Wytheville WV Mar 10 2009
Some people apparently just can’t resist shoplifting at the Wytheville Walmart.
A second trip to the local store resulted in multiple charges against a West Virginia shoplifting ring and the recovery of thousands of dollars of high end electronics, a stash of drugs and large amounts of cash.
According to Chief Deputy Keith Dunagan of the Wythe County Sheriff’s Office, investigators were called to the Wytheville Walmart early Thursday afternoon.
They were told by employees that while viewing security tapes from Feb. 28 they had observed individuals shoplifting electronics.Investigators were asked to look at the tapes to see if they recognized any of the suspects in the video.
They were unable to identify any of the men.Approximately an hour later, Dunagan said, investigators received another call from the Walmart security team telling them the suspects were back in the store. They also were told the suspects were working the same scam as they had done in February.Walmart security and the Sheriff’s Office officers took two of the suspects into custody and recovered approximately $1,700 worth of electronics stolen from Walmart. Officers also located a third man in the getaway vehicle and took him into custody.A follow up investigation, Dunagan stated, led investigators from the Sheriff’s Office and Walmart security to seek assistance from the West Virginia State Police in obtaining a search warrant of a residence in Pax, W.Va.
The chief deputy reported the execution of the search warrant on Timothy A. Bowyer’s residence resulted in the seizure of three and a half kilos of cocaine, four pounds of marijuana, $66,000 in cash and approximately $100,000 worth of Walmart property from stores in Virginia and West Virginia.
A Chevy model pickup truck was confiscated, too, Dunagan said.Arrested and charged in Wythe County as a result of the investigation were: Sidney Ballard Williams, 33,n of Scarboro, W.Va.
He is charged with two counts of conspiracy to sell stolen property, two counts of larceny with intent to sell, conspiracy to conceal stolen goods and larceny with intent to sell. Brandon Roy Dickens, 22, ofn Pax, W.Va. He is charged with shoplifting, conspiracy to commit shoplifting, conspiracy to sell stolen property and larceny with intent to sell. Johnn Daniel Shifflet, 20, of Fayetteville, W.Va.
He faces charges in the Feb. 28 crime of conspiracy to shoplift, shoplifting, larceny with intent to sell and conspiracy to commit larceny. He was arrested Friday afternoon in West Virginia and waived extradition to Wythe County.Dunagan reported Bowyer is being held at the Southern Regional Jail in Beckley, W.Va.
He was unable to determine the charges against Bowyer.Charges against the driver of the getaway car, the chief deputy stated, are pending.
