Three Elkins men were arrested Tuesday for breaking and entering, after witnesses said they were attempting to steal an old furnace, police said.
David Ray Hartley Jr., 33, Justin Terrill Roth, 31, and Gary David Smith, 34, were each charged with one felony count of breaking and entering. Bond for each man was set at $25,000 cash or surety in Randolph County Magistrate Court.
In the criminal complaint, Trooper M.J. Wilson, of the Elkins detachment of the West Virginia State Police, said he received a complaint call at about 4 p.m. Tuesday from Anthony Higgins, who lives on Greenbrier Lane. Higgins said that three men had been seen loading his old furnace, which was located outside the residence, onto a pickup truck, the complaint states.
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Hartley
Arriving on the scene, Wilson saw the pickup truck parked with the furnace at the tail gate, according to the complaint. Hartley allegedly told Wilson that the men were taking the furnace for scrap metal.
A neighbor told Wilson that at 3:15 p.m. she saw three men enter the basement of the building, and then exit and start loading "a big item" onto the back of the truck, according to the complaint.
The three men were being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail at presstime.
In other magistrate court news, a Parkersburg man was arrested after allegedly attempting to break into his estranged wife's home in Dailey, police said.
Gregory Allen Messer, 50, was charged with a felony count of attempted burglary and a misdemeanor count of driving revoked for DUI, second offense. Bond was set at $10,000 cash only in Randolph County Magistrate Court.
According to the criminal complaint, Trooper C.E. Elliott received a complaint at about 7 p.m. Tuesday from Jennifer Messer, who said her estranged husband, Gregory Messer, drove down her driveway and attempted to force his way into her home, beating on doors and windows and trying to force open her bedroom window.
At the residence, Trooper 1st Class J.R. Wince saw a man matching Messer's description walking away from the home, heading toward the Daily Trade Center, according to the complaint.
Officers found Messer behind the Daily Trade Center, where he "ducked behind a gas meter, attempting to conceal himself," the complaint states. Messer was allegedly carried a small, wood-handled screwdriver and a red pipe wrench.
Messer also allegedly had the keys to a maroon Subaru, the hood of which was still warm to the touch, indicating it had recently been driven, the complaint stated.
Officers determined that Messer's driver's license had been revoked for DUI. Messer was being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail at presstime.
