In May 2021, a theft occurred at a West Virginia casino, purportedly carried out by an off-duty state police officer. This incident is just one of many being investigated as part of a comprehensive inquiry into various occurrences involving the West Virginia State Police.
The inquiry originates from a letter of five pages received in February by influential West Virginia officials, such as Governor Jim Justice and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. This anonymous letter details grave accusations, which involve sexual assaults, thefts, and vandalism targeting state-owned assets at the police academy. The investigation is anticipated to conclude within a timeframe of two to three months.
On March 20, Superintendent Col. Jan Cahill resigned from the WVSP as a result of the consequences arising from the letter.
Video shows theft at Mardi Gras Casino, report states
There are a total of five physical casinos in West Virginia, spread throughout the state. Additionally, there are currently seven online casinos operating in West Virginia, and another one is expected to launch soon in the Mountain State.
In the previous month, 13News made a FOIA request, prompting the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security to disclose a partially edited incident report from Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Nitro. The report pertained to a theft incident that occurred at the casino in May 2021.
Based on the report, the security manager was approached by a casino visitor who claimed to have lost a bank envelope containing $731. The patron stated that the envelope went missing from the slot machine he was playing on when he momentarily left to get a drink. To investigate the matter, the casino examined surveillance footage which revealed a man and a woman picking up the envelope before exiting the premises.
According to the report, the individual responsible for taking the envelope was identified as an off-duty WVSP captain. The report stated that an individual employed by the casino successfully located and apprehended the captain. The casino managed to retrieve the money and returned it to its rightful owner. It is worth noting that no legal allegations were made against the captain. In a recent development, Justice’s office released video evidence of the theft that occurred last month.
According to an anonymous letter, the WVSP tried to conceal the incident. Cahil claimed that upon confronting the captain involved, the captain promptly retired. The retirement has been verified by the Justice’s office.
Another WVSP trooper is currently under internal investigation. The trooper responsible for casino duty would have possessed knowledge regarding the theft. Allegedly, this trooper neglected to report the incident or inform higher-ranking officials.
Theft and alleged coverup not the only controversy facing WVSP
In addition to the casino theft’s coverup, the WVSP is confronted with further allegations. Allegedly, a deceased former WVSP trooper secretly installed a concealed camera in the women’s locker room at the state police headquarters, with the intention of recording video footage. The letter states that a group of troopers discovered a flash drive containing the recorded video and, instead of preserving it as evidence, they recklessly threw it on the ground and stomped on it, effectively destroying any incriminating proof.
Joseph Comer, a member of the WVSP, was officially charged by authorities on February 24 for domestic battery and felony strangulation. The criminal complaint, filed in the Ritchie County Magistrate Court, states that on December 5, 2022, Comer reportedly strangled a woman during a planned child exchange. A week later, at the same location, he allegedly struck her in the head using a child’s cup. Both incidents caused visible injuries.
The WVSP is also accused of engaging in sexual assaults, causing harm to state property, misusing taxpayer funds, and falsely claiming overtime hours for billing purposes.
Upon being presented with a report on the allegations, Justice deemed it “incomplete.” Consequently, the governor has requested interim Superintendent Jack Chambers to persist with the investigations.
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