“Everyone thinks nothing happens here, but it does,” said Sheriff Walter, during a ceremony on May 6 at the county courthouse.

In the commission meeting room filled with uniformed officers from multiple agencies and family members, Walter and Widmeyer recognized the bravery and professionalism of Sheriff’s Deputy Malachi Butts and Officer Bradley Meacham.

Sheriff Walter said their response on July 26, 2025 to a domestic call in eastern Morgan County saved the lives of the resident of the home and a juvenile. Chief Deputy Widmeyer described the call, in which suspect Melvin Gallion was armed and had already shot multiple shotgun rounds inside the home, killing two dogs and threatening the people inside.

When Deputy Butts and Meacham arrived at the home, they “almost immediately came under heavy gunfire from within the residence.”

“Despite the danger, Deputy Butts and Deputy Meacham engaged Gallion with return fire, successfully diverting his attention and allowing two victims to escape the residence,” Widmeyer told the gathering.

Gallion was struck by police gunfire and exited the residence, surrendering at that point. The officers provided first aid to the suspect until EMS arrived.

Meacham, in the gunfire exchange, had been struck multiple times by shotgun pellets, in his forehead and his hand.

“The swift actions and bravery of Deputy Malachi Butts and Deputy Bradley Meachum directly saved the lives of the female and juvenile victim. Their courage, decisiveness, and willingness to place themselves in grave danger exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement service,” said Widmeyer.

Meacham would have to have surgery to treat his injuries following the incident. He has since returned to work as an officer for the City of Ranson.

Gallion was sentenced to 56 to more than 100 years in prison for his crimes. Sheriff Walter said his department had waited for the recognition ceremony until the court case was finished.

Deputy Malachi Bitts was given the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Medal of Valor and Officer Bradley Meacham was awarded the Medal of Valor as well as the Purple Heart in recognition of his injuries.

Sheriff Walter noted that both men are expectant fathers, and the entire department was grateful that the officers survived.

Walter said in the aftermath of the incident, West Virginia State Police and Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department showed up to assist and law enforcement officials in Charleston called to offer help.

Widmeyer and Walter both echoed that in their law enforcement careers, they have lost many fellow officers and have had to present awards for valor at times not to their colleagues but to the wives and children of fallen officers.

“We’re fortunate we have everyone here still in our family,” Sheriff Walter said.

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Bruce S. Garzon-Earthman, of unknown address, was 23 when the assault occurred in the break room at work. The victim was under the age of 16 at the time.

Following his guilty plea, Garzon-Earthman was remanded to the custody of Eastern Regional Jail, where he awaits a bed in the youthful offender program at Anthony Correctional Center.

Sentencing will take place upon completion of the youthful offender program, which takes up to two years.

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On Thursday, April 30 at about 3:30 p.m. a third-party caller stated they saw two people fighting at the hotel, according to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Magistrate Court by Deputy M.A. Butts.

The caller stated a woman in her 50s was on the ground, and alcohol was involved in a lengthy argument between the woman and a man in his 20s.

Deputy Butts arrived on the scene with West Virginia State Trooper Beard and Trooper Meyers.

The man, identified as Kristopher E. Justice, 29, of Riverton W.Va. admitted to picking his mother up and slamming her on the ground, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim stated physical contact occurred, but claimed it wasn’t criminal.

Two THC vape pens were found on Justice as he was being detained.

Justice was charged with domestic battery and possession of a controlled substance.

He is incarcerated at Eastern Regional Jail on a $7,500 bond awaiting a hearing.

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Police were dispatched when someone called 911 to report a suspicious person with blood on his hands ran out of the building and dropped a case of beer in the 7-11 parking lot.

Troopers were notified the individual, identified as Coty L. MacCumbee, 37, was running away on foot, according to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Magistrate Court by Trooper B.L. Beard.

Law enforcement officers parked their cruisers on S. Laurel Avenue and began to search for MacCumbee on foot.

Trooper Beard and Trooper Warnick spotted MacCumbee lying in Warm Springs Run behind Black Cat music shop on N. Mercer Street.

When the troopers called out to him, MacCumbee got up from the creek bed and began running through neighboring yards, according to the criminal complaint.

MacCumbee turned onto Independence Street and hid under a vehicle, when Trooper Beard spotted him and began giving verbal orders.

Having MacCumbee at gunpoint, Trooper Beard detained the suspect without further incident.

MacCumbee was covered in blood and highly intoxicated, according to the criminal complaint.

He has been charged with public intoxication; fleeing on foot; possession of a controlled substance; driving revoked for DUI second offense; and failure to stop/yield to emergency vehicle.

MacCumbee remains incarcerated at Eastern Regional Jail on a $10,000 bond.

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On Wednesday, April 1 at about 2:30 p.m., officers initiated a traffic stop at Dairy Queen for a compact sedan with obstructed registration.

The driver, identified as Brady T. Faith, 26, of Berkeley Springs appeared anxious and couldn’t hold still, according to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Magistrate Court by Trooper Trenton Short.

The passenger, identified as Kimberly D. Winland, 45, of Berkeley Springs had an open container of alcohol, according to the criminal complaint.

While performing a series of field sobriety tests, police observed a pink powder in Faith’s nose, and placed him under arrest.

Winland admitted to having “weed gummies” in her purse, and with this information, police performed a search of her purse, finding multiple capsules filled with a pink powder of suspected fentanyl.

