By Frank Lewis
A Lawrence County man faces charges following a series of events that ranged from burglary to assault. Ryan Fuller, 19, of Proctorville, was arrested on Monday in West Virginia following a high speed chase by Ohio and West Virginia authorities.
According to Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless at approximately 3:30 Monday morning his office received a call concerning a possible assault that may have involved a knife in Proctorville. When deputies arrived at the scene they found a victim, David Fuller, 61, on the ground in a yard with a considerable amount of blood on his head and face and according to the victim, his son, Ryan Fuller, had assaulted him with a large metal yard anchor and he also had a knife, though David Fuller was not stabbed. According to the victim, his son then stole his 2013 Dodge Avenger.
Lawless said deputies filed the complaint with the victim and his wife and David Fuller was transported by Lawrence County EMS to a trauma center in Huntington. Deputies made several attempts to locate Ryan Fuller and the reportedly stolen vehicle.
An arrest warrant was issued for Ryan Fuller for felonious assault. Meanwhile the victim was in intensive care for his injuries. Investigators spoke with Gallia County Sheriff’s Office investigators who were investigating Ryan Fuller for a breaking and entering at the Silver Star Gas Station in Crown City, Ohio.
At approximately 7 p.m. Monday the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office investigators attempted to locate Ryan Fuller and the stolen vehicle in the Athalia area. Lawless said investigators saw Fuller in the stolen car but were unable to stop him and he fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Deputies were alerted as to the felony warrant for Fuller and the stolen vehicle.
At 7:09 p.m. Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies witnessed Ryan Fuller and the stolen vehicle and initiated a traffic stop in the Proctorville area but again, Fuller fled from the deputies crossing the 31st Street bridge into Huntington. Deputies and Investigators continued the high speed pursuit through Huntington until the pursuit was taken over by the West Virginia State Police and the Huntington Police Department. The stolen vehicle was finally incapacitated by stop sticks and Fuller was taken into custody in the 1700 block of Charleston Avenue in Huntington.
Investigators said a search of the vehicle turned up a large bank bag with cash stolen from the Silver Star and a tool believed to have been used in the break in.
Ryan Fuller was treated at Cabell Huntington for an injury to his arm and was taken to Western Regional Jail in Barboursville, West Virginia. He was charged with felonious assault, theft of a motor vehicle and fleeing and eluding. He was expected to be extradited to Ohio and arraigned in Lawrence County Municipal Court.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
