CHARLESTON — A 16-year-old Martinsburg male was beaten by two State Police troopers who have been suspended during an investigation, according to a statement by Gov. Jim Justice.
MORE: Read the release from Governor Justice.
“We have so many brave and respected men and women of law enforcement across West Virginia; all this does is cast a dark shadow on them,” Justice stated.
“If this is the case, it will NOT be tolerated.”
The statement from the Governor’s Office said the incident involved troopers from the Martinsburg detachment of the State Police and a 16-year-old male suspect.
A separate statement from the State Police confirmed that two officers have been suspended without pay.
State officials have not named the 16-year-old or the two troopers. The release from the State Police said the 16-year-old would not be named because of age, privacy issues and ongoing investigation.
The State Police statement did identify the 16-year-old’s race as white.
That statement said the incident happened Monday when the 16-year-old was involved in a crash with a sheriff’s department cruiser.
Police then pursued the 16-year-old, who crashed again.
As he was arrested, that’s when the altercation took place. The State Police statement stopped short of calling it a beating.
“It was during the apprehension process, where the response to resistance/aggression actions of the troopers came into question and led to the suspensions,” stated State Police spokesman Reggie Patterson.
Dashcam video taken at the scene shows the suspect being beaten by the two troopers, according to the Governor’s Office statement.
Justice stated that he instructed State Police Superintendent Jan Cahill to begin an investigation immediately and to pursue criminal charges if warranted.
The State Police statement describes the investigation as both internal and criminal.
“The State Police cannot make additional statements pertaining to this incident until a thorough and complete investigation has been completed,” according to the statement by Patterson.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
