Rainelle, West Virginia – A Rainelle man is charged with witness intimidation and assault after allegedly threatening a key witness in an ongoing arson and burglary investigation, according to a criminal complaint filed in Greenbrier County Magistrate Court.
The accused, Anthony Brown, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly confronting and threatening a man who had provided state police with information about stolen firearms linked to the burglary and arson of a Hunter Road home on May 14.
According to the complaint, troopers were conducting a follow-up investigation when they interviewed a male witness who stated that Brown had repeatedly threatened him with bodily harm in recent weeks and attempted to intimidate him into remaining silent.
The witness also directed troopers to a location where several stolen firearms, allegedly obtained during the burglary, were discovered.
Later that day, around 12:06 p.m., while returning to the State Police detachment on John Raine Drive, troopers noticed Brown sitting across the street. After escorting the witness inside to provide a follow-up statement, the trooper released him.
Just 20 minutes later, the witness called police again to report a disturbance at his home. Officers arrived to discover that Brown had allegedly followed the witness from the detachment, approached his home through the back door, and began shouting for him to come out.
The witness claimed Brown made threats against him and his family. Brown fled the scene but was eventually apprehended. The witness provided another recorded statement about the alleged threats and harassment.
Troopers have asked for warrants charging Brown with intimidation of a state witness and assault. No court date had been set as of Thursday.
