The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

September 4, 2009

Police arrest Ohio fugitive who allegedly fled accident scene

By Amelia A. Pridemore

Beckley police credited tips from the public with aiding in the arrest of an automotive dealership employee and Ohio fugitive they say recklessly drove an employer’s truck and left an accident scene.

Mark Felton, 35, whose last known address was in Pax, was charged with reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injury and driving with a suspended license, Sgt. S.D. Webb said. Felton also has two fugitive from justice warrants from Ohio.

Felton was arrested without incident Thursday night on North Sandbranch Road in Bradley, Webb said. State Police Cpl. G.D. Williams and Webb took Felton into custody without incident. Felton was being held at Southern Regional Jail, awaiting an extradition hearing.

Webb said Felton was driving a truck from Ramey Automotive’s lot in Prosperity to Ramey’s Eisenhower Drive location for service Wednesday when, according to witnesses, he drove “recklessly” and “erratically” and slammed on his brakes for no apparent reason.

A woman driving a car hit the pickup truck in the rear. Felton fled the scene, passing several vehicles on the wrong side of the road and driving through the Ramey lot on Eisenhower, Webb said.

Felton contacted the Prosperity lot’s manager, saying his driver’s license was suspended for non-payment of child support, Webb said. He also told his boss he was fleeing to Ohio.

The Dodge Ram was later recovered.

The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital, Webb said.

Webb said police received numerous tips about Felton’s whereabouts and thanked citizens who called both police and Crime Stoppers.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com

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