WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS W.Va. (WVDN) – According to a criminal complaint, on Feb. 10, around 8:15 a.m., an officer received a call from Greenbrier County 911 regarding a breaking and entering from the night before. The officer went to the residence, which was located in the vicinity of White Sulphur Springs.
Upon arrival, the officer reportedly saw a bicycle and a lawn mower battery that had been carried to the side of the road. Along with those items was a hatchet with camouflage paracord on the handle. As the officer entered the outbuilding, he allegedly saw a tool mark that was consistent with a prybar or crowbar being used to press into the door. According to the criminal complaint, the latch and door remained intact.
Once inside, the officer saw a cut garden hose. According to the criminal complaint, officials stated that it appeared someone was syphoning gasoline. The officer found the fuel dispenser part of a fuel tank lying on the ground. It had been hanging on a drying rack prior to the break-in, according to what the officer was told. The officer was also reportedly told that two 5-gallon gas cans were missing from the building. The officer saw an orange bottle labeled Bahama Momma with an alcohol content of 9% sitting on the fuel tank. The bottle was reportedly half empty.
During the investigation, a male came up as a suspect and was later identified as John McNeely. When the officer arrived at the residence in the vicinity of Camp Tomahawk, where he went to find McNeely, he observed a blue jeep. The officer went and knocked on the door. McNeely answered the door and stepped outside.
The officer explained to McNeely that he was there because of a break-in down the road. McNeely allegedly said he had run out of gas in the middle of the night and tried to make a call but had no service, so he started syphoning gasoline. According to the criminal complaint, McNeely told the officer that the building door was unlocked. McNeely reportedly went on to say he knocked on the door in his attempt at seeking assistance. The officer told McNeely that no one lives in the garage. McNeely allegedly said he didn’t know because he had only been in the area for a week and didn’t see any houses. McNeely reportedly then stated that he saw houses, but no lights on. He went on to say this was around 3 a.m. McNeely told the officer he would return the items he used and pay for the gas.
On February 13, the officer was informed by the victim that he thought McNeely left the area without paying for the items. On February 15, McNeely was arrested and taken to Southern Regional Jail. At the time of publishing, McNeely is no longer listed as an inmate at SRJ.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
