BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested last week after allegedly fleeing on a motorcycle from a law enforcement officer while possessing more than $1,300 of methamphetamine and marijuana.
Joshua D. Casada, 36, of French Creek, was arrested for fleeing with reckless indifference to public safety; possession with intent to deliver marijuana; and possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, all felonies.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Deputy Seth Cutright with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, at about 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23, Cutright spotted a red Suzuki motorcycle traveling on the Vicksburg Road. Because the vehicle’s license plate lights were defective, Cutright attempted to make a traffic stop due to defective equipment.
However, the file says Casada did not comply and allegedly failed to pull over the motorcycle over, despite Cutright having activated his emergency lights and sirens. According to the report, while driving on the Vicksburg Road, Casada crossed the center line multiple times, and Cutright noted that while he was pursuing Casada, he and Casada were traveling “in excess of 70 mph in a 25-mile-per-hour zone.”
Casada then turned right onto Morgan Addition Road while allegedly driving at a speed greater than 50 mph on a one-lane road, the file says. When Casada came to a dead end on Morgan Addition Road, he attempted to drive through a yard before wrecking the motorcycle, the complaint says.
Casada then allegedly fled on foot.
After apprehending Casada, Lt. Marshall Powers, also with Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of the motorcycle and located a green Crown Royal bag under the back seat. The bag allegedly contained one small plastic bag of methamphetamine that amounted to approximately 14.46 grams; one smaller plastic bag of methamphetamine weighing about 3.75 grams; and one bag of marijuana that was approximately 2.1 grams.
The Crown Royal bag also allegedly held a scale; a small plastic bag containing multiple other small plastic bags commonly used for the manufacturing and delivery of controlled substances; and $1,329 in cash, according to the report.
Bail was set at $50,000 cash only, and Casada remained in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail as of Tuesday, June 29.
The penalty for a conviction of fleeing with reckless indifference is confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years and a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000. Additionally, the penalty for both drug-related charges – possession with intent to deliver meth and possession with intent to deliver marijuana – is imprisonment in the penitentiary for one to five years, a fine of up to $15,000 or both.
According to documents filed in Upshur County Circuit Court, Casada was also arrested May 20, 2021, for fleeing with reckless indifference when Upshur County Sheriff’s Deputy Cole Bender attempted to pull him over for a loud exhaust, and Casada allegedly drove away at a high rate of speed.
