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BOMB THREAT CALLED TO BIG BEND ARMORY - Trooper Confiscates Hur Herald Camera |
| (07/15/2009) |
| A bomb threat was reportedly phoned to the US Army Reserve Armory at Big Bend, west of Grantsville, today about 11 a.m. Local emergency services responded to the incident, including Cpl. Doug Starcher of the WV State Police and Chief Deputy Carl Ballengee. The Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the incident. Officials indicated other agencies have been called to investigate the incident, with the scene being cleared in about two hours. While photographing the bomb scare activity from public right-of-way, Cpl. Doug Starcher of the WV State Police, advised Editor Bob Weaver that federal buildings cannot be photographed. When Weaver photographed Cpl. Starcher and other personnel at the highway entrance to the armory, Starcher wrestled the camera from Weaver and confiscated it. The Herald maintains no violation of law happened, further maintaining that the taking of a camera by a police officer or any individual is a criminal act. The Herald, after seeking legal counsel, is asking law enforcement to file charges against Cpl. Starcher. "The last time I checked, if some one wrestles personal property from your hands and takes it, it is a crime," said Weaver. The Herald maintains Cpl. Starcher's action is not only petty, but follows a consistent pattern of harassment with his violation of civil and constitutional rights and the public information statues of West Virginia. "We do not live in a police controlled state, where law officers are allowed to make-up or violate the laws they have sworn to protect," said Weaver. "There is no statue that allows Cpl. Starcher to wrestle private property from a citizen," he said. Starcher arrested editor Weaver in 2006 following photographing a wreck scene in which a Calhoun County couple died, charging him with assault and obstructing sn officer. The officer told state media Weaver was "photography of a naked woman's breasts," which the court disallowed as a fabrication. The court decided in Weaver's favor. The February, 2006 arrest of Weaver was Starcher's only arrest that month. |
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