Pair arrested after chase
From staff reports
PARKERSBURG - Two people face multiple charges after being arrested following a police pursuit Friday night that covered 25 miles in two counties and resulted in the crash of one police cruiser.
The incident started around 7 p.m. at Corning Park along West Virginia 47, said Sgt. Greg Nangle, Parkersburg Police Department. No one was injured during the incident.
David Michael Persons, 46, no address available, and Shannon Lynn Gerlach, 35, of Mason, W.Va., were arrested by authorities. They were being held in the North Central Regional Jail.
All of the charges against the suspects have not been determined, but Nangle said they would be charged with numerous offenses in Wood County, Wirt County, Jackson County and Meigs County.
Trooper Lance Morrison said the West Virginia State Police will be charging Persons in Wirt County with third-offense driving under the influence, fleeing while DUI, possession of stolen property, driving under suspension and obstruction. Gerlach will be charged in Wirt County with possession of stolen property and public intoxication.
Additional charges are pending, Morrison said. The successful conclusion of the chase stemmed from cooperation between the agencies involved, he said.
Nangle said the incident began at the Corning Boat Ramp when a witness saw the pair with a boat he knew to be stolen. The witness confronted the pair and contacted police, who responded. Nangle said the truck they were using also was stolen, from Ravenswood.
The man who spotted the boat called police as the suspects were fleeing. Parkersburg officers in the area were able to respond quickly and initiated the pursuit near Corning Park. The West Virginia State Police became involved along with the Wood County Sheriff's Department.
The pursuit then continued onto several back roads, including Walker Road and Mount Carmel Road. Officers chased the vehicle onto Freeport Ridge Road, where the chase finally ended, but not before one of Parkersburg's cruisers struck a farm tractor. The officer driving the vehicle, Patrolman Seth Cook, was not injured.
Nangle, along with Morrison and Deputy Jim Asbury, located the vehicle. Gerlach was arrested at the truck, but Persons fled on foot and was found lying in a creek bed nearby, where he was arrested.
|
golfpro
|
|
|---|---|
|
10-07-08 11:03 PM
|
mommamonroe,what do you mean it's okay to chase and put people's lives in danger....and yes, it's true, if the police "block" a road and DUDE wrecks..guess what, sued! Police can't just block a road and leave no alternative.
|
|
mommamonroe
|
|
|
09-23-08 6:20 PM
|
golfpro.. man am I glad I didnt see your posts before.. OBVIOUSLY you don't live **OUT** here.. people fish off the two small bridges all the time and several people who LIVE out here have horses and ride IN the road ( oh sorry I guess they shouldn't do that even tho we live in the country...geeze) My kids ride IN the road on their bikes( hmm I guess only kids in town are allowed to do that huh>??) good God!!.. seriously the speed limit on Walker rd is 40 and Mt Carmel is 25.. and sued.. are you serious.. the dude STOLE a truck AND a boat.... so it's ok to chase (and put peoples lives in danger ) but it's NOT ok to block a road because they might get sued???.. HOLY CRAP what kind of country do we live in..SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME THATS A JOKE!!????
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-25-08 10:15 PM
|
golfpro...LOL...i think i know you.... if your not who i think you are i will be surprised....your a cutie...
|
|
golfpro
|
|
|
08-25-08 10:02 PM
|
Thats is my point. He was caught and he was arrested. No one was hurt. Sometimes accidents happen and could be avoided. The police didn't know his identity until after he was caught. If we are talking about avoiding this whole thing the judicial system should kick it and put him away. If they read our posts and hear the voices of the people more people would do "hard" time, there is just limited space to put them in (and money). I've added my two cents and I understand your point, but the police did not know who they were chasing. Almost anything is possible, maybe not probable, but possible. It turned out well all in all. As far as ego maniacs.....do you know some or are you just stereotyping? Did you have a bad experience? I know a few officers in this county and they sure don't do it for the money. They care about their community and I'm glad about that. I've lived other places and I will tell you this...Law Enforcement here is pretty darn good from what I ex
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-25-08 8:02 PM
|
But you and I both know there are ego maniacs in the force..and then there are those who live for this line of work for the right reasons to serve and protect. I think the big picture should be looked at. This is a known criminal who had been locked up many did not seem to even know he was out of prison..the damage that could have been caused that day far out weigh catching this guy at any cost. I am happy he was caught and more grateful there was not more damage done in the pursuit of him. I am not forgetting the ? how would I do it different I am not trained on the force and could only hope if I were that there would be more options then the one taken.
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-25-08 8:01 PM
|
Hey now golfpro, .unruffle those feather, .I just took a kid off a horses back not five minutes before those officers came flying out the road. as for fisherman well I have seen on several occasion people saining for minnows..but that day there was a young couple fishing from the bridge just minutes before the chase ..there is a distance to go to either end of that bridge not a long one but I would think it would indeed set panic if you were in the middle as they were and those officers and thief flew by. As for the thief stopping because he thought only two officers were behind him..he would have had no idea you can not exactly see around those bends to count the cars. for all he knew it was one after he hit walker rd..beings I was not behind the truck I really am unaware if he drove over the hill to get away or ran off the rd..least he did not hit anyone..and listen it is not a officer bashing I am doing here the good cops dont by any means make enough money or get enough kudos'
|
|
golfpro
|
|
|
08-24-08 12:37 PM
|
Okay, breaktime. What time was it? Not many horseback riders or fishermen out there! So let's hear it. How would YOU have done it? The police do their job to win, period. Sure it may have only taken two cars. The guy could have stopped in the road after seeing two cars behind him and took his chances in a shootout (with only two officers). That would have been much safer than speeding cars. And to answer your question, yes I am for real. You are so hung up on how many police cars there were chasing him. In between the lines for criminals it reads like this: "If you screw up the police are not going to let you get away, if it takes 2 officers or 20." Also did any of the cruisers pass this guy? He must have been speeding, surely. Let me know how your "improvement" would take place, I'm so interested. And yes, the driver of the truck did such a good job.....uh....where did the truck end up again?
