On Friday, November 6, 2015 Deputy C. A. Boner of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 5100 block of Smith Creek Road to take a report for a stolen green, 2010 Jeep Wrangler. Dispatchers at Metro 911 received the initial call. The owner dialed 911 after his neighbors told him his Jeep was stolen around 5:15 a.m.
When Deputy Boner arrived on scene he spoke to the owner and the neighbors. The theft of the vehicle, and damage to other vehicles, was caught on video. The white male suspect entered several vehicles, including the unlocked Jeep. He pushed the Jeep down a driveway striking the neighbor’s vehicle in the process. He located a spare key in the glove box and drove away on Smith Creek Road toward South Charleston, WV.
Throughout the morning Deputy Boner reviewed surveillance footage at area businesses to track the direction the suspect fled in the stolen vehicle. The Jeep was entered into NCIC.
Just after noon on Saturday, November 7, 2015, Metro 911 dispatched Deputy Boner and other law enforcement officers to the area of Ferrell Road in Saint Albans. A friend of the Jeep’s owner called. He was following the stolen Jeep. He followed the Jeep on Ferrell Road to Smith Creek, then onto Coal River Road into Tornado. The Jeep left the roadway and the driver lost control crashing. The Jeep went over a ledge, falling about thirty feet through several trees, landing in a creek then coming to rest on its top. The suspect got out and fled on foot. The man who had been following him gave a detailed description to the 911 operator.
Deputy Boner arrived on scene and began searching for the suspect. He saw wildlife running across the top of a mountain near where the suspect was last seen running. He went to that area and found some of the suspect’s clothes behind a tree. He then called for Corporal C. D. Lyons, a canine handler, and his dog Djambo.
Djambo, Corporal Lyons, and other Deputy Sheriffs began tracking the suspect. They followed his trail for almost one mile until he was located hiding beneath a bridge.
The suspect, Matthew Adair Hedrick (33 years old of Charleston, WV) was arrested and charged with grand larceny, destruction of property, and transferring or receiving stolen property. He was taken to South Central Regional Jail and later received a bond of $10,000.00.
As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Hedrick are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Attached is a mug shot taken during his arrest.
