A convict is at large after escaping from a transport van Wednesday at the North Beckley toll plaza near the intersection of Interstate 64 and Interstate 77.
Paul Ira Hopkins, 37, escaped at about 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon when the vehicle reduced speed to pass through the North Beckley toll plaza to enter onto Interstate I-64/I-77, according to a news release from the Fayette Sheriff's Office. Fayette Sheriff Steve Kessler said in the statement that Hopkins freed himself from a handcuff and reached through the window of the van to unlock the door from the outside. He then jumped from the van, leapt over a guardrail and fled on foot.
Nobody was able to immediately pursue Hopkins, said Kessler.
"The Prisoner Transport Officer was unable to pursue this individual," he said, "because of his duty to continue securing the other four inmates in the transport van."
West Virginia State Police and deputies from Raleigh and Fayette counties responded to the scene.
A K-9 unit tracked Hopkins to a nearby garage where he allegedly stole a black Toyota Scion tC. He has since fled the scene and is currently at large.
Described as a white man standing 5-foot 2-inches, Hopkins is believed to weigh about 160 pounds and has short brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, flip-flops and leg shackles. Deputies said he's likely driving the stolen vehicle, with West Virginia license plate that read: 1KP163.
Hopkins is not believed to be armed, but Fayette deputies consider him dangerous.
Hopkins was charged with the misdemeanor crime of petty larceny and a prior charge of fleeing an officer. Raleigh emergency dispatchers said Hopkins was returning from a sentencing hearing, where he had just received two consecutive sentences of six months and one year to be served at Southern Regional Jail and Fayette County Community Corrections Program, respectively.
He will now face charges of grand larceny and escaping from custody.
State Police and Fayette and Raleigh County sheriff's departments still are investigating the incident. Anyone with information regarding Hopkins' location is asked to call 911.
Reach Jared Casto at jared.casto@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4832 or follow @JaredCasto on Twitter.