On March 7, 2008 Deputy Chad Ashton, of the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office was stopped in a line of
westbound traffic at the three lanes east of Romney due to a tractor and trailer being stuck and blocking part of Rt.
50. Romney Volunteer Fire Department Members were directing traffic and had the westbound lane of traffic
stopped. Deputy Ashton then observed a Ford Pickup truck pull out of the westbound lane of traffic and begin
passing the line of traffic in the no passing zone. The fire fighter flagging traffic attempted to get the vehicle
stopped and the driver of the vehicle ignored the flagman nearly striking the fire fighter with his vehicle and
continued past the fire fighter. Deputy Ashton at that point began to pursue after the vehicle.
When Deputy Ashton activated his emergency lights and siren, the pickup truck sped up and began attempting to
flee from Deputy Ashton. Sr. Deputy Roger Real, of Mineral County, was traveling through Hampshire County
conducting a prisoner transport and joined in the pursuit to provide assistance to Deputy Ashton. The pursuit
continued west on Rt. 50. Deputy Ashton and Deputy Real attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle by doing a rolling
road block near Shaffer’s Funeral Home. Chief Deputy John Alkire and Deputy Dave Feather heard the radio traffic
of Deputy Ashton. Chief Deputy Alkire and Deputy Feather also attempted to set up a road block to stop the fleeing
vehicle at the intersection of Rt. 50 and Antigo Place in Romney. The fleeing vehicle began to slow down as if it
was going to stop for Deputy Ashton and Deputy Real. Chief Deputy Alkire and Deputy Feather then began to
approach the vehicle on foot to assist with the traffic stop and the driver of the suspect vehicle then accelerated
the vehicle and began driving towards Chief Deputy Alkire and Deputy Feather at a high rate of speed. Deputies
were verbally and with their hands commanding the suspect driver to stop as they were attempting to get out of the
fleeing vehicle’s path. When deputies realized that the fleeing vehicle was not going to stop and that they were not
going to be able to get out of the path of the fleeing vehicle they fired two shots at the vehicle in an attempt to get
the truck stopped. One shot hit the driver’s side of the windshield and one shot hit the driver’s side front fender.
After the deputies fired the shots the driver turned the vehicle to the right nearly missing the deputies and drove
through some residential yards. Deputies continued to pursue the suspect vehicle. The vehicle turned down Antigo
Place and Deputy Ashton then pitted the fleeing vehicle in another attempt to stop the vehicle. After the vehicle
was pitted the driver regained control of the vehicle and then continued traveling through another residential yard
and the pursuit then went onto Rosemary Lane and then onto Rt. 28 north. The fleeing vehicle then turned onto
Parsons Ave. and drove to the end of this street and was blocked in by deputies. The driver was then taken into
custody without incident. The suspect driver received minor cuts from broken glass. The driver’s name is being
withheld at this time due to a pending mental Hygiene hearing. The driver was a 44 year old Romney man.
westbound traffic at the three lanes east of Romney due to a tractor and trailer being stuck and blocking part of Rt.
50. Romney Volunteer Fire Department Members were directing traffic and had the westbound lane of traffic
stopped. Deputy Ashton then observed a Ford Pickup truck pull out of the westbound lane of traffic and begin
passing the line of traffic in the no passing zone. The fire fighter flagging traffic attempted to get the vehicle
stopped and the driver of the vehicle ignored the flagman nearly striking the fire fighter with his vehicle and
continued past the fire fighter. Deputy Ashton at that point began to pursue after the vehicle.
When Deputy Ashton activated his emergency lights and siren, the pickup truck sped up and began attempting to
flee from Deputy Ashton. Sr. Deputy Roger Real, of Mineral County, was traveling through Hampshire County
conducting a prisoner transport and joined in the pursuit to provide assistance to Deputy Ashton. The pursuit
continued west on Rt. 50. Deputy Ashton and Deputy Real attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle by doing a rolling
road block near Shaffer’s Funeral Home. Chief Deputy John Alkire and Deputy Dave Feather heard the radio traffic
of Deputy Ashton. Chief Deputy Alkire and Deputy Feather also attempted to set up a road block to stop the fleeing
vehicle at the intersection of Rt. 50 and Antigo Place in Romney. The fleeing vehicle began to slow down as if it
was going to stop for Deputy Ashton and Deputy Real. Chief Deputy Alkire and Deputy Feather then began to
approach the vehicle on foot to assist with the traffic stop and the driver of the suspect vehicle then accelerated
the vehicle and began driving towards Chief Deputy Alkire and Deputy Feather at a high rate of speed. Deputies
were verbally and with their hands commanding the suspect driver to stop as they were attempting to get out of the
fleeing vehicle’s path. When deputies realized that the fleeing vehicle was not going to stop and that they were not
going to be able to get out of the path of the fleeing vehicle they fired two shots at the vehicle in an attempt to get
the truck stopped. One shot hit the driver’s side of the windshield and one shot hit the driver’s side front fender.
After the deputies fired the shots the driver turned the vehicle to the right nearly missing the deputies and drove
through some residential yards. Deputies continued to pursue the suspect vehicle. The vehicle turned down Antigo
Place and Deputy Ashton then pitted the fleeing vehicle in another attempt to stop the vehicle. After the vehicle
was pitted the driver regained control of the vehicle and then continued traveling through another residential yard
and the pursuit then went onto Rosemary Lane and then onto Rt. 28 north. The fleeing vehicle then turned onto
Parsons Ave. and drove to the end of this street and was blocked in by deputies. The driver was then taken into
custody without incident. The suspect driver received minor cuts from broken glass. The driver’s name is being
withheld at this time due to a pending mental Hygiene hearing. The driver was a 44 year old Romney man.
| Pursuit With Shots Fired In Romney |
