BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on an outstanding capias warrant Friday after he was allegedly found appearing ‘suspicious’ on the Hodgesville Elementary School playground.
According to a press release issued Wednesday by Upshur County Sheriff Mike Coffman, on Friday, December 8, 2023, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office was alerted by school officials at Hodgesville Elementary School of a suspicious male subject in the playground area of the school.
Immediately, Sheriff J. Michael Coffman sent all available resources to the area to locate the subject, according to the release.
In coordination with the Upshur County Schools Central Office, a deputy was placed at the school for the day until the situation was resolved. Through the help of community members and investigative efforts, the subject was identified as Kenneth Cole Karickhoff, who was wanted for a capias warrant in Upshur County.
Later that afternoon, Karickhoff was located and arrested. He is currently incarcerated in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $30,000 cash-only bail out of Upshur County and a $5,000 cash or surety bail out of Lewis County, according to the West Virginia Division of Corrections & Rehabilitation website.
Additionally, Shaylyn Cherelle Karickhoff and Justin K. Knicley were arrested on charges of obstructing. The incident is still under investigation, and additional charges may be pending, the press release concludes.
