On November 6th, 2024, Deputy H.M. Stephens took a statement from Terry Hughey, the lead mechanic and shop manager at Drakes Used Cars LLC in Grantsville. Mr. Hughey stated that on Monday, November 4th, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Darren Parsons came into the shop and wanted to test drive a white 2006 GMC Canyon pickup truck. Mr. Hughey stated that he told Parsons he could not test drive the vehicle because the shop did not have tags to put on the vehicle. Parsons was given the key by employee, Arnold Greathouse and again told that he could not drive the vehicle due to not having tags. Greathouse returned to the shop, at which time Darrin Parsons drove away in the vehicle and still had not returned. Drake’s reported the theft at approximately 4 p.m. that day. The approximate value of the vehicle was $6,500.
In a complaint filed on November 20th, 2024 by Deputy C.R. Stephens, he stated that at approximately 5:28 p.m. he observed Darren Parsons operating a gray Subaru Impreza traveling West on Route 5 on Annamoriah Hill. Ater turning on the emergency lights he noticed the vehicle increase speed
in an attempt to evade. The two t/raveled on Annamoriah Straight at a speed on 110 miles per hour as the officer attempted to catch up to the Parsons vehicle. This occurred during misting rain with heavily wet roads. As the two passed Munday Road, Deputy Stephens caught a glimpse of the vehicle’s brake lights and had to stop, turn around and go back to Munday Road to attempt again to catch up to the vehicle. As the Deputy approached the area of Maze Road he began seeing the wet tire tracks of the vehicle ahead of him traveling as fast as possible on Munday Road to catch the vehicle, routinely reaching speeds of 80 mph. He observed the tracks in each left hand curve to be traveling fully in the oncoming lane, finally catching up to the vehicle and confirming it was the same Subaru Impreza he had observed on Annamoriah Hill when he reached the intersection of Munday Road and Brohard Road in Wirt County. When Deputy Stephens got within sight of the vehicle, it again increased speed with aggressive driving habits. The Deputy backed off so as not to cause him to act further reckless and continued to follow tire tracks until turning off at Freed Road where the suspect vehicle continued onto Dutchman Road (Ritchie County). Ritchie deputies later located the vehicle on Bethel
Chapel Road where Deputy Stephens responded and confirmed it was still in a great state of disrepair as in previous encounters. During the pursuit the Deputy noticed several times that the rear taillights were not operational. The vehicle was towed at the request of the registered owner. A check of Parsons’ license status shows that he does not have an active driver’s license.
On Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at approximately 9:55 p.m. Calhoun County Dispatch received an anonymous tip that Darren Nicholas Parsons was at the Cha-tis convenience store and gas station in Grantsville, Calhoun County, WV 26147 and that he was riding a black in color motorcycle with a black helmet and black riding jacket.
Senior Trooper J.D. Richards responded to Cha-Tis with previous knowledge that Mr. Parsons had five (5) active warrants out of two counties and a bail piece. Trooper arrived at approximately 10:08 p.m. At this point, Cha-Tis was closed and no one was around.
On the same date, at approximately 10:20 p.m. Trooper Richards met with the Calhoun County Sheriff G.J. Knight to scan areas where Mr. Parsons would be in the West Little Kanawha Highway area of Calhoun County to no avail. Upon returning back to Grantsville heading Eastbound on Main Street, the Trooper observed a Black in color motorcycle with a rider wearing a black in color helmet and riding jacket. Trooper Richards turned on the motorcycle and the motorcycle noticeably took off at a much higher rate of speed. After catching up to the motorcycle the Trooper utilized emergency lights and sirens to attempt to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. In return, the motorcycle accelerated at an even higher rate of speed. reaching 90mph in a 55mph zone during the course of the pursuit in both counties. This speed was consistent throughout the pursuit as well. During the course of the pursuit Trooper Richards also noticed the rider weaving completely in the opposite lane bouncing from fog line to fog line in Calhoun county. He pursued the motorcycle from Grantsville to Sonoma Road in Wirt County, WV. Once arriving at an address on Sonoma Road which was a dead
end, the rider rode his motorcycle into the yard of the residence. Trooper Richards stepped out of his vehicle and pursued the rider on foot.
The rider did a loop in the yard and then had his motorcycle caught on a piece of metal and electric cord, the driver was trying to free the motorcycle from these cords and disregarded this Trooper’s orders to stop. Trooper Richards shoved the motorcycle over in the yard and took the rider into custody. The rider was identified as Darren Nicholas Parsons. Trooper Richards immediately observed slowed, slurred speech and bloodshot watery eyes from Mr. Parsons and that he also lacked coordination and was generally confused. It was confirmed that his five (5) warrants and bail piece were active and also determined that Mr. Parsons’ license to
operate a motor vehicle had been suspended effective 08/02/2019 having previously been convicted of driving suspended. Mr. Parsons was transported to Minnie Hamilton Health System in Grantsville, WV to get checked out and for a blood draw. Mr. Parsons was then discharged from the hospital and transported to the WVSP Grantsville Detachment where Trooper Richards conducted Field Sobriety Tests on
Mr. Parsons which included HGN and additional ARIDE tests. Parsons was processed and charged with Fleeing while DUI, Fleeing with reckless indifference, Driving suspended (second offense), Speeding, Left of Center, and DUI-Controlled substance.
Combined Charges for Darren Parsons are: Driving Suspended Second Offense, DUI, Defective Equipment (1), Defective Equipment (2), Reckless Driving, Speeding, Left of Center, No Operators, Fleeing While DUI, Fleeing with Reckless Indifference (1), Fleeing with Reckless Indifference (2) and Grand Larceny.
He is currently being held at the WV Central Regional Jail with Bonds totaling $133,000 from three counties, Ritchie, Wirt and Calhoun.
