Charles Robert Wells, 41, of Proctor, is being held in the Northern Regional Jail and Wetzel County Sheriff James Hoskins says other charges are pending.
At about 5 p.m. Monday the victim’s daughter called the WCSO to say her mother was being held against her will at a home on Haynes Run, north of New Martinsville. Wells and the victim had reportedly been fighting all day and he wouldn’t let her leave.
Hoskins activated the county’s Special Response Team because it was a possible hostage situation and reportedly Wells possessed a knife. “The daughter feared for her mother’s life,” Hoskins said. He also had all available members of the WCSO on standby.
He was able to speak to the victim on the phone and heard Wells talking in the background. Wells agreed to let her leave as long as the sheriff’s department didn’t go up to the house. Hoskins believes Wells made the concession hoping law enforcement would then rescind the call for additional officers.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. the victim was released and Deputy Rob Scott, Deputy Rob Hayes, and Hoskins went up the road to meet the victim. “You could tell she was distraught,” related the sheriff.
Authorities proceeded with the investigation and Wells gave himself up at about 7:30 p.m. after speaking to SRT negotiator Donnie Harris of the New Martinsville Police Department. “Harris did an excellent job,” the sheriff praised.
Hoskins believes this is Wells’ third offense of a domestic nature. “He could be facing serious charges,” he noted.
The sheriff noted that there were no injuries incurred by anyone and declared it another successful SRT activity. “That’s our primary goal, to make sure everyone is safe and no one gets injured,” said Hoskins.
The Wetzel County SRT consists of law enforcement members from the NMPD, Sistersville Police Department, WCSO, and medical staff from the Wetzel County EMS. West Virginia State Trooper Clint Lantz was also on scene with his canine partner, Jarno. Emergency Medical Squads were on standby during the incident.