KINGWOOD — A Tunnelton man faces multiple charges after fleeing from police Tuesday.
Bond was set at $150,000 for Paul Edward Moats Jr., 55. He is charged with malicious assault and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
According to the criminal complaint by Preston Sheriff’s Lt. T.E. Mitter: He did a traffic stop on Moats after seeing him frantically grab at his seat belt to put it on as he neared the intersection of Campground Road and W.Va. 26.
Moats, whom Mitter said appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, said he was going to the hospital to see his wife. As Mitter walked back to the car after running Moats through DMV records, he saw a plastic tube between Moats’ legs. It was the remainder of a glass pipe often used to smoke meth.
Mitter put the pipe on the roof of the car and opened the door. Moats hit the gas and left. The officer gave chase on W.Va. 26. Moats slammed on the brakes as they approached Birds Creek Road, then sped up as Mitter came into the other lane on a straight.
They went onto Irish Ridge Road, then Pell Road, before Moats lost control in mud and hit the bank. A search turned up $1,171 cash, a counterfeit $50 bill, 4 grams of suspected meth, needles, lights and packaging materials.
The counterfeit bills, “has been commonly used in recent weeks to defraud dealers of narcotics, whether by user purchase or small dealer to big dealer purchase.”
Moats told officers he was, “just supporting his habit because it’s hard to get money.”
