Police arrest man for wanton endangerment

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department arrested Donald L. Ricci, 69, of Tree Line Lane, Berkeley Springs last Sunday, April 15 for shooting a pistol over the top of a vehicle carrying his stepson and the son’s teenaged daughters.

Deputy First Class Cliff Cobern responded to 397 Tree Line Lane in southern Morgan County at about 5:45 p.m. to a call about shots being fired.

Ricci’s stepson, along with his two teenaged daughters, had been visiting Ricci.
According to police statements, after an argument, the stepson and girls had gotten into a vehicle in an attempt to leave the property. At that point, Ricci told police he went outside and fired a .38 caliber pistol once over the top of the vehicle.

Ricci was arrested for wanton endangerment with a firearm.  He was arraigned before Magistrate Kermit Ambrose and is currently held at Eastern Regional Jail on a $5,000 bond. 

State Police Corporal Todd Peer assisted the Sheriff’s Department.

Copper recovered, two charged
The Sheriff’s Department and police in Pennsylvania coordinated efforts to stop three suspects from stealing copper wire from the CSX railroad property between Hancock and Sir John’s Run on Saturday, April 14.

DFC Cobern responded to the CSX railroad property to assist CSX Special Agent Buracker on a theft in progress call.

Police said two adult males and a juvenile male had been located on CSX property with a pickup truck loaded with stolen copper wire. 

According to police, investigation revealed information that these suspects had been involved in previous thefts from the same location.

All three suspects were from Pennsylvania and after they were questioned, one of them admitted to having stolen metal at his residence, police said.

With assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police, SA Buracker and DFC Cobern were able to locate and recover 2,353 pounds of copper wire and steel cross tie plates valued at over $3,000.

The suspects, identified as Timothy M. McFadden, 36, and Dearl D. Smalley, 34, were charged with larceny. Each was arraigned in Morgan County Magistrate Court on bond of $3,000. Charges against the 17-year-old are pending through juvenile court.