal complaint filed by Capt. S.A. Sommers with the Mercer County Sheriff's Department. Both types of charges are felonies. In West Virginia, child neglect resulting in injury or creating risk of injury is a felony with a possible one to five year prison term, according to the West Virginia Code. Concealment or removal of a minor child from a custodian or a person entitled to visitation is another felony with a penalty of up to a year in jail. Smith was being held Thursday at the Southern Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash or surety bond with the condition of home confinement if released. The investigation leading to Smith's arrest spans from April 2023 to July 2024, Sommers said in the complaint. It involves Smith and the biological father of their three children. In April 2023, a Child Protective Services case was opened due to reports of deplorable living conditions for the three children and drug use by their parents, Sommers said. On April 19, 2023, the family was evicted from their home near Bluefield and rented a room at a Princeton motel. Shortly afterward, Smith moved the children to a relative's Kentucky home. Child Protective Services lost contact with the family after May 29, 2023. Child Protective Services regained contact with the family in December 2023 and learned they had returned to Mercer County. Sommers said in his complaint that Smith and the father failed to fully cooperate with drug screenings. On May 29, 2024, Child Protective Services lost contact with the family again, but found they had used SNAP benefits in Mercer County on June 15 and 16, 2024. Through a relative, the agency learned the family was living near Bramwell, Sommers said. This relative said one of the children's relatives had stopped at the home and 'observed that the children were dirty, barely clothed and appeared skinny. He also alleged that he had taken food to them, but was cussed at and the food was thrown away.' After a Child Protective Services worker visited the family's home on June 28, 2024, Magistrate Susan Honaker granted the department emergency custody of the children, Sommers said in the complaint. The worker returned to the home and learned that the family had left. The owner of a trailer the family had been using allowed the worker and law enforcement to inspect it. 'They found there was no power or running water and it smelled 'foul,'' Sommers said. 'She reported that it was hard to breathe due to the odor. The home was in 'complete disarray' and the conditions were 'deplorable.' There was a broken window in the kitchen and throughout the home. She located a twin bed that the children slept on, finding it filthy.' The owner told the Child Protective Services worker not to enter the back room due to a snake infestation. 'He continued, stating he had killed three snakes already' and that was why the parents had taped the door shut, Sommers said. 'The ceiling in the hallway connected to that room was falling in and appeared wet,' Sommers said in the complaint. On July 1, 2024, Smith was told that the department had custody of the children and that she needed to turn them over, but she refused and stated she was in Kentucky, Sommers said. That same day, Child Protective Services were tipped about where the children were living and relayed the information to Deputy J. Pinter. According to information from Pinter's report, Pinter and Deputy A. Presley went to Old Coaldale Mountain Road to serve the state's custody order. An anoymous source informed them that the family was deep in the woods, according to Pinter's report. When law enforcement located the site, they found a tent set up next to a vehicle. The father was taken into custody due to an active warrant out of Tazewell County, Va. Authorities in that county advised they would extradite the father. Smith and the three children, all under the age of 12, were found, Pinter said. 'The children's clothes and bodies were extremely dirty, their clothes fit poorly and I did not observe there to be adequate shelter, food or water in the area,' Pinter said in his report. The Child Protective Services worker later said that the children were dirty from sleeping on the ground. On July 17, 2024 during a forensic interview with one of the children, Child Protective Services learned that the family had moved about four times a month because of the state agency 'finding them,' Pinter said. 'She also revealed that they had to rely on others to bring food and that they stayed hungry,' Pinter said. On Monday, Sommers requested that the Mercer County Magistrate Court issue warrants for Smith and the father, who had not been arrested on the charges as of Thursday. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Local law enforcement cracking down on distracted driving
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – Doing something as simple as checking your phone or taking your eyes off the road when driving could cause irreparable damages. Mercer County Sheriff's Department is part of the Governor's Highway Safety Program. Captain Adam Ballard told 59News they are cracking down on distracted driving. Beckley man identified as worker killed on I-77, one man arrested and charged He explained that the first conviction for distracted driving could amount to no more than $100, but by the third conviction in a 24-month period, it could cost you up to $350 – not to mention the bigger charges that could be applied if someone were to be injured or killed because of distracted driving. 'Nationally, we see over 3,000 people killed every year related to distracted driving, as well as over 350,000 people injured in those crashes. The people glance off the roadway, they look down no matter what they're doing, whether the checking the phone and they could travel the length of a football field. So, you think 300 feet in just a few seconds – 5 seconds or less is a good amount of distance to drive practically blindfolded,' said Captain Ballard. Captain Ballard said that it would not hurt anybody to simply pull over if you need to access your phone on the road. Hands free devices are highly recommended to help you focus on the road better. Ballard recommended keeping your eyes locked on the road, especially in work zones. If you would like to learn more about the law in West Virginia regarding distracted driving, visit this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Opioid dollars will help fund new sheriff's office
