LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – Officers responded to a report of theft from a vehicle at Grand Home Furnishings and Home 2 Suites, both located on Grand Avenue in Lewisburg on June 28. According to 911 dispatchers, “The victim, and alleged suspect, John D. Syner of Rainelle, were in a verbal confrontation.” Syner, who was seen coming from the dumpster area, reportedly was confronted by the victim about stealing from his work truck. It is alleged that Syner pulled a knife on the victim, pointing it in his direction. As the victim confronted Syner, he denied any involvement and started walking away as they were arguing.
According to the criminal complaint, 911 dispatchers report “The alleged victim stated that he had come out of the store and gotten into the delivery truck when he noticed his wallet was missing and the key and fob to the truck were missing. Smith reportedly followed Syner and got into a verbal confrontation with him.” The victim tried following the alleged suspect, to no avail, and ultimately went home. When officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly observed the male subject going between the buildings behind The Very Thing. Another officer arrived at the same time and detained the subject in the front parking lot who was identified as John Dillon Syner, 31, of Rainelle. A deputy with The Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the alleged victim’s location and transported the victim to the location of the detained subject. It was then that the victim reportedly made a positive identification of Syner as the other party.
The victim allegedly stated that he “Had approximately a few hundred dollars in his wallet along with his ID and credit cards, and a gas card provided by Grand Furnishing.” One officer then began an article search with K9 Kora and located a $1 bill in the area where the victim stated Syner had fled. Items removed from Syners’ pockets included a Grand Home Furnishings gas credit card that the victim identified as coming from his wallet. A search of Syner’s person also produced $286 in cash that was wadded up inside his underwear in the crotch area. While officers manually searched the area around the dumpster that Syner was first reportedly observed by the victim, the key ring and carabiner the delivery truck key was on as well as a black leather wallet that was completely empty, was found. The wallet had allegedly been tucked behind the lip of the concrete wall behind the dumpster. With the wallet was a fresh receipt from April’s Pizza with the payment method being in the name of the victim. The items and cash were released to the victim and Syner was ultimately arrested.
Syner is charged with West Virginia code 178-8-6(a) Injuring or tampering with vehicle or special mobile equipment, West Virginia code 61-7-11 brandishing deadly weapons; threatening or causing breach of the peace; and West Virginia code 61-2-9(b) malicious or unlawful assault; assault; battery.
At the time of publishing, Syner is in Southern Regional Jail.
