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One Apprehended, One Still At Large After High-Speed Chase

McMECHEN – Police cars littered the southbound side of W.Va. Route 2 around 8:20 p.m. Tuesday evening, as a high-speed chase came to an abrupt end between the road and train tracks in McMechen. One man was in custody and another, believed armed, remains at large.

According to Marshall County Sheriff Bill Helms, Benwood police started to pursue a car heading south, which ended quickly when it crashed on the west side of the railroad tracks near 12th Street. The driver of the car, who Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell identified as Cody Watzychyn, 26 of Washington, Pennsylvania, was taken into police custody by deputies without incident. However, police said another occupant of the car, who the driver believed to be armed, fled the scene and escaped on foot.

“We took one into custody without incident, put him in the cruiser, and went looking for the other occupant,” Helms said. “The passenger was said to be in possession of a firearm, but we don’t have proof of that, and we still don’t know where he is. … The passenger was said to have had a firearm, so I would think that would have to come from the one they had in custody.”

The passenger, Kyle Gray, 28, fled on foot with drugs and a pistol, police said, and remains at large. Longwell described him as a white male, with no further description. Inside the car, Longwell said police found drugs including methamphetamine, various pills and Fentanyl.

Watzychyn was charged with speeding, fleeing while DUI, obstruction, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of Fentanyl. He also has outstanding warrants from Pennsylvania. Gray also has warrants for his arrest from Pennsylvania.

“We’re still looking for him,” Longwell said Wednesday afternoon.

Further south in Glen Dale, police cruisers briefly attempted to set up a road block using spike strips just outside the police station. However, within a few minutes, the police withdrew from the spot and headed north to assist where the chase had ended.

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