On the morning of Sunday, October 26, 2014 Metro 911 dispatched Deputy J. W. Eary of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office to meet with Mr. Paul Ferguson about his runaway grandson. The grandfather was taking his grandson (17 year old Paul Browning, Jr., of Branchland, WV) to meet a transport van at the Mink Shoals park-and-ride lot. The van would take the 17 year old to a juvenile placement center, The Youth Academy, in Fairmont, WV.
Mr. Browning went into a hotel to use the restroom, then fled through another exit. Mr. Ferguson waited outside on his grandson, then went to investigate. He then dialed 911 to report his grandson had run away. Deputy Eary asked for the assistance of a canine, and Corporal C. D. Lyons responded with his dog to assist. They tracked Mr. Browning from the hotel to the banks of the Elk River near Mink Shoals.
As of October 29, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Browning is still missing. He is 5’10” tall, approximately 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Two pictures of Mr. Browning are attached.
Some information indicates he may be in the West Hamblin area of Lincoln County or in Cabell County, WV. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Paul Browning, Jr., is asked to call 304-357-0169. Detective A. R. Crawford is handling the investigation. No foul play is suspected at this time.
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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
