Man arrested and accused of making false statements | News, Sports, Jobs

mason

ELKINS – A man was arrested and charged with making false claims about terrorists and endangered children at the Walmart in Elkins on Thursday.

Stephen Mason, 31, was taken to Tygart Valley Regional Jail and held on $500 cash bail.

According to a press release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Mason was arrested and charged with false reporting of an emergency after calling 911 in Randolph County and making what turned out to be false claims.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Deputy J. Wolfe of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office was notified that Mason had called 911 and claimed someone was committing obscene acts of mutilation on children in the Walmart restroom, the release states. Wolfe contacted Mason by phone and Mason told the deputy that the individuals were terrorists and that they were parked in three black trucks in the Walmart parking lot.

“Mr. Mason informed me that he would pull the people out of the vehicles so that I could arrest them when I got there.” Wolfe wrote in the report. “I advised Mr Mason not to approach the vehicles and to stay on the other side of the parking lot.”

When Wolfe arrived on the scene, he noticed Mason standing near the north entrance of the parking lot, the release said. Mason told the officer that people were committing obscene mutilations on children in the store’s restroom and injuring young boys in the three trucks.

Wolfe then spoke to the people in the trucks and saw no signs of any kind of abuse between adults and children, the press release said.

“The children seemed happy and healthy,” Wolfe wrote in his report.

The press release states that Randolph County police received several calls about Mason several days before the incident. At the time, Mason had been issued warnings for disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct in connection with other incidents.

On Thursday, Mason appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance, had pinpoint-sized pupils, and was shaking, sweating and talking wildly, the news release said.

“Not only have these false claims taken up officers’ time that could have been used for investigations and crime prevention in Randolph County, but Mr. Mason’s statement to me over the phone that he would confront those he says are committing cruel acts against children also puts the citizens of Randolph County at risk.” Wolfe wrote.