By: Anna Taylor | Posted: Feb. 2, 2018 | Source: WVAH
SPENCER, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — A man in Roane County is facing multiple charges after court documents say he tried to disarm a West Virginia state trooper Friday during a welfare check on the side of the road in Spencer.
William Roy Hall is charged with obstructing, attempting to flee in a vehicle, attempting to flee on foot, attempting to disarm a police officer, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana less than 15 grams, operating a vehicle under a controlled substance and battery of a police officer.
A state trooper was driving south on Route 36 and saw a green Chevrolet pickup on the side of the road near Vandale Fork Road in Spencer, according to a criminal complaint filed in Roane County Magistrate Court. The trooper said the driver, who was later identified as Hall, appeared unresponsive and slumped over the steering wheel.
The trooper stopped to do a welfare check on the driver and approached the passenger’s side. The trooper said Hall appeared under the influence of an unknown substance because he appeared disoriented. A strong odor of marijuana was detected to be emitting from the vehicle, the trooper said in the complaint.
A rifle magazine was in the front passenger’s compartment floor board, the complaint said. The trooper asked Hall if there were any weapons inside the vehicle and Hall then began to reach under the front passenger seat, the complaint says. The trooper went to the driver’s side of the vehicle and told Hall to exit the vehicle. Hall then turned the ignition of the vehicle on and attempted to put it in drive. The trooper continued to give Hall verbal commands to exit the vehicle, but he did not respond.
The trooper then opened the driver’s side door and attempted to pull Hall out of the vehicle when Hall started hitting the trooper and attempted to exit and flee on foot.
The trooper took Hall to the ground and Hall continued to strike the trooper and attempted to pull the firearm from his gun holster, the complaint said. Hall also grabbed the trooper’s radio. The trooper eventually gained control and put Hall in handcuffs.
The trooper searched the vehicle and found a 20-pound rifle magazine, a green leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana, three pills identified as Methylin, Diazepam and Alpraziolam, which are all controlled substances.
Hall was taken to the State Police detachment in Spencer for processing and then was transported to the Central Regional Jail.
