BUCKHANNON – A Weston man was arrested after fleeing from a traffic stop and almost hitting several vehicles — including police cruisers — in the process.
Shana McCoy, 30, of Weston, was arrested for fleeing with reckless indifference and fleeing while DUI.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by investigating officer Cpl. Tyler Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, on Sept. 3, 2023, Gordon was made aware of a stolen vehicle report from members of the West Virginia State Police in Lewis County. Gordon was provided the description and registration of the stolen vehicle, a 2018 white Toyota Rav 4.
Gordon located the vehicle on Buckhannon Crossroads, near Walmart in Upshur County, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on that vehicle near the intersection of US Route 33 and WV Route 20. The driver, later identified as McCoy, allegedly fled from law enforcement at high speeds on Liggett Addition Road, by which time Gordon activated the lights and emergency siren on his patrol vehicle.
According to the report, McCoy fled at speeds exceeding 75 miles an hour on Liggett Addition, driving erratically in both lanes of travel, and running a stop sign. He allegedly continued to flee onto the Old Weston Road at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, again driving on both sides of the roadway, passing and nearly striking numerous innocent motorists, including Sgt. Rich of the WVSP.
McCoy continued onto US Route 33 west into Lewis County, nearly striking Officer Angel McCauley of the Buckhannon Police Department and other motorists while traveling at speeds exceeding 115 miles per hour and driving all over the roadway, the complaint states.
After being stopped, McCoy was arrested and searched. According to the file, Gordon located methamphetamine in McCoy’s pocket, numerous pieces of THC smoking paraphernalia and THC vape cartridges.
“The defendant spontaneously uttered, ‘I just wanted to see my wife… I’m just high man,'” Gordon wrote in the complaint.
McCoy participated in field sobriety tests, showing numerous signs of impairment, the complaint notes. His speech was slurred, his eyes were droopy and bloodshot, and he was unsteady standing on his feet.
“Upon returning to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, the defendant was advised his Miranda Rights and subsequently admitted to being under the influence of ‘weed’ or THC and using methamphetamine within the past 12-18 hours,” Gordon wrote in the complaint.
Bail was set at $80,250.
The potential penalty for fleeing with reckless indifference is a fine of not less than $1,000, nor more than $2,000, and confinement for not less than one nor more than five years in prison. The potential penalty for fleeing while DUI is confinement of not less than three nor more than 10 years in prison.