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-20-08 9:17 PM
|
and for the record i am not complaining...just feel there needs to be great improvement so this type thing does not happen again..
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-20-08 9:17 PM
|
golfpro are you for real...seems you might do better to give advice about gulf...you seem out on a limb if you got from the former posts that anyone would suggest a thief be let go...there are safer ways to proceed with what took place that evening...perhaps you could share with me because i am curious is why ...if in your mind you may be saying why...what would you think would be more dangerous...a thief on the run one boat one truck speeding crazy out a windy road where people horse back ride...take walks ...fish off bridges and load and unload bikes on the rails to trails...and just a dangerous road to travel when going a decent speed trying to be careful...now my question is how do you feel that 10 cars racing out this road would be beneficial...the danger level they produced was far greater then what one or two patrol cars chasing this man and his girl friend would have been....the thief seems to have done a better high speed drive then the police officer who caused damage...and
|
|
golfpro
|
|
|
08-20-08 4:13 PM
|
I really appreciate all of you lawyers with your advice. Most of you don't realize that you cannot "block" a vehicle (by going out 47 or 50) or you WILL BE sued. Apparently it would have been safer just to not contact the police and all and let him keep the boat and the truck. No one even blames the guy who was running. Amazing
|
|
theheatison
|
|
|
08-19-08 7:29 PM
|
city officer hit a farm tractor? taxpayers going to pay for this stupid mistake? of course we will. iam just surprised that all the deputies wasnt at the mountaineer resturant,something needs to be done with these loose cannons
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-19-08 9:16 AM
|
perhaps a town meeting ...where each officer is there and explains his part in the action taken.. Yes in all parts of life is the good and not so good..I wish they did not cover for each other..people know when there doing what is right and when there not..those doing there job there is not enough thanks to give them. They can be reminded there appreciated. as for those with ego's to big for there own shoulders. someone needs to step up to the plate and educate them NOW...or they need different jobs
|
|
millwright47
|
|
|
08-19-08 12:45 AM
|
Speaking as a person that has had an extremely bad experience with the sherrif's department,abuse from that office run's rampant. That being said, There several decent officers in this county. They just sometimes get excited and bored and want to make a show of force. And never give a second thought about the damage that can be caused by there zeal.Something needs to be done about they're abuse of force, and and hold them responsible for they're actions.
|
|
yolarry
|
|
|
08-17-08 11:18 PM
|
How many cops does it take to screw a light bulb? I say 30
|
|
mommamonroe
|
|
|
08-17-08 7:13 PM
|
We are on Mount Carmel... there were at least 6 city, two sheriff's, and one state police cruiser ( I didnt see the Vienna cop) ..they flew by us doing *at least* 75mph ( BTW it's 40 on Walker and 25 on Mt Carmel)... I heard the sirens coming up the hill on Walker Rd and went outside to see what was going on. I was about to walk to the road when the truck came into site.. he was all over the road and I thought the trailer was going to fly off then. The cop behind him wasn't driving much better! I am so thankful to God that my son , whom had just asked to ride his bike, decided to wait when he heard the sirens. If he hadn't he would have been killed. I agree with what's been said so far.. there was NO reason fo that many police cars to be chasing him out this way.. what was the point? blocking roads on 50 and 47 and having one maybe two following would have been enough!! I hope better decisions are made if something like this ever happens again!
|
|
Bryancarr
|
|
|
08-17-08 2:05 PM
|
The performance of the Parkersburg Police force is most generally dismal,in my opinion.A rogue element with a bunch of modern day cowboys,with big egos and low paying jobs.An embarassment to the city.
|
|
OldHoss
|
|
|
08-17-08 12:20 PM
|
My question is: Why was a Vienna car involved? The cops looked like sharks in a feeding frenzy. They came out Walker Road dangerously with little regard for public safety. The darn truck had a trailer on it. He was going fast but not any faster than some idiots on this road. It was the cops that followed minutes later that were driving irresponsibly. They were ALL OVER THE ROAD!! I guess they didn't want to miss out on the butt-whuppin'. Good job guys. Preserve and PROTECT. 10 cars to run down an ol' beat up piece crap. I am thouroughly impressed and in awe of you. Did you all happen to see my niece playing in the yard with the dog? Hell, she was only 10-15 feet away from you. There was a fence there..but I don't think it would stop a out of control police car. That's the nuts and bolts of my post. You were all out of control. No better than the "SMALL TIME" knot-head you were chasin'. You guys kill me...uh-oh, knock on wood!
|
|
breaktime
|
|
|
08-17-08 9:49 AM
|
I would be interested to know why it took 10 police cars to chase this guy...I may not be the smartest cookie in the cookie jar...but it would seem they would have sent some cruisers out 50 and some out 47 so that what ever rd he turned down his directions were covered with continued location monitoring..I am happy to not read of any harm coming to the two young people who were fishing from the bridge and the many bike riders loading and unloading there bikes from there cars not to mention the kids that play..what was 10 cars at high speed going to help...2 maybe 3 makes sense...help me understand...
|