On August 11, 2015 at about 3:00 a.m. Corporal J. T. Snyder was dispatched by Metro 911 to a breaking and entering to a vehicle complaint. The caller said someone was trying to steal his vehicle on Brick Lane in Cross Lanes, WV.
Corporal Snyder arrived and spoke to the caller. He said the suspect ran away a moment earlier. While the two were talking the caller pointed to a man walking, and said he believed that was the man inside his vehicle. The caller was pointing to a man later identified as Chad Lynn Hartness, 35 years old of Statesville, NC.
Corporal Snyder went to speak to the man. He said he was still in his patrol vehicle, an SUV, when Mr. Hartness came rapidly approaching him. Mr. Hartness struck the driver’s door with his hand and Corporal Snyder got out and tried to restrain him. Mr. Hartness pulled away and entered the driver’s door of the patrol vehicle. Corporal Snyder tried to remove Mr. Hartness even as Mr. Hartness made attempts to put the vehicle into gear and stomped the pedals.
Corporal Snyder was struck by Mr. Hartness on several occasions. Corporal Snyder used a Taser during the fight and was able to remove the 6’7” tall Mr. Hartness from his patrol vehicle and handcuff him.
Mr. Hartness was arrested, charged with two felonies: attempted robbery and attempted grand larceny. He was also charged with the misdemeanor offense of battery on a police officer.
Attached is a mug shot taken during his arrest. As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Hartness are merely accusations. He is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
