BUCKHANNON – An Upshur County man was arrested for allegedly attempting to enter an apartment by force.
Michael Hinchman, 38, of Buckhannon, was arrested for attempted burglary, a felony; possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and destruction of property, also a misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint in the Upshur County Magistrate Clerk’s Office filed by Trooper M.J. Colon with the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Wednesday, June 15, at approximately 8:20 a.m., Colon and Cpl. B.K. Wright, also with the WVSP, received a 911 call from the E911 Upshur County Communications Center regarding a burglary attempt at a home in Valley Green.
At approximately 8:40 a.m., Colon and Wright arrived on scene and searched for a suspect wearing khaki-colored clothes and a black bandana on his head. Colon and Wright then interviewed the caller regarding the incident, and she showed the police officers three videos she had made with her phone.
The videos showed the suspect wearing khaki clothes and a dark hoodie while allegedly entering the residence across from the caller’s residence, according to the police report.
Sometime after, Upshur County Sheriff’s Deputy Theron Caynor made a radio call to the Upshur County Comm Center stating he had located a probable suspect wearing khaki clothes. Colon and Wright then located the suspect, who was positively identified as Hinchman.
Colon then started questioning and patting Hinchman down regarding the incident, and Hinchman allegedly admitted he was the one in the video and had been at the residence the night prior. Hinchman reportedly told police he had taken a shower in that same residence the night before after the occupants reportedly opened the door to let him in, the file states.
According to the report, police also allegedly found one gram of methamphetamine on Hinchman’s person, which he reportedly said belonged to him. The substance was tested by Wright and was confirmed to be methamphetamine.
Hinchman was detained for further investigation while Colon and Wright traveled to the office of Valley Green to speak to the manager and find the phone number for the person who lived in the home Hinchman allegedly tried to break into.
The owner of the residence told police that Hinchman was her cousin, but he was never authorized to be in that residence, and she wanted to press charges regarding the expense of the broken door deadbolt valued at $30. Colon then questioned her about whether Hinchman was in her residence the night before, as Hinchman had stated. The owner of the residence replied that he was not in that residence, and no one had been home, the file says.
Bail was set at $20,000 cash or surety by Upshur County Magistrate Mark Davis.
The penalty for the felony attempted burglary is confinement in the state penitentiary for not less than one, nor more than three years, or confinement in jail for not less than six nor more than 12 months, and a fine not exceeding $500.
