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

Police: Man threatens to cut another person’s throat, flees through tunnel from law enforcement

Moore

BUCKHANNON – A local man has been arrested on multiple charges after allegedly violating a protective order and threatening to cut another man’s throat.

Rease Moore, 33, no address listed, was arrested for violation of a protective order, assault, brandishing a deadly weapon and fleeing on foot – all of which are misdemeanors – on Tuesday, April 30.

According to a criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Lt. Mark Davis with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, on Jan. 28, 2019, Moore was placed on unsupervised probation for a period of one year by Magistrate Kay Hurst.

The court ordered Moore to have no contact, direct or indirect, with the victim involved in the case. This unsupervised probation document was signed and acknowledged by Moore.

However, on April 18, and again on April 30, Moore was allegedly at a residence on Wabash Avenue where he had contact with the victim, which is a violation of his unsupervised probation, the complaint states.

On April 18, Moore allegedly entered the residence after being told not to and went down the hallway with a knife in his hand. The file states that he then proceeded into the bedroom of the victim, who was in the room with another individual, Michael Wagner.

According to the complaint, Moore allegedly threatened to cut Wagner’s throat if he didn’t leave the residence. Wagner got his stuff together and left the residence; however, Moore remained, arguing with the victim and causing damage to the property, Davis’ report states.

Moore allegedly broke a window and struck the kitchen stove with a blunt object, leaving dents, and then turned over the furniture inside the residence.

Then, more than a week later, Moore returned to the Wabash Avenue residence, according to a separate criminal complaint filed by Patrolman Tanner Collins with the Buckhannon Police Department.

According to Collins’ report in the magistrate clerk’s office, on April 30 a county law enforcement unit was dispatched to Wabash Avenue. When the county unit was unable to respond, Collins and another officer were near Buffalo Wild Wings, so they responded to the home.

Collins’ report says that upon arriving at the scene, Moore was not there, having already left on foot.

“Rease had entered a tunnel that led from the city to the county,” Collins wrote in the report. “I followed his tracks, and once I exited the tunnel, I heard him up in front of me … I immediately told him to stop.”

Collins then reportedly heard “a loud splash.” The officer ran up and noticed Moore splashing around in the water. Collins assisted Moore out of the water; however, Moore did not comply with Collins’s orders and attempted to pull away from him, the file says.

Collins was able to get both of his hands behind his back and placed him under arrest for fleeing on foot.

Magistrate Kay Hurst set bond at $5,000 for fleeing on foot, $10,000 for violation of a protective order, $10,000 for assault and $10,000 for brandishing a deadly weapon.

If convicted of fleeing on foot, Moore faces a fine of $50 to $500 and or confinement in jail not more than one year.

Should he be found guilty of violating a protective order, he could be confined in jail not less than one day nor more than one year and face a fine of $250 to $2,000.

The penalty for a conviction of assault is imprisonment in jail for a term of up to six months or a fine of up to $100. Being convicted of brandishing a deadly weapon would mean Moore would face a penalty of confinement in jail for not less than 90 days nor more than one year and a fine ranging between $50 to $1,000.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Summer basketball league begins week two

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League entered its second week with standout performances from top scorers including Cory Harper, Dalton Hamrick, Cordell Nicola, and Vinny Snuffer leading their teams across multiple games.

Buckhannon City Council Special Meeting Agenda: July 15, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council has released the agenda for its special meeting scheduled for July 15, 2025.

BCT to light up the stage with Mamma Mia starting this weekend

Buckhannon Community Theatre will present the musical Mamma Mia! at the Colonial Arts Center starting July 12, featuring ABBA hits, lively performances, and a cast assembled from across the region.

St. Joseph’s Hospital supports healthy habits with mile-long midday walks

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital has launched a noon walk initiative, inviting staff and community members to join daily one-mile walks to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes.

John Paul Ingram

John Paul Ingram, 83, a beloved Buckhannon resident, ordained minister, and avid outdoorsman who shared his faith and kindness with many, died July 6, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Wesleyan finishes seventh in MEC Commissioners Cup standings

West Virginia Wesleyan finished seventh in the 2024-25 Mountain East Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings, while the University of Charleston captured its eighth consecutive and tenth overall title for all-around athletic excellence.
Summer basketball

Summer basketball league wraps up week one

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League completed its first week at West Virginia Wesleyan College, featuring high-scoring performances from Dalton Hamrick, Cooper Sanders, Derek Sevier, Manadji Tokindang, and Austin Upton.
BUHS Girls Soccer Feature Image

Kelley calls soccer camp a success, has sights on leading B-U girls program to new heights

Logan Kelley, newly named head coach of the Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc soccer team, helped oversee a successful youth camp and aims to bring stability and new achievements to the girls program.

Wesleyan professor collecting first-hand accounts, photos to commemorate 1985 flood

A West Virginia Wesleyan College professor and librarian are collecting first-hand stories and photos from the 1985 flood to create an anniversary exhibit preserving campus and community memories of the disaster.