Police and courts

Missing hikers

found in Dolly Sods

Seven hikers reported missing in the Dolly Sods Wilderness areain Tucker County were found safely by the West Virginia AviationDivision.

The hikers, all females from Pennsylvania, were reported missingabout 11 a.m. Saturday.

They had ventured out into the wilderness earlier that day beforeState Police in Elkins alerted the Aviation Division that they'dgone missing.

After an extensive search, the hikers were found before darkSaturday. None of the hikers, three adults and four minors, reportedany serious injuries.

Sgt. Steve Knotts piloted the Aviation Division's Bell 407 whileSgt. Bob Stump, of the State Police detachment in Parsons, served asthe observer.

Man accused of

tainting fuel tank

An arrest warrant has been issued for a St. Albans man accused ofpouring a foreign liquid into his ex-girlfriend's boyfriend's fueltank.

St. Albans police were dispatched to Grant Avenue in reference toa disturbance, according to a criminal complaint filed in KanawhaMagistrate Court.

Upon arrival, police spoke with a man who said he watched fromhis window as Bruce L. Padgett, 32, of Whispering Way pouredsomething into his van parked in front of the residence, thecomplaint said.

The van is actually registered to Davis Creek Church of God.

The man went outside to confront Padgett, who threw a punch atthe man and then fled in a white Ford Ranger, the complaint said.

When police arrived, they discovered the gas tank door had beenpried open, and a clear liquid, possibly bleach, still wet aroundthe lid and on the ground, the complaint said.

Police also later spoke with the pastor of Davis Creek Church ofGod, who said he talked with Padgett on the telephone.

The pastor said Padgett made verbal threats to him when he wasinformed he would be financially responsible for damages to the van,the complaint said.

The damages, if any, were not included in the complaint.

Padgett is charged with auto tampering, battery, destruction ofproperty and telephone harassment.

Men accused of

concealing felon

State Police arrested an Elkview man on felony warrants, and thenarrested four more people for attempting to conceal the man'swhereabouts.

Troopers on Sunday located Aaron Desmond, 28, of Elkview at theParsley Inn on Charleston's Bigley Avenue on charges of possessionof a controlled substance with intent to deliver, obstructing andfleeing, according to a press release from Sgt. Kenneth McCord.

Upon arrival, Desmond became belligerent and had to be physicallyrestrained, the complaint said.

He also was charged with obstruction and simple possession ofmarijuana, the complaint said.

Police also arrested Morgan Smith, 25, of Elkview, who earlierhad made contact with State Police and provided misleadinginformation to conceal Desmond's location, the complaint said.

Smith was found at the same hotel and charged with aiding andabetting, the complaint said.

Also arrested and charged with aiding and abetting were HarleyMollohan, 35, and Homer Larch, 50, both of Pinch, the complaintsaid.

Both are accused of making phone calls to Desmond, alerting himof the police search and presence, the complaint said.

James Fridley, 59, of Elkview also provided false information topolice, the complaint said.

He is charged with aiding and abetting, accessory after the faceand providing false information to police.

Desmond's room was registered in Fridley's name.

Police say man

threatened woman

A Charleston man is accused of threatening to kill his baby'smother because she would not give him money.

Charleston police responded to a domestic incident on Friday,according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a female, who said thatAlphonso Lawayne Harper, 25, of Pearl Drive was at her residence andasked her to withdraw money from an ATM and give it to him, thecomplaint said.

When she refused, Harper got angry and said, "Bitch, you aregoing to help me," the complaint said.

Harper then grabbed her by the throat and told her to take him tothe ATM, the complaint said.

When she again refused, Harper started scratching her car andsaid he would kill her if she called police, the complaint said.

Police confirmed there were several scratches to her vehicle.

Harper was arrested and charged with domestic battery anddestruction of property.

Man hit with car

during altercation

One man was taken to the hospital after another man hit him withhis car during a domestic dispute in Cabin Creek.

The Kanawha County Sheriff's department responded Monday to adisturbance in Miami between Dale Eugene Guthrie, 20, of Eskdale andGerry Franklin Jones, 53, of Rand.

The men were arguing over Guthrie's 17-year-old girlfriend andJones' granddaughter when Jones struck the younger man with his 1999Ford station wagon, according to a news release from the sheriff'sdepartment.

According to the sheriff's department, the girl had called hergrandfather to come pick her up during an argument with herboyfriend. When he arrived, the two men also argued and Jonesthreatened to run over him.

Guthrie, who is on probation for other charges, at first fled thescene.

He later called for medical assistance and was taken toCharleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital.