Belpre man arrested following incident with firearm at Walmart
Keith Allen Crace
Belpre resident Keith Allen Crace was arraigned on one count of wanton endangerment, a felony, Saturday evening in Wood County Magistrate Court by Magistrate Joe Kuhl. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Keith Allen Crace
Belpre resident Keith Allen Crace was arraigned on one count of wanton endangerment, a felony, Saturday evening in Wood County Magistrate Court by Magistrate Joe Kuhl. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- A Belpre man was arrested Saturday after allegedly walking through the Vienna Walmart with a pistol in his hand.
Keith Allen Crace, 51, 150 Camelot Road, Belpre, was arraigned Saturday night on a count of wanton endangerment by Wood County Magistrate Joe Kuhl, who set his bond at $75,000.
Crace was arrested Saturday morning after Vienna Police officers responded to Walmart in reference to a male walking through the store with a pistol in his hand, according to a press release sent out Saturday by Vienna Police Chief Mike Pifer.
The criminal complaint states that when officers arrived at the 701 Grand Central Ave. store, patrons were "exiting the store in a panic."
Crace was observed inside the store at a distance by Vienna Police, as he was "breaking open a case of alcohol," according the the criminal complaint. At that time, the firearm was not visible.
The complaint states that Crace complied when asked to "put his hands in the air" and officers were able to quickly close distance and take him into custody without incident. He was found to be in possession of a loaded .45-caliber pistol with a round in the chamber.
Crace made multiple statements to units about his intentions, including, following the reading of his Miranda Rights, that he "wanted to go into Walmart and scare people with a firearm."
According to the Vienna Police Department, numerous people on scene indicated Crace had the weapon in his hand and was pointing it in front of him while inside the store prior to police arrival.
Crace remained in custody at press time. If he posts bail, he is not allowed to be in possession of any firearms.
Crace waived his preliminary hearing Saturday evening, and his case will be forwarded to the Wood County Grand Jury for consideration.
If convicted, wanton endangerment carries a penalty of not less than one nor more than five years in a correctional facility. Additional charges are expected to be filed.
Officers from the Wood County Sheriff's Department and Parkersburg Police Department responded as well to assist.
Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com.