LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – A local man was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning after police say he vandalized property outside Lewisburg City Hall while intoxicated, causing damage to public property and disturbing the peace.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Lewisburg Police Department, Bishop Poe was taken into custody shortly after 2 a.m. and charged with several misdemeanors, including destruction of property, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and littering.
The Lewisburg Police responded to the scene after being contacted by the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office, who received reports of a man “destroying things” in front of City Hall, located at 942 West Washington St., and made initial contact with the individual later identified as Poe.
Upon arrival, police noted that Poe appeared visibly intoxicated. He exhibited classic signs of alcohol impairment, including slurred speech, glossy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol. Poe was also reportedly in possession of an open container of alcoholic cider at the time of the encounter.
The responding officer observed multiple instances of property damage at the scene. A piano chair located outside City Hall was found broken, with an estimated value of $150. Additionally, a city-owned metal trash bin had been overturned, with its contents scattered across the sidewalk.
When asked why he had destroyed the chair and knocked over the bin, Poe allegedly replied that he had been “upset earlier,” offering no further explanation.
Surveillance video obtained from City Hall’s security system reportedly shows Poe sitting at the piano in front of the building for approximately two hours, consuming what appeared to be alcoholic beverages. The footage later depicts Poe becoming agitated, violently tossing the trash bin to the ground and kicking it repeatedly. He then allegedly picked up the bin and threw it down again before approaching the piano area.
The video goes on to show Poe lifting the piano chair above his head and slamming it down with force, striking an overhead lantern and breaking the chair into pieces on the sidewalk. Poe then began to kick the piano’s keys before police arrived on scene and detained him. Poe was arrested without further incident. He was processed at the Lewisburg Police Department and then transported to Southern Regional Jail.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. The extent of any damage to the piano or overhead lighting fixture was not immediately known.
The case remains under investigation and Poe is expected to appear in Greenbrier County Magistrate Court later this week.
