Martinsburg, WV (JK) – A Berkeley County man has been arrested after the sheriff’s office received reports of alleged threats of violence directed toward deputies on social media.
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office says citizens contacted authorities Tuesday about posts allegedly made by 29-year-old Paul Vassar Butler. Following an investigation by Deputy Baldridge and other members of the sheriff’s office, authorities say probable cause was established and arrest and search warrants were obtained.
The sheriff’s office says its SWAT Team was activated and Butler was taken into custody without incident with assistance from Berkeley County deputies, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Butler was booked into Eastern Regional Jail at 12:40 p.m. Tuesday and is being held as a pretrial felon on a $50,000 cash bond.
The sheriff’s office says it considers all threats against law enforcement personnel serious and credible, and that threats made online or in person will be investigated.
Sheriff Robert Blair thanked the community members who reported the alleged threats, saying their actions helped law enforcement respond quickly.
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to report any threats of violence or suspicious activity.
Comments