BUCKHANNON – A Flatwoods man was arrested for allegedly ingesting methamphetamine and then failing to pick up his children from a skating party in Upshur County. 

Dustan Culverhouse, 38, of Flatwoods, was arrested Saturday for child neglect creating a risk of serious injury.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office, officers from the Buckhannon Police Department responded to Dollar General to investigate an unresponsive/unconscious subject on Saturday afternoon.

Upon arriving, officer Angel McCauley saw that Culverhouse was out of his vehicle with Upshur County EMS, who were attempting to wake him. After he woke and refused to go to the hospital, McCauley performed a search that allegedly revealed a bag of methamphetamine, and Culverhouse then admitted a second bag was in the center console of his vehicle, according to the complaint. The total amount of methamphetamine was 5.2 grams.

While this was occurring, two of Culverhouse’s children were at a Skateland for a birthday party, the complaint says.

“While speaking with 911 caller who advised that Dustan had failed to show up to pick up his children, law enforcement was advised that Dustan did not seem impaired while he was at the party but did ask to leave and stated he would return at [3 p.m.] to get his kids,” the complaint states. “During this time, Dustan was located at Dollar General and appeared to have just ingested methamphetamine, causing him to go unresponsive instead of picking up his children, knowing he had to bring them back to Braxton County by driving.”

Sgt. Marshall O’Connor with the Buckhannon Police Department is the investigating officer. Bail was set at $25,000 cash or surety by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis.

The potential penalty for child neglect creating a risk of serious injury is confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000, or both.