Police arrested two men after responding to a call about a suicidal man on Sunday.
Cpl. J.M. Vernon and T.J. Cumberledge were responding to reports of a suicidal man with a gun in the area of Whispering Way near St. Albans, according to a release from the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office.
Once there, they detained a man with a loaded pistol and several others "as a precaution during the initial confusion involving a suicidal man with a gun," the release from Sgt. Brian Humphreys says.
Michael Ward, 32, of St. Albans allegedly tried to hide his prescription pills bottles full of drugs by putting them beneath the police cruiser. The bottles allegedly held 14 grams of crystal meth, 2 grams of marijuana, 4 klonopins, and 3 roxycodones. He was arrested and charged with intent to deliver controlled substances.
Michael Zabrieszack, Jr., 31, of St. Albans, was arrested and charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Police also searched his residence and found stolen property, so they say they plan to file additional charges, the release says. Some of the items found include a jet ski, an air compressor, power tools, a generator and firearms.
The press release stated that Zabrieszack was the suicidal male. Asked whether Zabrieszack asked for or would receive any mental health treatment, Humphreys said the press release was incorrect.
"He was not the suicidal male," Humphreys said in an email. "He matched description. Another man was found who WAS suicidal and taken for treatment."