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By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – A Keyser man who fled from his arraignment late Thursday night was apprehended about an hour later in the waters of New Creek, following an intensive police search aided by the Maryland State Police helicopter.
Michael W. Nelson, 18, was being held at the Potomac Regional Jail on $4,000 bond following his arrest, flight and recapture early Friday morning.
According to Keyser City Police, Nelson had been arrested in February for operating a motorcycle without a license, and officers were recently advised that he still did not have a license.
Early Thursday evening a police officer observed Nelson driving near the courthouse, and pulled him over without incident. He was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without insurance and operating a motor vehicle with an improper registration.
While processing Nelson, police ran a records check and discovered he was also wanted in Allegany County on a theft charge. In addition, West Virginia State Police had issued a warrant for his arrest stemming from a battery charge.
Finally, during his arrest, police discovered a baggie containing a small amount of marijuana, and Nelson was additionally charged with misdemeanor possession.
(See CHASE P. 6A)
Nelson was held at the sheriff’s detention center until an evening arraignment could be held before a magistrate. That hearing occurred at 10 p.m., with the magistrate directing that Nelson be incarcerated at the Potomac Regional Jail on $4,000 bond.
While officers were escorting Nelson from the arraignment hearing, at 11:15 p.m., he fled on foot. He was not handcuffed at the time.
Police immediately called in additional Keyser officers to conduct a search, including a city K-9 unit. Also assisting was an officer from Ridgeley, who was in town for an arraignment, as well as deputies from the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department.
The Maryland State Police medevac helicopter was available, and provided assistance using both its high-beam search light and infra-red equipment.
Police located Nelson at 12:26 p.m., a little more than an hour after he fled, in the middle of New Creek near its confluence with the Potomac River. He was apprehended without incident and, upon being checked by EMS personnel for cold-exposure injuries, was transported to the regional jail, where he was still being held Friday afternoon.
By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – A Keyser man who fled from his arraignment late Thursday night was apprehended about an hour later in the waters of New Creek, following an intensive police search aided by the Maryland State Police helicopter.
Michael W. Nelson, 18, was being held at the Potomac Regional Jail on $4,000 bond following his arrest, flight and recapture early Friday morning.
According to Keyser City Police, Nelson had been arrested in February for operating a motorcycle without a license, and officers were recently advised that he still did not have a license.
Early Thursday evening a police officer observed Nelson driving near the courthouse, and pulled him over without incident. He was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without insurance and operating a motor vehicle with an improper registration.
While processing Nelson, police ran a records check and discovered he was also wanted in Allegany County on a theft charge. In addition, West Virginia State Police had issued a warrant for his arrest stemming from a battery charge.
Finally, during his arrest, police discovered a baggie containing a small amount of marijuana, and Nelson was additionally charged with misdemeanor possession.
(See CHASE P. 6A)
Nelson was held at the sheriff’s detention center until an evening arraignment could be held before a magistrate. That hearing occurred at 10 p.m., with the magistrate directing that Nelson be incarcerated at the Potomac Regional Jail on $4,000 bond.
While officers were escorting Nelson from the arraignment hearing, at 11:15 p.m., he fled on foot. He was not handcuffed at the time.
Police immediately called in additional Keyser officers to conduct a search, including a city K-9 unit. Also assisting was an officer from Ridgeley, who was in town for an arraignment, as well as deputies from the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department.
The Maryland State Police medevac helicopter was available, and provided assistance using both its high-beam search light and infra-red equipment.
Police located Nelson at 12:26 p.m., a little more than an hour after he fled, in the middle of New Creek near its confluence with the Potomac River. He was apprehended without incident and, upon being checked by EMS personnel for cold-exposure injuries, was transported to the regional jail, where he was still being held Friday afternoon.
