KITCHEN, W.Va. - Charges have been filed following an officer-involved shooting incident near Chapmanville, West Virginia, on Monday night.
Tony Ritchie, 30, of Big Creek, West Virginia, has been charged with destruction of property, fleeing from an officer and attempted murder, according to the criminal complaint.
Trooper S.P. Bowling notes in the complaint that he and Trooper Z.S. Holden responded to assist Lt. B.M. Brown after a "be on the lookout" was issued around 4:30 p.m. Monday for a reckless driver in the area.
Brown was attempting to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, but it was actively fleeing from him, according to the complaint.
Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over on numerous occasions, but the driver, later identified as Tony Ritchie, refused to pull over and reportedly drove into a pavement construction zone before turning onto W.Va. 10.
Ritchie was speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road, the complaint states. Bowling noted that officers attempted to engage a traffic stop at a parking lot in the Kitchen, West Virginia, area, but Ritchie rammed his vehicle into Holden's cruiser.
Officers got out of the rammed cruiser and Ritchie reportedly attempted to run the officers over with his vehicle.
At that point, an officer fired a shot at the incoming vehicle, according to the complaint. No one was hit by the shots fired.
Ritchie reportedly hit a fence and continued a short distance over a ditch line, which disabled his vehicle. Ritchie was taken to Logan Regional Medical Center and later flown to a hospital in Charleston to be treated for minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
There were several other individuals in Ritchie's vehicle, but their names have not yet been released.
Ritchie is being held at Southwestern Regional Jail on $250,000 bond.
The West Virginia State Police Logan Detachment is continuing its investigation.
Nancy Peyton is a news reporter for HD Media. Follow her on Twitter @NancyMPeyton.
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