On Sunday, March 8, 2015 Corporal Sims of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a disturbance call at the Go-Mart in Elkview, WV. A man, later identified as Wesley James Taylor (23 years old of Clendenin, WV) had walked behind the cashier’s counter, then outside again. He was harassing customers and believed to be intoxicated.
Mr. Taylor got into his white SUV and began traveling south on I-79, according to the 911 callers. Corporal Sims and Sergeant Borchers waited on I-79 for the vehicle to pass them. Sergeant Borchers and Corporal Sims attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, but Mr. Taylor did not stop for a distance of approximately three miles. He finally pulled to the shoulder of the highway near mile marker two.
Mr. Taylor refused their commands to exit the vehicle. The Deputy Sheriffs were alongside the vehicle and saw Mr. Taylor reach into the center console. Sergeant Borchers struck the door’s window glass with a baton as Mr. Taylor started driving again. He swerved towards Sergeant Borchers at which time Sergeant Borchers fired one round from his pistol into the vehicle. The bullet traveled through the window glass and into the pillar between the front and rear seats on the driver’s side.
As Mr. Taylor fled from the scene in his SUV the Deputy Sheriffs got back into their cars and followed. Other motorists directed the Deputies near the Mink Shoals exit of the I-79, indicating that was the direction the SUV had fled. Corporal Sims spotted the white SUV driving from Route 119 onto Roselane Drive. As they got near the SUV while it was stopped on that road Mr. Taylor began fleeing again, taking U.S. 119 into Charleston.
During this portion of the pursuit Sergeant Borcher’s vehicle was struck by Mr. Taylor’s SUV several times. Spike strips were used to deflate several of the tires on Mr. Taylor’s SUV. At about the same time Mr. Taylor swerved toward a West Virginia State Trooper, Sergeant Hammontree, who was standing on the road helping KCSO Sergeant Mathis use the spike strips.
The car was unable to travel farther than Roane Street on Pennsylvania Avenue. When it came to a stop Deputies and Troopers approached and called for Mr. Taylor to exit the vehicle. After trying to use a Taser several times they fought with him until he was handcuffed and shackled.
Mr. Taylor was taken to the hospital before being transported to jail. He was charged with two counts of attempted malicious assault of a police officer, fleeing in a motor vehicle, fleeing on foot, and reckless driving.
As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Taylor are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Attached is a mug shot taken during his arrest.