Winland was captured on an officer’s body camera stating she and Faith had travelled to Hagerstown earlier that day to get the capsules, and they were both selling them in Morgan County, according to the criminal complaint.

Winland was arrested and charged with possession with intent, and transporting controlled substance into the state with intent.

Faith was charged with DUI first offense, possession with intent, and transporting controlled substance into the state with intent.

Each is incarcerated at Eastern Regional Jail on a $50,000 bond awaiting a hearing.

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Charles Frederick Muffley, III, 50, was convicted of on all three counts charged in the Superseding Indictment, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as ice, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The evidence presented at trial established that Muffley played a central role in a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing several pounds of high-purity methamphetamine throughout Hampshire County and surrounding areas.

According to trial testimony, in September 2024, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package containing nearly a pound of methamphetamine.

Federal prosecutors showed that package led investigators to Muffley, who split drug packages and distributed methamphetamine with other co-conspirators for several months.

Following the interception of the pound of methamphetamine, Muffley continued to distribute methamphetamine. Muffley’s home was later searched pursuant to a search warrant.  Officers seized methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, six digital scales, cash, ammunition, and nine firearms—including handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Muffley is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions.

“This conviction reflects the serious danger posed by drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.  “The defendant not only distributed methamphetamine but also did so while unlawfully possessing firearms.  We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable.”

Muffley is facing 15 years to life for the conspiracy conviction and up to 30 years in prison for the possession with intent conviction because he has a prior felony conviction for a drug trafficking offense.

Muffley is facing up to 15 years for the firearms conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be scheduled by the Court at a later date.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

Investigative agencies include the Potomac Highlands Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; U.S. Postal Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Department; and the Hampshire County Prosecutor’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.

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On Monday, March 30, Washington County Sheriff’s Office has released more details about the February shooting on Whispering Wind Road in Hancock.

Police said that after the State’s Attorney review of the facts of the case and a March 25 Grand Jury, no charges will be pressed against the minor who shot Brian Keith Lavoie, Jr., age 43, on February 21.

According to a release on the Sheriff’s Office social media page, an extensive investigation was conducted by Criminal Investigations Unit. The investigation found that the individual who discharged the firearm at Lavoie was a juvenile. Investigators determined that the juvenile acted in defense of self and others during the incident.

The case was presented to the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, which reviewed the facts and circumstances and concurred with that determination.

On Wednesday, March 25, the case was further presented to a Washington County Grand Jury who also determined the juvenile’s actions were justified and declined to return an indictment.

Because a juvenile was involved and in order to protect the privacy rights of those involved, the Sheriff’s Office won’t be releasing additional information at this time.

Back in February, officers from the Hancock Police Department and deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported shooting on Whispering Winds Road involving an adult male victim.

The victim was identified as Lavoie. He was transported to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown for treatment where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The post Grand jury declines to indict minor in fatal Hancock shooting in February appeared first on Morgan Messenger.

Hancock Police are looking for the public’s help in looking for exterior camera video from along Pennsylvania Avenue from Saturday, March 21 in order to track down individuals suspected of hurling rocks at passing cars.

Police are asking residents in the area of Pennsylvania Avenue with Ring Doorbell cameras or any similar exterior cameras to review their footage from between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, March 21.

“We are seeking any video that may help identify individuals involved in throwing rocks onto I-70 during that time,” police said in a social media post.

A number of people posted pictures on social media of their windshields where rocks shattered the glass.

If you have footage or any information that may assist police, contact Officer Walls at jwalls@townofhancock.org.

“Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work to keep our community safe,” police said.

Police didn’t share more details about the location or severity of the incidents, but social media posts show vehicles with fractured windshields in Hancock, claiming they were hit by surprise rocks while driving on the interstate.

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Terrell Antonio Henderson, 34, of Halethorpe, Maryland, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine base. According to court records and his plea agreement, Henderson conspired with others to traffic drugs from Baltimore to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The investigation culminated in a controlled buy at a parking lot in Spring Mills, where law enforcement witnessed the transaction. A subsequent search of Henderson’s vehicle uncovered the buy money, additional drugs, and various drug paraphernalia.

In a separate matter, 31-year-old Elisa Owens of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Owens acted as a distributor for a trafficking ring operating between Hagerstown and Berkeley County, West Virginia. Following a period of surveillance, officers conducted a traffic stop and a probable cause search of her vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of cocaine.

Henderson and Owens each face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government.

Investigative agencies include the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hagerstown, Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Maryland State Police; the Hagerstown Police Department; and the Washington County (MD) Sheriff’s Office.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

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At the scene, a man told police his ex-girlfriend came to his residence trying to retrieve property, and her behavior became increasingly erratic, according to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Magistrate Court by Corporal Christopher Roper.

While there, a call came in for an unwanted female at Crust pizza matching the woman’s description.

Employees at Crust reported they subdued the subject after she struck one of them, and damaged a door upstairs, according to the criminal complaint.

The subject, identified as Shelby A. Valentine, of no known address, tried to walk away from officers during questioning, then became combative, refusing to walk on her own, or be fingerprinted, according to the criminal complaint.

Valentine was arrested and charged with battery, obstruction, and destruction of property.

She remains incarcerated at Eastern Regional Jail on a $1,500 bond.

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