BUCKHANNON – A Lewis County woman was arrested after allegedly repeatedly hitting another vehicle with her pick-up truck, an incident that reportedly took place more than a year ago.
Christa Chipps, 43, of Horner, was arrested for felony destruction of property on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Trooper J.S. Tonkin with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Sept. 22, 2019, Tonkin responded to a destruction of property complaint in French Creek and spoke to a man who said he was in an argument with his girlfriend, Chipps, when she allegedly struck a 1999 Subaru Impreza multiple times in front of his residence.
The file says the vehicle had heavy rear-end damage consistent with being struck by another vehicle. Witnesses said Chipps allegedly struck the vehicle with her pick-up truck and fled towards her home in Pickens.
About a month later, on Oct. 28, 2019 Tonkin met with a woman who said the vehicle allegedly struck by Chipps was hers. The victim said the insurance company “totaled” the vehicle with damage estimated at approximately $3,000.
Bail was set at $5,000, and as of Friday, Chipps was not listed on the West Virginia Jail Authority’s website as being incarcerated.
The potential penalty for felony destruction of property is confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than 10 years or, in the discretion of the court, confinement in jail for up to one year and a fine of not more than $2,500.
