A Greenbrier County man was arrested on Friday, September 25, for charges stemming from the alleged attempted theft of an ATV.
Levi Michael Arnold, 27, of Arnold Jones Ln. in Rupert, has been charged with attempting to commit a felony, obstruction, fleeing on foot and two-counts of assaulting a police officer. Arnold has also been charged as a prohibited person in possession of a deadly weapon.
State Police were dispatched to the James Kanawha Turnpike at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Friday, September 25, in response to a 911 call. According to the criminal complaint, the victim allegedly witnessed a suspect (later identified as Levi Arnold) attempting to steal his 2005 Yamaha 350 ATV. The victim claimed he observed Arnold sitting on the ATV. According to the complaint, Arnold had allegedly forced a knife into the ignition in an effort to start the vehicle. The victim confronted the suspect, who then fled on foot, leaving behind the knife, as well as a pair of boots and a bicycle.
According to the complaint, officers observed a man matching Arnold’s description running up an embankment, and into a neighboring yard. Officers pursued Arnold into a wooded area, where he was then allegedly seen throwing a pistol onto the ground. Officers took the suspect into custody, and identified him as Levi Michael Arnold. Arnold was taken to the WVSP Rainelle Detachment for processing.
According to the complaint, while in custody, Arnold allegedly stated that he “was carrying the gun to shoot police officers.” The report also states that Arnold allegedly further stated that he would shoot the responding officers.
Levi Michael Arnold was previously convicted on July 1, 2020 of the felony third-offense of driving revoked.
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