princeton — Renovations now underway at the Mercer County Sheriff's Department headquarters were boosted Tuesday when the Mercer County Commission unanimously approved $100,000 in opioid settlement money for the project. In March 2024, the commission approved a $1.75 million American Rescue Plan grant which allowed the sheriff's department to buy the Mercer County Professional Building which is located next door to the Mercer County Courthouse. The building once housed a bank and has been used as office space by various agencies. The sheriff's department now operates out of the courthouse's basement, a situation which does not allow its deputies and other personnel much room for their duties. Sheriff Alan Christian spoke Tuesday about his department's request for $100,000 in opioid settlement funds to help convert the building into its new headquarters. County Commission President Bill Archer said that since the department's request is for opioid settlement funding, it does not impact the county's general revenue. 'I'll provide you with a quick guide to what we've got going on at the new building,' Christian told the commissioners. 'We ran into our first setback (Monday) with the building,' Christian said. 'Apparently, whoever did the renovations prior to us decided to do a big filler on some of those with sand, so it caused what you could call a 2-inch dip and we had to tear it out, go and refill it. Not a huge deal.' The discovery showed how problems can appear unexpectedly, he said. 'When you're doing renovations, you have no idea what you're getting into,' Christian said. 'So that's why we're asking for the little extra leeway just in case.' The sheriff's department has already saved $10,000 when buying computers from a company, he said. 'There's no reason for us to pay $500 for our monitors, so we went to save some money and we expect to do the same with this,' Christian said. 'But we just like to have it (extra funds) just in case so I'm not having to come back again and ask for more money which I will be, but I appreciate it and forever.' The project is now in its second phase. The next phase will include getting furniture and working on the building's exterior. Christian said the department hopes to move in by July. Christian said the department also planned to ask for Archer's help to put together an archive about past deputies. 'We're going to have a little museum, if you will, for those folks who gave their lives to this county and deserves some recognition,' Christian said. Commissioner Greg Puckett said he had spoken with the West Virginia First Foundation, which helps manage the state's settlement from opioid manufacturers, about how future funding requests will be addressed. 'I did go through with the West Virginia First Foundation. I've got their grant application and sort of where they've gone with settlement funding from the state,' he said. 'Of course, that's in addition to what the counties actually get throughout the state. I have a resolution that looks to put together a task force team that looks at all requests. That way, there's a broad based sort of input from the community. 'This (department's request) would obviously supersede that because it's a direct need that has to do with our sheriff's department, but for all other opioid requests. I should have that memorandum set and then to start the team process soon and then grant applications would be based on the availability of funds to the community,' Puckett said. The county now has around $2.6 million in opioid settlement funds, he said. ''We are taking those and putting those into an interest earnings account; so, for all the monies that we do have in there during this period of time, it is earning which gives us additional monies in which to work with, which is extremely valuable,' Puckett said. 'Hopefully we can get that and keep a $1.5 million minimum in there at all times.' If the county keeps $1.5 million in the account and, based on the current interest rates the county has with New People's Bank, the county could between from $75,000 to $80,000 a year in interest income, Puckett said. 'That would give us project money to move it forward and keep that going forever and ever if all goes well,' he said. Puckett and Commissioner Brian Blankenship supported the funding request. The request was approved unanimously. 'All that being said, I do think this is a great request because it's putting our sheriff's office in good standing, opening that up and allowing for the expansion of our sheriff's office,' Puckett said. 'I just want to say we appreciate your due diligence and everybody over there looking out where you can and how you can save,' said Blankenship. 'You know, they're doing a lot of the work themselves.' Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
