Timothy Ray Parker

A New Martinsville man was arraigned Oct. 26 in Wetzel County Magistrate Court for breaking and entering a local store last week. Magistrate Tom Shepherd has set a preliminary hearing on the matter for Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

On or about Oct. 25, the New Martinsville Police Department received a report that The ABC Store, now largely selling sports memorabilia, owned by Witschey’s Market was broken into during the nighttime hours. Following a diligent search, Timothy Ray Parker, 48, of 159 Commercial Street, was arrested and charged with the felony offense after police found him at his residence along with stolen items.

According to reports, Witschey’s staff provided copies of surveillance video from the store. The interior video showed a male subject, later identified as Parker, wearing a ball cap, gray hooded sweatshirt, blue denim pants, and sneakers break the glass in the front door, enter the business, and leave carrying cigar boxes and a metal tool he used to gain entry. Furthermore, exterior video showed the same male walking up Market Street to an alcove, leaving the camera’s view, but then reappearing riding a motorized wheelchair. Additionally video was provided of the same male subject in Witschey’s grocery store earlier that day wearing the same clothing. At that time, however, the subject had one pant leg rolled up, displaying a prosthetic left leg.

Over the course of the day officers talked to numerous residents for possible leads. At approximately 12:30 a.m. Oct. 26 NMPD Patrolman Friend Estep spoke with an individual on Commercial Street. Through their conversation the individual was able to identify the suspect by first name, giving the description of the wheelchair and the suspect’s disability. Parker’s address was then confirmed by Chief Tim Cecil and a search warrant was obtained.

When the warrant was served, police entered the residence and located Parker in an upstairs bedroom. Parker was secured and the residence was searched, wherein the clothing worn during the crime and a large amount of cash was found. After being Mirandized, Parker then recovered remaining stolen items in the home including a box containing a large quantity of old paper money and old coins which Parker said were also from the ABC Store. Parker cooperated further, saying he threw other items in dumpsters along state Route 2. Those items were also recovered.

If convicted, Parker faces a possible sentence of one to 10 years in the state penitentiary. According to Chief Cecil, authorities are investigating other charges against Parker. Other officers who aided in this incident include NMPD Patrolmen Dave Howell and Don Larsen. Parker remains in the Northern Regional Jail in lieu of a $25,000 bond.