The following complaint was filed in the office of Magistrate Court of Richard Postalwait on July 11, 2022. Joe Allen O’Brien was arrested on March 18th, 2023 and released on a $3,000 bond posted by a bonding agency.
The complaint filed by Cpl. Brian E. Young stated the following:
On Friday, June 10, 2022 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Cpl. Brian E. Young, of the WVSP Grantsville detachment, was dispatched to the Sandridge area of Calhoun County due to a gold in color Ford Taurus, parked along the roadway. The caller stated that the vehicle and been there for several days and they were concerned because there was a female’s purse setting in the front seat in plain view. The caller was afraid there may have been an abduction and the vehicle left in place along with the lady’s purse.
Trooper Young responded, in which time he ran the license plate affixed to the rear of the vehicle, which came back to a Ford Ranger pickup belonging to Patricia Runion/Lynch, who is also the victim. There was no insurance information in the vehicle or other proof of ownership. Trooper Young found multiple pieces of mail belonging to a Joe Obrien, age 50. After examining the drivers license found inside of the woman’s purse, he found it belonged to the victim’s daughter, who resides on Spring Run Road, Arnoldsburg. Trooper Young had the vehicle towed by Westfall’s Wrecker Service and then drove to the residence listed on the drivers license with hopes of locating the female it belonged to and ensuring that no one had been kidnapped or was missing from the vehicle. Upon arrival Trooper Young was greeted by the daughter of the victim, who stated the car belonged to her husband, Joe Allen Obrien who works as a logger near the area where the vehicle was left. She stated they had not had time to switch the license plate over to the DMV at that point but would make sure they did.
Trooper Young then explained to her that the license plate would be sent back to the DMV because it was illegally placed on a vehicle that it did not belong on. During this visit Trooper Young observed a black in color Ford Ranger in the driveway that the license plate belonged on.
On Friday July 8th, 2022 at approximately 9:30 p.m., Trooper Young was referred on a call that came into Calhoun County Control from the victim wishing to speak to the State Police. The victim stated to Trooper Young that the Ford Ranger tags found on the Taurus were hers and that she could present documentation that showed that she owns the vehicle. This Trooper spoke to the victim on the phone where she stated that she had been out of state for some amount of time and looked in the back and the cab area of the Ford Ranger described above and found items missing. The victim gave a list of items and when contacted about these items. CPL. Young could confirm these items being in the vehicle that was towed at the time of towing. The Trooper went to Westfall’s Wrecker Service with the victim under the assumption that she brought sufficient documentation linking her plate that was found on the vehicle, which she did. This Trooper recovered: (1) one Back Roads Brand 12V Heating blanket, (1) one Dewalt Brand Quartor grinder, (1) One Stanley Socket Set, (1) One Kobalt Socket set, and (1) One Hart bag filled with miscellaneous tools out of the vehicle that were the victim’s possessions that were in her Ford Ranger. ‘The victim stated that the accused, Joe Allen Obrien, who was the primary known driver of the Taurus that the tags were located at the address on 755 Spring Run Rd,. Arnoldsburg, WV 25234 he had access to the vehicle to switch the plates and move her possessions out of the vehicle.
It is also noteworthy to this Trooper that Mr. O’Brien has an extensive criminal background. These goods amount to approximately $400.
Considering all facts, Trooper Young graciously requested a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Joe Allen O’brien on the charges of Petit Larceny and Tampering with a vehicle. All acts occurred within the geographical boundaries of Calhoun County, WV.
