All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Police: Man drags wife across yard, shoots at vehicle of man who attempts to intervene

ROCK CAVE – A man was arrested on several charges after he allegedly dragged a woman across a yard and then fired a handgun at a vehicle being driven by another man who had tried to intervene in the domestic altercation.

Phillip Pulliam, 30, of Copen, W.Va. was arrested Thursday, May 16, for domestic battery, a misdemeanor; brandishing a deadly weapon, a misdemeanor; and wanton endangerment involving a firearm, a felony.

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, Gordon and Cpl. Theron Caynor responded to a 911 call at a residence on New Hope Road.

When the officers arrived on scene, Gordon spoke with the victim of the domestic altercation, who said she was dragged across the yard by Pulliam. The report says two independent witnesses observed Pulliam dragging the victim by the sweatshirt.

Gordon said Brian Chidester saw the altercation and tried to intervene by telling Pulliam “to cut it out.”

Pulliam allegedly fired a Rock Island .45-caliber handgun at Chidester’s vehicle, the report states.

Another adult, Nicky Bailey, and a three-year-old child were inside the vehicle, according to the report. The vehicle was struck by one round of discharged ammunition.

“The … events occurred after Chidester intervened in a domestic violence situation between the defendant and his wife,” Gordon wrote in the report.

The file says several nearby residents heard the gunshot, and Gordon was able to locate one spent round and one unspent round of .45-caliber ammunition.

Pulliam’s bail was set at $175,000.

If convicted, Pulliam faces confinement of not more than 12 months or a fine of not more than $500 for the domestic battery charge. Pulliam faces confinement of not less than 90 days and not more than a year, a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000, or both on the brandishing a deadly weapon charge.

If convicted of wanton endangerment involving a firearm, Pulliam faces confinement of not less than one year and not more than five years, or, in the discretion of the court, not more than one year in the county jail, a fine ranging between $250 and $2,500 or both.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County Commission partners with development authority, eyes $550k in grants for proposed rec hub

The Upshur County Commission partnered with the Development Authority and authorized applications for $550,000 in grants, as well as a joint property transfer, to support construction of the proposed John C. Allen Regional Hub recreation complex.

High Point Construction takes over lead in men’s golf league

High Point Construction took the top spot in the Buckhannon Country Club Bob Cupp Memorial Golf League after defeating Sam’s Pizza, while Highland Landscaping and Feola’s Flowers tied for second place.

Task force arrests three for selling Delta 8 to people under age 21, issues four additional warrants

After a year-long investigation, the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested multiple individuals and issued warrants in Upshur County for allegedly selling Delta 8 THC products to individuals under 21.

ATV crash kills 65-year-old woman in Upshur County

Patricia L. Campbell, 65, of Ohio, died after being ejected from an ATV rollover crash in Upshur County on July 4; the investigation continues.

Willard Hampton Rice, Jr.

Willard Hampton Rice, Jr., 84, of Sandusky, a retired Ford Motor Company employee who enjoyed hunting and spending time with family, passed away July 3 and is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for July 2, 2025

This week in Buckhannon, local organizations plan events and clinics — including a big July 4th celebration — and several community initiatives aim to engage residents of all ages.

Emergency agencies stress need for coordinated incident plans during large events with road closures

Emergency officials emphasized the need for incident action plans and coordination with public safety agencies for large events that close major streets, citing upcoming car shows and other street-closure events to ensure fast, safe emergency responses.
BUHS Sports

B-U now in Class AAAA in all sports; moved to new South Region after WVSSAC restructuring

Buckhannon-Upshur High School will compete in Class AAAA — the highest division — for all sports and has been moved to the new South Region under a two-year realignment by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

Stockert Youth and Community Center Board Meeting Agenda: July 3, 2025

The Stockert Youth and Community Center Board will meet July 3, 2025, with an agenda set to discuss organizational matters and upcoming events.