By RACHEL C. DOVE
Staff Writer
WILLIAMSON - Williamson Police Chief C.D. Rockel is placing two men wanted for drug related crimes who were indicted by the Mingo County April Grand Jury on the “Mingo’s Most Wanted” list published by the Daily News.
The two men sought by police are Jerome Anthony Smith, aka “Oatmeal,” and John Andrew Slone.
Arrest warrants had been issued on indictments that were sealed, but after Chief Rockel submitted a request to the Circuit Court, they were unsealed to allow the information to be passed on to the public.
Smith, who was indicted on one count of delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance, is described as a 37-year-old black male, 5-foot-9-inches and approximately 210 pounds with a stocky build and a full beard. The defendant’s last known address was East Fourth Avenue in Williamson. He has also been known to list Columbus, Ohio as his place of residence.
John Andrew Slone was indicted on one count of delivery of a Schedule I controlled substance and one count of delivery of a Schedule IV controlled substance. Slone is described as a 26-year-old white male, 5-foot-8-inches, 174 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. His last recorded address was at the Victoria Court Apartments on Gum Street in West Williamson, but was allegedly residing in the Red Jacket community near Matewan approximately one month ago.
Both of the defendants have been entered into the National Crime Information Center database, which Chief Rockel feels will aid in their capture.
“The main reason I requested that these indictments be unsealed was to enter them into the database,” said the chief. “As long as an indictment remains sealed, you can’t list them as wanted, nor can you release the information to the media.
“I’m hopeful that someone will know where these two men are staying, and will contact my office,” said the chief. “Both have family ties to the area, so there’s a very good chance they are still in Mingo County.”
Rockel said that the day he received the returned indictments, his officers received a phone call from Slone, who claimed he was going to turn himself in the next day. However; that didn’t occur, and instead he phoned the police department, saying that he didn’t have anyone to leave his children with and had changed his mind, and would not be coming in.
Since that day, there has been no further communications between Slone and law enforcement.
Municipalities within the county and the West Virginia State Police will be featuring cases they need the public’s assistance with and defendants they are searching for in an upcoming “Mingo’s Most Wanted” article, as well as suspects wanted for questioning by the State Fire Marshall’s office regarding cases of alleged arson.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the above listed fugitives, you are asked to contact the WPD at 304-235-2570. You may remain anonymous.
“We want your information and your tips, we don’t have to have your name,” said the chief.
“My concern is getting these guys off the streets and behind bars.”
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