On Wednesday evening (October 12, 2016 just before 8:00 p.m.) Deputy K. T. Carte was patrolling Winfield Road near Saint Albans, WV and saw a gold SUV with no license plate. He tried to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver fled through a parking lot, crossed several lanes of traffic at MacCorkle Avenue, and fled toward Putnam County on Winfield Road.
Deputy Carte described the fleeing vehicle nearly striking several pedestrians as he fled. The ensuing pursuit went out several gravel roads, through a metal gate and onto a dirt road on private property, through another fence, and onto other secondary roads. At one point Deputies lost sight of the vehicle, but soon spotted it again on Winfield Road. The driver fled again, eventually onto Joseph Road near Miracle Drive until he came to a dead-end.
At that time George Michael Thayer (45 years old of Saint Albans) was arrested. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt that read, “Keep calm and kill a cop,” on its front. There were two passengers in the vehicle with Mr. Thayer, neither of whom was arrested.
Mr. Thayer was charged with two counts of felony fleeing. There was also a capias for fleeing from March of 2016 which was served on Mr. Thayer during the arrest. Attached is a mugshot taken during last night’s arrest. As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Thayer are merely accusations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
