Man arrested on five felony charges related to possession, use of explosives

SELBYVILLE – A Buckhannon man was arrested on five felony charges Monday when police allegedly found explosive devices in his vehicle after he was reportedly involved in a verbal altercation with a family in Selbyville.

William Clark, 62, was arrested for three counts of illegal possession of destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices; one count of criminal use of destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices; and one count of wanton endangerment involving destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices, all felonies.

According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Deputy Tyler Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, on Monday, March 9, Gordon responded to a call for service regarding threats.

An Upshur County Comm Center E911 dispatcher who fielded the call told Gordon they had heard a sound “similar to gunshots” in the background during the call. The dispatcher said the caller stated that a male named William “Bill” Clark had just left a Selbyville residence – where the caller was phoning from – in a green-colored Ford truck and was driving on the Selbyville Road, possibly heading to Abbott Road.

Gordon passed the vehicle traveling north on Route 20 near the Dollar General in French Creek. According to the report, Deputy Joseph Barcus, also with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, was stationed in his vehicle near Clark’s residence on Abbott Road.

Gordon told Barcus that Clark’s vehicle had just passed him and was heading toward the Abbott Road, where Barcus was waiting in his cruiser. According to the report, Barcus then spotted the vehicle traveling west on the Abbott Road and initiated a traffic stop.

Gordon arrived on scene at the Selbyville Road to speak with the original caller. According to the report, the female caller and three other household members told Gordon that Clark and his family had been in a verbal altercation with them throughout the evening, and they heard a loud “boom” outside the house.

All household members told police that Clark was at the Selbyville Road residence arguing with one of the residents and attempting to coax that person out of the house, the file says. According to Gordon’s report, witnesses stated they allegedly heard Clark yell, “If you’re not coming out, I got something for ya” – just minutes before hearing a boom.

During the course of his investigation, Gordon saw a disturbed area of dirt and located large pieces of metal shrapnel scattered across the yard, according to the report. Gordon took video statements from all four residents on the Selbyville Road.

In addition, Barcus discovered two more pipes identical to the one found on scene inside the vehicle belonging to Clark at the time of the traffic stop, the file says. Gordon later arrived on scene of the traffic stop and located a long-necked lighter and a box containing substances believed to be fireworks explosives and fuses, the report states.

Bail was set at $100,000.

Clark faces confinement for not less than one nor more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $5,000 or both on each count if convicted of illegal possession of destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices.

He also faces confinement for not less than two nor more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $10,000 or both for criminal use of destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices if convicted.

If convicted on the wanton endangerment involving destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices charge, he faces a penalty of imprisonment for not less than two nor more than 10 years, a fine of not more than $10,000 or both.