In a complaint filed by Trooper J.D. Richards, he reported to Magistrate Lora Davis that on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 at approximately 11:00 p.m. he was notified by Calhoun County emergency dispatch that a female was knocking on the door screaming hysterically at the residence on High Street in Grantsville.
According to the complainant, the woman had ran up the street towards Calhoun Banks in Grantsville. The Trooper responded to the scene within minutes and began to scan the area for a female. He briefly stopped and spoke with the complainant who stated that the female was from the address of 441 High St. which was a couple houses up from the her address. Trooper Richards made contact with Jeremy Carl Ferrell who informed him that everything was fine and that he had just lost his cool. He and Mellisa D. Marks, the victim, had gotten into an argument. Trooper Richards then walked up to the residence of 41 High St. and made contact with a seventeen year old who looked physically and mentally distraught. He inquired of her exactly what had went on earlier to which she stated that Jeremy Carl Ferrell, had pointed a gun to himself and pointed a knife to his throat and that’s when she ran to get help, not knowing what to do.
Trooper Richards assured her that he would figure out what was going on and help. He then went inside the residence and made contact with Mellisa D. Marks who advised this him that there were two (2) Juveniles at the residence asleep in the living room that were biological sons of the accused. Trooper Richards was also advised by Melissa D. Marks that she got into a struggle with the Jeremy Ferrell over a loaded shotgun that the accused had gotten of a gun rack and tucked up underneath his neck. Ms. Marks advised this Trooper that she tried to keep the gun on safety and realized at a point that she couldn’t get the firearm away from him. At this point Ms. Marks was struck in the head by the shotgun because she was trying to take the firearm away from Ferrell.
Jeremy Carl Ferrell calmed down considerably and exited the residence a short time before Trooper Richards arrived. Melissa Marks Iead Trooper Richards to inspect the shotgun and to the Trooper’s astonishment, the firearm was loaded with four (4) shotgun shells. The firearm was secured and it was noted that due to Mr. Ferrell’s actions, he created an environment in a house with three (3) juveniles, that had a real and substantial risk of injury to any of the children there if the firearm would have went off during or before the struggle.
This struggle with the firearm took place in a bedroom upstairs in the residence. Although the Children were located on the ground floor with the exception of one. It is known to Trooper Richards that firearms such as the one in question, once fired, can easily passthrough floors and wall’s creating substantial risk even from another room in the house. Trooper Richards’s listened to a recording made by the juvenile of the incident and these statements made were entirely true. It can be heard in the recording Ms. Marks yelling “Give me my gun!” and screaming for the accused to stop. It can also be heard when the juvenile runs to her neighbors house for help.
Mellissa Marks and Jeremy Carl Ferrell were cohabitating for an extended period of time at the residence of 41 Hight Street. The accused had also been pointing a knife at his own throat while arguing with Ms. Marks prior to grabbing the firearm off of the gun-rack.
After much consideration to the circumstances this Trooper placed Jeremy Carl Ferrell under arrest forDomestic Battery (Ist) and then transported the accused to the WVSP Grantsville Detachment to be processed.
Jeremy Carl Ferrell is being held in the WV Central Regional Jail on a $3,000 bond awaiting a hearing.
