MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – Two are in custody following an alleged armed robbery in Monongalia County.
Deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department said the victim was in a car with Michael McHenry, 21, of Vienna, at the wheel and Garrett Deberry, 25, of Morgantown, in the back seat. Near Greer Limestone on Route 7, Deberry and McHenry produced weapons and forcibly took the victim’s car, keys, wallet, and cell phone by threatening force.
Deputies learned McHenry and Deberry were in the area of Beechurst Avenue and attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the help of the Morgantown Police Department.
McHenry fled toward Dorsey Avenue, then turned onto Avalon Drive and across a yard on Malcolm Street in an effort to avoid deputies. Deberry struck one of the police cars while fleeing on Kingwood Pike.
Police said the pursuit reached speeds of 85 miles per hour while traveling into Preston County.
McHenry turned onto the dead end Country Breeze Road, where deputies disabled the vehicle and apprehended the pair.
Both have been charged with armed robbery. McHenry faces an additional charge of fleeing with reckless indifference.
Deberry is being held in the Tygary Valley Regional Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond. McHenry is also in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond.
No injuries were reported.