Two Galligher, WV, men face felony charges after a high-speed pursuit and crash on I-77 just north of Fairplain Thursday morning.

Larry Edward Patton, 38, and James Edward Rucker, 19, were arrested following the crash involving their Chevy Blazer and a Ravenswood Police cruiser driven by Sgt. Johnny Moore.

Moore was injured in the crash and hospitalized.

The incident began when Sgt. S.E. Wolfe of the West Virginia State Police detachment at Ripley received a 9-1-1 report of a BOLO from Wood County for B&E suspects. The suspects were allegedly interrupted in the middle of committing a B&E and had fled south toward Jackson County in a red Chevy Blazer.

Sgt. Wolfe and Jackson County Deputy Sheriff’s Ross Mellinger and Cpl. Eric Cullen responded to look for the suspect vehicle.

Cullen intercepted the Blazer driven by Patton and a pursuit began with the Blazer exiting I-77 at Silverton and then re entering the interstate heading north in the southbound lanes. The Blazer crossed back through the median into the northbound lanes and continued to flee from the pursuing officers—Cullen, Mellinger and Wolfe. The chase continued on several county routes including I-77, Medina Road and Route 21.

The high-speed chase lasted some 45 minutes and turned south again on I-77 with Sgt. Johnny Moore of the Ravenswood Police Department joined the pursuit to intercept the Blazer.

Near Fairplain, Patton allegedly intentionally collided with Moore’s cruiser and the two vehicles wrecked. Moore’s cruiser ended up partially in the median and the Blazer skidded around in the southbound lanes, striking the guard rails headed north.

Injured in the crash, Moore fired two shots into the Blazer.

Other officers arrived within moments and took the suspects into custody. Sgt. Wolfe was injured when he was bitten by Mellinger’s K-9 partner Jup while attempting to take the suspects into custody.

Patton, whose license was revoked, allegedly admitted to being under the influence of a controlled substance prior to the pursuit.

He was arrested and charged with felony fleeing in a vehicle with bodily injury (possible 1-5 years imprisonment) and felony fleeing in a vehicle while DUI (possible 1-5 years imprisonment).

Rucker was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony/fleeing in a vehicle with bodily injury and conspiracy to commit a felony/fleeing in a vehicle while DUI.

Both men were arraigned before Magistrate Jackie Casto who set bond at $100,000 each.