Man arrested after tampering with gas pumps, running away from police laughing

MARMET, WV (LOOTPRESS) – One man has been arrested after tampering with gas pumps at a property he was previously banned from.

According to a criminal complaint, on Wednesday, September 11, Patrolman Perdue with the Marmet Police Department noticed 27-year-old William Atkinson III tampering with gas pumps at the Par-Mar station on MacCorkle Avenue.

Patrolman Perdue knew Atkinson was banned from this property as he was the one to trespass Atkinson from the property.

As Perdue approached Atkinson, Atkinson began to run and was laughing as he ran off.

After Atkinson was instructed multiple times to stop and come back he continued to run from Perdue and cross the railroad tracks on Ohio Avenue.

As Perdue crossed the tracks in his patrol car, Atkinson ran back across the tracks to Oregon Avenue.

Perdue radioed another officer to assist him where they were able to apprehend Atkinson and transport him to the Marmet Police Department for processing.

According to the complaint, Atkinson told police he would not spend any time in jail because “the law at the magistrate court was not smart enough” to put him in jail.

Atkinson was charged with Obstructing an Officer and Trespassing. He is currently out on bond.