The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Police/Courts

September 22, 2008

Hitchhiker charged with beating, robbing Bolt man

Mannix Porterfield

A Beckley man found himself behind bars Monday, accused of robbing and beating a pickup truck driver who twice gave him a lift a week ago.

Beckley Detective Samuel McClure filed formal charges of first-degree robbery and unlawful wounding against Gregory Leonard Brown, 43, who was booked at Southern Regional Jail after an arraignment.

The incident began while the unidentified victim was driving along South Fayette Street and picked up Brown as he thumbed for a ride, Chief of Detectives Jeff Shumate said.

“He dropped off the hitchhiker in the Beaver area but later picked up the same hitchhiker,” Shumate said.

As the two headed back up Raleigh Hill, the officer said, Brown allegedly directed his benefactor to drive him to his residence on Booker Street, where the driver was assaulted.

“Some time had elapsed when he exited the vehicle and when he was picked up again,” Shumate explained. “He was actually walking back toward Beckley.”

The victim, a 48-year-old resident of Bolt, sustained facial abrasions and bruises but didn’t require hospitalization, Shumate said. His name wasn’t disclosed.

McClure recovered the victim’s Chevy S-10 pickup and found it intact, except an undisclosed amount of money was missing.

“The victim left the area and was unsure where the vehicle was,” Shumate said. “Detective McClure located it the next day.”

McClure canvassed stores in the Beaver area and managed to identify Brown through that process as the alleged hitchhiker, Shumate said.

“We’re still investigating whether he took the vehicle at this time,” the chief of detectives said. “We don’t believe he did.”

Shumate suggested the incident should serve as a warning about hitchhikers, especially those who appear to be stranded motorists or in some other dire circumstance.

“You have to be careful,” the detectives chief said. “If you think someone needs help, you can always contact law enforcement, and we’ll investigate to see if the person needs help.”

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com

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