LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – On August 3, the Lewisburg Sheriff’s Department was conducting a routine patrol when they observed a red Chevy Cavalier in the vicinity of Holt Lane that kept hitting their brakes and going over the double yellow line into the other lane of traffic. At this point, the officer turned on his blue lights and initiated a traffic stop on the Cavalier. As the officer approached the vehicle, he spoke with the female driver, later identified as Kaitlyn Sheppard, 29, of Ronceverte. As he was gathering Sheppard’s information, he reportedly noticed a little baggie on the floorboard near Sheppard’s feet. The officer asked about the baggie and Sheppard immediately grabbed it and tried to hide it, according to the criminal complaint. The officer took the baggie and asked Sheppard to step out of the vehicle. Sheppard was allegedly told repeatedly to get out of the car but remained inside going through things inside the vehicle.
According to the criminal complaint, Sheppard and one of the passengers, David Rookstool, began arguing with the officers and screaming. When Sheppard finally got out of the vehicle and was questioned whether anything was in the car, she reportedly stated there was possibly marijuana and drug paraphernalia. She then allegedly said that if anything was found inside the vehicle, it was hers and that she and Rookstool did “smoke weed” (marijuana).
It was during this time the officer asked the passenger, identified as David Rookstool, 33, of Ronceverte, to step out of the vehicle. When questioned about anything being in the car Rookstool allegedly responded with marijuana and drug paraphernalia. It was during this time the officer asked the last passenger in the car to step out, a male later identified as Nicholas Dunbrack, 34. of Ronceverte. As the officer conducted a pat down search of Dunbrack he felt an unidentified item in the crotch area that Dunbrack was concealing. According to the criminal complaint, he verbally stated he wasn’t hiding anything. When asked to reveal what he was concealing, Dunbrack pulled out a baggie containing 2 grams of meth. The officer then placed Dunbrack in mechanical restraints and placed him in the back of the cruiser.
Next, a search of the vehicle took place. Found within a purse located within the floorboard and belonging to Sheppard was a loaded 32-auto handgun. It was allegedly loaded with 3 hollow point rounds. The location was based on Sheppard admitting to owning a handgun that was inside of her purse. Due to Sheppard previously verbally admitting to officers to having used a controlled substance, officers charged her with a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Also found was 1 magnetic box with the initials of Rookstool and Sheppard drawn into the inside and outside of the box. According to the criminal complaint, inside the box was 1 baggie containing 9 grams of meth, 1 baggie containing 1 gram of meth, 1 baggie containing 2 grams of meth, 1 baggie containing 1 gram of meth/fentanyl, 1 small red baggie containing 1 gram meth, 1 suboxone strips 8mg/2mg, along with individual sale bags with a dolphin on them, individual weighing scales found inside the purse, 2 bubble pipes with residue, 2 marijuana cigarettes and residue. Also recovered was a blue smartphone from inside the vehicle.
The criminal complaint also states that, located inside Dunbrack‘s backpack was 1 lorazepam (schedule 4c/s) 1 diazepam (schedule 4cs), 1 bubble pipe, and 1 baggie of 4 grams of meth. On his person was 1 baggie of 2 grams of meth and $40.25 in his pockets.
At the end of the search, both Rookstool and Dunbrack were put in mechanical restraints. Rookstool was informed he would not be placed in the same cruiser as Sheppard. Reportedly, he then became incredibly irate and began pulling away from the officer and began yelling and screaming. As he was being placed in another officer’s cruiser, Rookstool reportedly yelled to Sheppard to say everything was his. He then allegedly proceeded to tell her to say everything in the vehicle was everyone’s.
As officers were processing all three subjects, Rookstool and Dunbrack were speaking silently amongst themselves. Dunbrack then told officers everything recovered in the vehicle was solely his.
All three subjects were then transported to Southern Regional Jail where they are being housed until their arraignment before the county magistrate.
The vehicle reportedly contained approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine combined.
All three subjects are currently in Southern Regional Jail. Sheppard’s bail is set at $15,000, Rookstool’s at $12,000 and Dunbrack’s at $10,000.
