Louisa Woman is Jailed After Allegedly Wreaking Havoc in Mingo Co WV
By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor
Three separate incidents in Mingo County, WV landed a Louisa woman in jail on Tuesday, July 28.
According to the first criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court, Cpl. M.A. Lendearo and Deputy Jacob May of the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department responded on Monday, July 6, to a residence on Church Street in Matewan, after a 911 caller reported an altercation involving a firearm.
Amanda Bryant, who lives at the residence, reportedly told officers that Payton Evans was visiting her when Courtney Jo Cooper, 21, his former girlfriend, arrived and entered the home without permission.
According to the complaint, Cooper began yelling at those in the home before leaving the residence and repeatedly striking Evans’ pickup truck with a glass alcohol bottle, damaging the vehicle.
It was reported that Cooper then drove down Church Street, where Dexter Varney was walking his dog. Varney alleged that Cooper steered her vehicle toward him, narrowly missing him but striking and seriously injuring the dog. It was reported the animal later died from its injuries.
When officers spoke with the man, he said that after striking the dog Cooper turned the vehicle around and drove back toward him. The man, in fear for his life, picked up a brick to defend himself.
The man then told officers that is when Cooper allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at him before fleeing the scene.
On July 7, a second warrant for Cooper’s arrest was issued after a crash at an apartment building in West Williamson on Tuesday, July 7.
Patrolman R.A. Moore spoke with tenant Tiffany Hall, who said Cooper had arrived at Evans’ (the former boyfriend) apartment to retrieve her belongings and was driving a Nissan Altima.
As Cooper attempted to drive behind the building and pass between two parked vehicles, she allegedly struck a white van and Hall’s silver Toyota Corolla.
The van’s owner did not file charges because the damage was minimal however, due to the damage to Hall’s vehicle she did press charges against Cooper.
On Friday, July 24, another incident was reported in East Williamson when Kaydence Hall told West Virginia State Police Senior Trooper C.K. Johnson that she and Cooper were spending time together when an argument began. Hall alleged that Cooper assaulted her and is accused of striking a parked vehicle while leaving the scene.
Johnson charged her with one count of battery in connection with the incident.
Cooper was arrested Tuesday, July 28, in Williamson, after she was spotted by Cpl. E. Williams of the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department.
Charges in all the three incidents include cruelty to animals causing death, wanton endangerment involving a firearm, reckless driving, assault, destruction of property, striking an unattended vehicle and battery.
Cooper was lodged in the Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden where she remains under bonds totaling $7,000.