On June 3, 2014 Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a series of incidents on Blue Creek road culminating in an arrest of Brandon Weese for wanton endangerment.
The chain of events began earlier in the morning when Deputy W. S. Hunter responded to a child custody dispute on Blue Creek Road. The Deputy told a family member a court order must be amended to resolve the custody dispute. The order was amended later in the morning, and the mother was awarded custody. When a Deputy Sheriff served that court order, the respondent, Brandon Tyler Weese (28 of Blue Creek, WV), was also served with a domestic violence protective order.
That separate order was obtained by his father. They were told his father was also seeking a mental hygiene petition. In addition to other reasons, Mr. Weese’s father sought the mental hygiene petition because his son had threatened to commit suicide-by-cop, wherein he would threaten with or use deadly force against law enforcement officers until they killed him.
The domestic violence order was brought by another Deputy to Corporal L. A. Grace. Cpl. Grace served the protective order and allowed Mr. Weese to gather some belongings before he left. Mr. Weese owned several firearms which he was not permitted to take with him. He left on foot.
Cpl. Grace stayed at the residence until Mr. Weese had been out of sight for a while. He then left. A moment later Metro 911 received a call from Mr. Weese’s mother stating he had returned in violation of the protective order, and was outside the residence.
Cpl. Grace returned to the house. He was initially told Mr. Weese was outside, but Cpl. Grace could not find him. Cpl. Grace was unable to communicate with Metro 911 using his handheld radio. He missed broadcasts from Metro 911 attempting to inform him Mr. Weese was inside the house and now armed with a rifle and pistol.
Cpl. Grace went to the front door of the residence. The door opened and Mr. Weese was there with an AR-15 rifle slung across his shoulder. He also had a .40 caliber pistol holstered and strapped to his leg. Mr. Weese backed up and retreated to the kitchen. Cpl. Grace chased him. Mr. Weese turned in the kitchen and pointed the rifle at Cpl. Grace. Cpl. Grace grabbed the rifle barrel and forced Mr. Weese against a wall. Cpl. Grace used his Taser on Mr. Weese, disarmed him of the rifle, put Mr. Weese on the ground, and handcuffed him.
The rifle held by Mr. Weese was loaded with two 30-round magazines coupled to one another. He also had a tactical vest with three additional magazines for the rifle and three magazines for his pistol. His .40 caliber pistol was also loaded. Mr. Weese also had on a backpack with ten more magazines for the rifle. He also had one can of food. He had also changed clothes into military camouflage fatigues before Corporal Grace returned.
Attached is a photo showing the items on Mr. Weese’ person at the time of his arrest. Items were removed from his backpack and vest, and the weapons were unloaded when the photo was taken. A mugshot taken during his arrest is also included.
Mr. Weese has been charged with wanton endangerment, a felony. As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Weese are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Corporal B. D. Humphreys
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
301 Virginia Street East,
Charleston WV 25301
desk: 304-357-0732 / cell: 304-951-7328
Follow us on Twitter: @kanawhasheriff
www.kanawhasheriff.us
