West Virginia State Police clarifies stance regarding Raleigh County Prosecutor’s Office

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — The West Virginia State Police has issued a statement clarifying their stance regarding Ben Hatfield and the Raleigh County Prosecutor’s Office.

On Thursday, October 10, 2024, 59News brought you all the story regarding the Raleigh County Commission passing a motion to have Benjamin Hatfield removed from his position as Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney.

Within the story, it was reported that members of both the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and West Virginia State Police had told Commissioners they would not appear for any grand jury where Hatfield was involved. This was stated in the official filing and court documents after the Commission meeting.

Additionally, local law enforcement, including both the West Virginia State Police and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department has contacted the Raleigh County Commission and stated that it would not appear for any grand jury where Mr. Hatfield was seeking an indictment.

Petition of Resolution Pursuant To WV Code §6-6-7 – Subsection 13

While what 59News reported was based off court documents and legal filings, representatives with the WV State Police has said some of the information in the documents was incorrect through the following statement:

On October 10, 2024, WVNS aired a news story based on information previously obtained from the Raleigh County Commission, indicating the West Virginia State Police would be modifying their protocol with the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as a result of changes their office is currently undergoing. This is not True. Troopers will continue to bring forward criminal cases to the Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The West Virginia State Police will continue to serve the citizens of Raleigh County and all citizens of this state and will not alter their mission statement.

Captain R.A. Maddy | West Virginia State Police

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