WV KNIFE AND GUN CLUB - Forestry Officer Fired After Shooting Episode

(10/27/2011)
SHOOT-OUT WITH FORESTRY OFFICIAL - A Division of Forestry officer who claims he was just trying to do his job became the victim of a shooting incident.

Police are dealing with a man who fired the shots and a woman connected to the shooting.

Deputies who arrived on scene said the West Virginia Division of Forestry officer was claiming to be shot, but officers said he was drunk.

"He was given a field sobriety test, and we felt he was intoxicated. At that time, we did contact the Department of Forestry who did come take custody of the vehicle," said Kanawha County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Johnny Rutherford.

Forestry officer Dennis Dent wasn't arrested because he wasn't driving. Dent and an associate was responding to a bonfire in Putnam County, but Dent was off-duty.

"The Department of Forestry individual who showed up at the bonfire was trying to get them to put the bonfire out. Words were exchanged, and that's where the argument ensued," said Rutherford.

Four people got into a van, backed into the forestry truck and took off. Dent and his friends chased them to St. Albans.

That's where police say Gary Goff got out of the van and started firing shots into the air. Goff has since been arrested on a wanton endangerment charge and has been released on bond. Police are still looking for Tonya Devitt, who is facing a charge of grand larceny.

State media says Dent was fired on the spot.

MAN ARRESTED FOR FIRING PISTOL - A man has been arrested for firing a pistol outside of a Morgantown nightclub.

State Police say Scott Gann was arrested after he got into an argument with the owner of Sapphire Gentlemen's Club a little after 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Gann and another man were told to leave the club, when Gann allegedly fired the pistol out the driver's window.

Police stopped Gann on his way to Pennsylvania, finding the pistol and a spent shell casing.

Gann has been charged with wanton endangerment.