WHAT YOU NEED NOW - CONTENT UPDATED THROUGH THE DAY
July 10, 2005
TRUE CRIME: Ripped Off Purse Had $1,340 in It; Man Charged with Child Abuse; Someone Steals from the Blind
By Tony Rutherford
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Columnist
Huntington (HNN) -- A 38–year–old Raging Bull employee fell victim to a man wearing camouflage and a ski mask at 12:18 a.m. July 8, 2005 in the club's parking lot in the 4800 block of Piedmont Road.
After leaving the club, the victim reported hearing footsteps of a man running toward her from the west. Before she could get her car door shut, the man described as white, in his late 20s, 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds grabbed at her car door attempting to force her out. When he could not get the victim out of the vehicle, he ripped her purse from her shoulder and fled. The purse contained $1,340 in currency.
BATTERY ON A CHILD ARREST
About 12:44 a.m. July 8, police responded to a call in the 1900 block of Doulton Avenue where a man had reportedly physically abused a child. According to witnesses, the man picked up a four year old, held her over his head stating "God loves you," then rammed her head into a screen door. He grabbed a 23–year–old woman and starting slinging her around and knocked a 75–year–old man on a walker to the ground.
When officers arrived they knew the suspect had a history of fighting, so they immediately ordered him to the ground. The suspect refused and continued to resist arrest until police had to forcibly subdue him. Barry Fletcher, 39, faces a felony child abuse with injury charge, two counts of misdemeanor battery, and obstructing police.
BARBERSHOP ROBBED OF $20 IN CHANGE
Between 5 a.m. and 5:49 a.m. July 8, someone kicked open the door of the Green Valley Barbershop in the 700 block of 27th Street. The owner reported that the only items missing were a candy jar and $20 in coins. No suspects have been arrested.
BREAK–INS CONTINUE; TOOLS POPULAR TARGET; BLIND ROBBED TOO
Thieves committed a series of apparently unrelated break ins July 8 with expensive power tools taken in two of the incidents.
On July 8, a Taskforce 50 drawer tool box and assorted tools valued at $3,500 and a Skull gear shift were removed from an outbuilding and vehicle in the 900 block of Monroe Avenue. Two hammer drills, a charger, pouch with hand tools, and a drill with a total value of $1,500 were taken from a residence in the 4000 block of Riverside Drive on that same date.
Two vending machines at the Interstate 64 rest stop were looted that same day. The machines are operated by the West Virginia Society of the Blind; the thief took about $135 from the machines, but did approximately $1,000 in damage to the dispensers during the robbery.
Only a few doors from the Monroe Avenue tool heist, a suspect took two wicker chairs, a love seat and cushions from a porch.
The final two reports indicate that a Pioneer radio, speakers and amp were taken from a vehicle in the 3500 block of Auburn Road and a DVD/VCR combo apparently went out the window at a residence in the 400 block of West Fifth Street. Police found a pair of shoes by the broken window.
ARRESTS
Bruce Ruffin, 20, arrested in the 800 block of Virginia Avenue driving a stolen 1992 Ford Tempo. He was charged with transferring and receiving stolen property.
Mark Smith, 27, was arrested on a charge of second degree arson, after a large dumpster fire behind an apartment building in the 400 block of Third Street. Smith lived in the building and a review of a video led to his apprehension.
Bruce Bellamy, 31, was charged with altering a prescription from Cabell Huntington Hospital. He faces a felony forgery charge for changing the amount of the prescription drug from 15 pills to 45 pills.
FINALLY.TRADE IN ARRIVED AT DEALERSHIP, BUT DRIVER KEEP GOING
A 63–year–old man hired a man to drive a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina to a car dealership. While inside the business, the owner noticed the man drive up with the Lumina. However, when the owner left the building to turn over the keys to the dealer, he found that the driver had left. The owner has not seen the vehicle or the man since June 24. The car also had a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber firearm in it.
