The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 29, 2013

Two arrested in Fayette for alleged break-ins

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter

Two Fayette County men have been arrested for breaking and entering into a local business, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.

Raymond Heath Shockey, 30, of Fayetteville, and Michael Ray Cooley, 27, also of Fayetteville, were both arrested and charged with a single count of breaking and entering.

Cooley was arraigned in Fayette County Magistrate Court and released on $10,000 bond. Shockey was committed to Southern Regional Jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

Police say additional charges may be filed against these two individuals in the future.

Shockey was on probation for an earlier incident of breaking and entering, also at Ball’s Grocery, at the time of his most recent arrest.

Police say just before 1 a.m. Saturday, the Fayette County 911 Center received notification of an alarm sounding at Ball’s Grocery on W.Va. 16 just outside Fayetteville.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies found that someone had used a hammer to break the glass door of the business and gained entry inside.

The suspects stole several cartons of cigarettes and attempted, unsuccessfully, to pry open an ATM located inside the business, police said.

Police were able to obtain surveillance video and discovered that two male perpetrators were involved.

The store owner viewed the footage and was able to tentatively identify the suspects.

Deputies located Shockey and Cooley, questioned them, and gathered sufficient evidence to file criminal charges.

This incident remains under investigation by Deputies N.D. Hall and L.A. Clay of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

“The quick arrest in this case would not have been possible without the active assistance of the owner and employees of Ball’s Grocery,” Sheriff Steve Kessler said.

“Even though the perpetrators were masked, the employees were familiar enough with these individuals to recognize their builds and mannerisms to permit them to make a tentative identification of the subjects. This provided enough information for the deputies to follow up by questioning these two suspects and gathering enough information to make an arrest in connection with this incident.”

— E-mail:wholdren@register-herald.com

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