RAVENSWOOD, West Virginia -
UPDATE
After a thorough investigation, conducted by Troopers assigned to the Ripley Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, established probable cause to arrest Mr. Robert Mason Sullivan, II and Mr. Michael Robert Fowler for felony destruction of property on August 9, 2012.
Mr. Fowler was also charged with misdemeanor battery for his role in throwing the rock through the windshield. Both suspects were arraigned in Jackson County Magistrate Court. Mr. Sullivan was released on a $5,000 bond and Mr. Fowler was released on a $6,000 bond.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They are crude pieces of welded metal with sharpened tips. By some, they are called jack rocks, and they can be very destructive.
For three truck drivers with Besl Trucking Co., they had jack rocks pulled from their tires and rocks thrown at their windows. According to the West Virginia State Police, the attack happened while the trucks were leaving Constellium Rolled Products, where union members are holding active strikes.
One driver was taken to a local hospital to have glass from a window removed from his eye.
"That rock could have come through the windshield and seriously hurt him," said Gerald Harris. The owner/operator said he is worried to drive by the trucks to what he calls constant attacks by union members.
Union members denied any responsibility for throwing the rocks or jack rocks. They instead theorized it was done by members of Constellium security or members of Besl in an effort to break the strike.
"We have about 600 (striking union members)," said Allen Palmer, a union representative, in a phone interview. "Captains are at each site to keep an eye on the guys and remove any bad apples."
Palmer said one member had to be removed and arrested Saturday night from a strike line.
No arrests have been made, and the West Virginia State Police continues to investigate the incident.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WOWK. All Rights Reserved.
