At about 12:40pm, SAPD received a call to respond to 224 Carson Street RE a deceased person. A man called 911 to report his daughter was dead and visible blood the scene. SAPD arrived on scene and spoke to the man, Joe E. Paul (victim's father). He said he came to check on his daughter and found the crime scene. The victim's 3 year old son was on scene and had been in the home with the victim when discovered by Mr. Paul.

The Kanawha Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist. The KBI consists of investigators and technicians from the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department, Nitro Police Department, and the St. Albans Police Department.

Investigators were at the crime scene until about 2:00am.

A vehicle of interest was located west of the city. This vehicle has been seized and will be processed today by investigators. A male was also located that may have information about the vehicle and is being interviewed today.

The victim's boyfriend was interviewed yesterday and will be interviewed again. He is cooperating with investigators.

The autopsy will be done sometime today. The cause of death will not be released until the autopsy is complete.

Aside from the KBI, assistance had been received from deputies from the Kan Co Sheriff's Department, troopers from the WV State Police, & the Nitro Police Department.

SAPD has received from numerous tips from the community, all of which either have been or are being followed up on. If anyone has any information, please call the SAPD at 304-727-2251.

After a month long investigation, an arrest has been made in the robbery of Lewie's gambling parlor. On November 16 at about 2:00am, a masked man wearing a Halloween mask went into the gambling parlor located at 2813 MacCorkle Avenue in St. Albans. He brandished a knife and demanded money.

Ptl. Marc Gilbert developed information that culminated in the arrest of Brian Keith Gandee (53 years old from St. Albans). He was arrested without incident on the lot of the Family Dollar in the 2500 block of Kanawha Terrace earlier today.

After being confronted with the evidence against him, Mr. Gandee gave a full confession to Ptl. Gilbert. He said he needed the money because of personal financial problems.

Mr. Gandee was taken to Kan County Magistrate Court for arraignment on 1st Degree Robbery. He was released on a $5000 bond.

This Friday morning, December 11, 2009, the St. Albans Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #88 will be holding it's annual Shop With A Cop at the Nitro Wal Mart. We will be getting underway around 7:30am.

Lodge members will be accompanying local children chosen by area schools that may have some financial hardships this Christmas. The Nitro Wal Mart has partnered with Lodge #88 for many years now in this worthy endeavor.

Lodge #88 will spend well over $5000 on this program alone. The Shop With A Cop program is the lodge's largest community donation program. Lodge #88 regularly provides donations to various youth programs, local athletic teams, & other charitable events.

FOP Lodge #88 counts among it's members, active officers with the St. Albans Police Department, WV Division of Natural Resources, Kan Co Parks Police, WV Air National Guard Security Police, and the WV Public Service Commission. The lodge has retired members from many more local, county, & state agencies.

James Agee
Vice-President
Lodge #88

The St. Albans Police Department will be testing for Probationary Police Officers. Applications are being accepted now until January 5, 2010 at 4:30pm. Applications can be picked up now at the St. Albans City Hall located at 1499 MacCorkle Avenue in St. Albans beside the SA Mall Shopping Center.

A Physical Agility Test at the offices of SAPD will be conducted on January 9, 2010 at 9:00am. Those that successfully pass that, will take a written exam at the Hansford Senior Center on January 23, 2010 at 9:00am.

Those remaining will be placed on an eligibility list. Further steps in the process will be a background investigation, polygraph exam, psychological exam, and medical physical. If hired, graduation from the WV State Police Academy is required. It is a 16-week residential Academy. For more information, go here: http://www.wvstatepolice.com/training/training.htm

Benefits include 12 hour shifts that rotate every month, uniform allowance, equipment, a take-home car upon completion of the Academy, medical, eye, dental, paid holidays, paid vacation, overtime, and pension.

The City of St. Albans is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SAPD will be seeing two members retiring in early 2010, so there will be two openings soon after testing is complete.