State Police have arrested a 48-year-old Flatwoods man after he alleged threatened to burn the Veterans Clinic between Gassaway and Sutton.
Sgt. D.L. Gordon of the Sutton Detachment of the West Virginia State Police was contacted by the Veterans Administration Police in Clarksburg with a complaint that the local man had made threats to a Federal Building. The incident occurred in early August when Paul Lee Johnson called the local Veterans Clinic wanting a food box delivered to his residence. A nurse at the facility advised Johnson that she could not get the box to him at that moment. Johnson allegedly became verbally abusive and told the employee he would “burn the place to the ground.”
Following Sgt Gordon’s investigation and interview of witnesses, Jonhson was arrested on August 26 on charges of knowingly and willfully threatening to commit a terrorist act. If convicted Johnson could face fines from $5,000 to $25,000 and one to three years in prison.
Johnson was arraigned before Braxton County Magistrate Beth Smith where his bond was set at $25,000 cash only. Johnson was taken to the Central Regional Jail where he remains at press-time awaiting further court action.
Devoted to Braxton County, West Virginia
