Barbour County Clerk charged after violent office outburst

PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Barbour County Clerk Laurie Austin is facing a series of misdemeanor charges after an office outburst in February.

State police said Austin entered the office February 21 in a hostile manner and used a chain as a barrier to prevent other employees from leaving.

Surveillance video shows the 59-year-old Austin verbally berating her employees and using her body and the chain to keep at least one employee from leaving the office during the incident.

Austin is then seen slamming a box down onto the desk of an employee, nearly hitting the worker.

Hours later, Austin made physical contact with one of the workers, causing a bruise on the hand.

Austin has been charged with misdemeanor simple assault, battery, and unlawful restraint and is free on a $10,000 bond.