Juvenile arrested after burning a tire, harassing firefighters, underage drinking

Article owned and originally published by WDTV 5 News on Apr. 30, 2024.

Original Article

ELKINS, W.Va (WDTV) - A teenager was arrested after repeatedly harassing firefighters that were called to put out a fire on his property.

Around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30th, police were investigating a missing juvenile, and were made aware of a party in the area of King Summit Road where people were drinking underage.

Upon arriving at the scene, police made contact with the property owner, 18-year-old Rubeus Petrice, who they described as “covered in dirt and slurring his words”, according to a criminal complaint.

Petrice was also showing difficulty in keeping his balance and smelled of alcohol, according to police.

Petrice had recently turned 18 and police said everyone else at the party was also underage.

It was at this point that police realized the fire the party goers were gathering around was a burning tire, and that the flames were reaching tree limbs that were close to a power line.

Officers asked that the fire be put out, and were told that Petrice and his guests had no way of putting out the fire, so they called Coalton Fire Department to assist.

When firefighters arrived on scene, Petrice and the other juveniles began harassing them. Police told the group to calm down, that they were only trying to get information on the missing juvenile, and that they could be written up for underage drinking.

The group of juveniles continued to harass firefighters, even calling them the N-word, despite being told multiple times to stop.

Once the group turned to racial slurs, Petrice was informed he was being detained and could be written up for underage drinking and the fire.

While the officer was writing the citation, Petrice ignored officers’ warnings to remain nearby and tried running into the house; he wrapped his arms around a pillar and refused to listen to commands.

The responding officer attempted to remove Petrice from the pillar, and in the struggle Petrice elbowed him in the chest, the officer also suffered lacerations on both of his hands.

While being handcuffed and arrested, Petrice was asked multiple times to stop saying the N-word, police said.

Rubeus Hermes Petrice is being charged with misdemeanor open burning of tires, misdemeanor battery and assault on an officer, and misdemeanor underage drinking; he is being held at TVRJ on a bond of $2,000. No mugshot is currently available.