By Derek Redd, The Intelligencer
MCMECHEN, W.Va. — State Sen. Michael Maroney was allegedly driving erratically near Center McMechen Elementary during pickup time Monday before he was arrested on a DUI charge, according to a criminal complaint filed in Marshall County Magistrate Court.
Maroney pleaded not guilty Monday night to one count of DUI-drugs, one count of failure to maintain motor vehicle insurance and one count of expired motor vehicle registration following his arrest on those misdemeanor charges Monday afternoon. Bond was set at $5,000 and he was released after paying $500 in cash.
According to the criminal complaint filed by McMechen Police Chief Robert Shilling, Shilling was patrolling the school zone on Marshall Street at Center McMechen at 2:40 p.m. as parents lined up to pick up their children. He said he saw a black Lincoln SUV coming up Eighth Street and trying to make a right turn, motioned for the SUV to turn right and saw the driver accelerate quickly.
Shilling then said he saw another vehicle back out of a space by the fire department, then said he watched the SUV stop quickly and accelerate quickly again as the other vehicle was backing into the road.
According to the complaint, Shilling tried to stop the SUV, turning on his emergency lights and hitting his siren multiple times. Shilling said the SUV didn’t stop, turned onto Logan Street and nearly drove head-on into another car. The other car backed up, according to the complaint, and the SUV drove past it. Shilling hit his siren again and the SUV finally stopped.