Man charged with theft of fuel from mine site

A Kanawha County man is behind bars facing an array of charges after he allegedly stole fuel from a Boone County mine site and led State Police on a pursuit into Kanawha County.

Cecil Dean, 47, was arrested after the pursuit which ended on the shooting range at Kanawha State Forest Tuesday evening. Troopers were alerted by management at the Black Castle Mine at Andrew, West Virginia about the theft.

“Suspect was involved in stealing off road diesel fuel at the mine and when confronted by Trooper Eric McClung he fled the mining property,” said Corporal Kevin Harper of the Madison Detachment of the West Virginia State Police. “He had three large approximately 150 gallon tanks in the back of his pickup truck and they were all full of off-road diesel fuel.”

Harper said mine management and security personnel had been looking into the disappearance of the fuel already.

“Retired Captain George Spangler was involved in the investigation and was aware the subject was on scene,” said Harper. “I think he actually videotaped the subject stealing the fuel and notified the Madison detachment.”

Dean is facing charges of grand larceny and felony fleeing.  He also faces a range of charges which stem from the pursuit. Troopers said the chase stretched from Boone County on routes 3 and 94 and then into Kanawha State Forest where he hit a dead end and gave up without incident.