WV House Candidate Leads County Officers on a Wild High Speed Chase

In a complaint filed on Thursday, March 7th, 2024, Sheriff Graham Knight stated that on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024, at approximately 1500 hrs, Justin Henry Bordas did enter Grantsville Municipal Building located at 362 Main Street Suite 201 Grantsville WV 26147. Mr. Bordas was loud and aggressive ub nature while interacting with Granstville head secretary Melissa Keener over a dispute about his utilities located at 45 Blackbery Lane Grantsville, WV 26147.

During the interaction Melissa Keener did observe a black in color pistol located on the right hand side of Mr. Bordas’ person. The firearm was out side his waitband and in plain view.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Sheriff Knight acquired a criminal history pursuant to the investigation of the aforemention interaction. On Mr. Bordas’ criminal history it states that he was convicted of felony burglary on the date
of March 8, 2010 in the state of Pennsylvania which has a propensity for violence. This makes Justin Bordas a felon in possession of a firearm during the incident on Tuesday March 5th, 2024. Given the facts of the investigation, this undersigned officer humbly requested a warrant for the arrest of Justin H. Bordas on the charge of Felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

On Thursday March 7, 2024 at approximately 8:26 a.m. Sheriff Knight entered The Grantsville Municipal Building, Justin Bordas then entered the building located at 362 Main Street, Grantsville WV 26147. He observed Justin Bordas in possesion of a black in color 1911 style pistol and observed the pistol to be in a black holster outside the waistband, with the firing mechanism locked to the rear position. Furthur observation Knight was able to visually see the space between the slide and frame of the firearm.

Graham stated that his previous experience as a firearms instructor and firearms sales manager made him very familiar with different types of firearms and the components of firearms.

A background check obtained by The West Virginia State Police Troop 4 Dispatch on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 showed prior felony convictions and a felony drug conviction that was plead guilty to in 2010 in the State Of Pennsylvania. Mr. Bordas was therefore a felon in possession of a firearm due to all prior convictions and the length of imprisonment associated with the convictions.

While Justin Bordas was standing in the front lobby area of the Grantsville Municipal Building, I advised him that he was under arrest and at that time Mr. Bordas began walking to the door repeatedly stating ” I’m not under arrest” and “you can’t arrest me”. As Mr. Bordas left the building Knight followed him outside giving him loud verbal commands to “stop” and that he was a prohibited person for possessing a firearm”. Mr. Bordas then entered his vehicle as the Sheriff approached continuing to give loud verbal commands to “stop, you are under arrest” and “show me your hands”. Bordas then pulled out of a parking spot and manuevered his Black Dodge Durango towards Sheriff Knight causing him to push himself away from it as he sped away. Chief Deputy J.B. Hunt arrived on scene in a patrol vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Mr. Bordas as he fled.

While running on foot to his patrol vehicle I heard radio traffic from Deputy Hunt that Mr. Bordas was failing to stop his vehicle and traveling south on route 16 approximately nintey miles per hour past The Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department. The posted speed limit in that immediate area is twenty-five miles per hour. Deputy Hunt advised me that he was slowing his response and letting Sheriff Knight in the lead of the pursuit at the top of Mt. Zion.

Sheriff Knight and Chief Deputy J.B. Hunt continued pursuit with speeds from seventy to ninety miles per hour driving recklessly and left of center in mutiple turns. Cpl B.E. Young of The West Virginia State Police deployed spike strips on the vehicle driven by Mr. Bordas causing one rear tire to be deflated. The pursuit continued south on route 16 to Walker road where Mr. Bordas exited his vehicle and fled on foot. Mr. Bordas ignored loud verbal commands as Cpl. Young and the Sheriff got to him, at which time Mr. Bordas struck Cpl. B.E. Young. There was a brief struggle to take Bordas to the Ground and place him in wrist restraints. All Events occurred within Calhoun County.

In an additional complaint filed on Thursday, March 7th, 2024 by Trooper Brian Young of the West Virginia State Police, he stated that he was officially assisting the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department in the vehicular pursuit of a fleeing suspect, Justin Bordas. Sheriff Graham Knight and Deputy Jeff Hunt pursued the accused from Grantsville to Chloe, WV with Trooper Young following from the Mount Zion area.

Three marked cruisers with lights and sirens activated followed behind the accused to the Chloe area with the accused refusing to stop the vehicle. The vehicle pursuit ended at 2634 Walker Road, Chloe, Calhoun WV when
Just Bordas pulled his car over and began fleeing on foot. All three officers began chasing the subject and yelling verbal commands to stop running and get on the ground. The accused continued to run away from the officers
and refused to stop or comply with verbal commands. As Trooper Young neared the accused, Bordas yelled at him saying, ‘Don’t put your hands on me Guy!” and turned and charged at young, making contact. At this time, the accused and Trooper Young went to the ground as the Trooper continued to subdue Bordas and place him in hand restraints. Sheriff G Knight and Deputy J Hunt then assisted Trooper Young, during which time all officers were giving him verbal commands to give up his hands and place them behind his back as he continued to resist and fight with officers and keep his hands under his body.

Justin Bordas is being held in the WV Central Regional Jail having been charged with