BUCKHANNON – A Buckhannon man was arrested after allegedly fleeing from police on an ATV Saturday. He also faces violations from an incident in June in which he allegedly wrecked his motorcycle.
Larry Gregory, 57, of Buckhannon was arrested for fleeing with reckless indifference, driving while license suspended, no proof of insurance and improper registration.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer deputy Dakota Linger with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 23, 2023, Linger was running traffic on Brushy Fork Road and noticed a King Quad ATV traveling north on the road without taillights. Linger pulled behind the ATV and followed it for approximately a half mile.
The ATV was traveling approximately 40 MPH in the middle of the road, the complaint alleges. Linger turned on his lights and sirens in attempt to pull the ATV over, but the vehicle allegedly continued north on Brushy Fork Road at the same speed, coming to the intersection at 33.
The ATV then swerved around a vehicle and went through the red light, crossing Route 33 over onto the Old Weston Road, running a stop sign, Linger wrote in the complaint. The ATV turned left, traveling west, and going completely in the opposite lane. Lt. Marshall Powers tried to cut the ATV off, but the vehicle swerved around his cruiser and continued down the Old Weston Road, according to the complaint.
The officers tried to box in the ATV, but it kept swerving side to side and allegedly almost hit an oncoming vehicle as it continued west on the Old Weston Road, merging onto Buckhannon Mountain Road and crossing over into Lewis County for approximately 1.5 miles.
“The ATV tried to run through a closed gate that veered off to the left,” Linger wrote in the complaint. “After smashing through the gate, he lost control of the ATV and about flipped, causing the individual to fly off… The defendant got up and took off running at the same time this officer got out of the vehicle and started to chase him. This officer caught up to Gregory and tackled him over a steep hill bank.”
Linger started to wrestle Gregory, trying to place him into custody, when Powers caught up and helped place Gregory under arrest, according to the complaint.
Linger conducted a pat down and allegedly found a clear container with methamphetamine inside. He then then transported Gregory to St. Joseph’s Hospital to get medically cleared.
In a separate incident, Gregory faces several violations after wrecking his motorcycle in June.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer trooper first class P.J. Robinette with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at approximately 5:22 p.m., Cpl. F. J. Turansky and Robinette responded to Hackers Creek Road in reference to a single vehicle crash involving a motorcycle.
Upon arrival, the officers were informed the driver of the motorcycle had been transported by EMS due to injuries. Robinette reported than an orange 201 Suzuki appeared to have been driven off the left side of the roadway and collided with a tree.
Robinette checked the registration displayed on the vehicle, which allegedly returned belonging on a 2011 Honda motorcycle.
Robinette then contacted the individual who had found the driver of the motorcycle lying along the roadway and called 911. The witness showed officers a picture he took of the male and the officers recognized him as Gregory.
Robinette was familiar with Gregory due to his status as a lifetime sex offender, as well as arresting him multiple times, according to the complaint. Gregory was bleeding heavily from his head as a result of being thrown from the motorcycle.
Once the motorcycle was being towed, Robinette attempted to find a proof of insurance to no avail. Robinette then discovered Gregory allegedly had a suspended operators with an effective date of April 19, 2023.
Gregory was charged with driving suspended, improper registration, and no proof of insurance.
Bail was set at $25,000 cash only by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis.
The potential penalty for fleeing with reckless indifference is a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 and confinement in a state correctional facility not less than one nor more than five years. The potential penalty for driving while license suspended or revoked is a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500. The potential penalty for improper registration is a fine of not more than $500, confinement for not more than six months, or both. The potential penalty for no proof of insurance is a fine of less than $200 nor more than $5,000.
