Suspect in kidnapping case arrested
ELIZABETH — A Belpre man wanted in connection to a kidnapping and felonious assault in March was recently apprehended in Wirt County.
Ryan O’Neil Nichols, 40, was arrested by West Virginia State Police and processed into the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County, according to Wirt County Sheriff Travis Corbitt and the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority website, rja.wv.gov.
Nichols has been sought by authorities since mid-March, when Jeremy R. Braun, 32, of 1080 Walsh Road, Vincent, allegedly held Braun’s girlfriend against her will for several days in Nichols’ home, beating her numerous times. Nichols was indicted earlier this month on charges of first-degree felony complicity in kidnapping and second-degree felony complicity to felonious assault because he “refused to help her,” a prosecutor said.
Corbitt said the Wirt County Sheriff’s Department developed information about Nichols’ whereabouts and notified the West Virginia State Police’s Special Response Team. They apprehended Nichols in the Wells Lock area of Wirt County, where he had been staying at a residence on Friendly Lane, the sheriff said.
“He tried to run, tried to hide,” Corbitt said.
Nichols went into a crawl space under the home and would not come out after being commanded to do so by State Police, said 1st Sgt. B.S. Snodgrass.
A K-9 assisted State Police in removing Nichols from underneath the house, Snodgrass said. Nichols struggled with the officers and dog, Snodgrass said, but no one was injured.
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Nichols is being held without bond pending extradition to Ohio.
Braun was arrested April 2. He was also indicted by the recent Washington County Grand Jury on charges of kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony.