In Around West Virginia: a Beckley pastor accused of selling drugs, a riot at the Central Regional Jail, and an update on a 2014 Mercer County domestic violence shooting.
n A Beckley pastor allegedly sold drugs, according to The Register-Herald. Police say an indictment against Rudolph Poindexter is pending. Members of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit say they found several types of prescription pills at his home. Beckley Police Chief of Detectives Lt. David Farley said Poindexter was supplying the drugs to 11 street dealers.
Poindexter said in a 2006 story in The Register-Herald that he opposed public housing units because he viewed them as breeding grounds for crime.
n Seven people incarcerated at the Central Regional Jail in Flatwoods rioted last weekend, The Exponent Telegram reports. Staff used smoke munitions to stop the riot. All seven people face charges. The men had been segregated because of previous misconduct, according to Lawrence Messina, spokesman for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
n Almost a year and a half after being shot in the neck, Dakota Walls is still constantly in pain and requires frequent help, WVVA reports. He uses humor to cope.
Police said Walls was shot by Michael Neel, of Bluefield, in December of 2014. Walls was with Kayla Neel, who was shot and killed. Michael Neel was her estranged husband. Kayla Neel's sister, Amanda Bailey, told the Gazette-Mail Michael Neel had been abusive before the shooting.
An evidentiary hearing was held on Monday. Neel is charged with murder, attempted murder and three counts of wanton endangerment.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.