At around 9:40 a.m. on Dec. 22 2017, officers of the Morgantown Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Earl Core Road for traffic violations. As the officer conducted the traffic stop, he found that the operator of the vehicle could not produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance. The officer asked the suspect to step out from the vehicle. The suspect began to struggle with the officer and broke free from the officer, running around the patrol car. During the struggle, the suspect reached into his waistband and pulled out a semi-automatic firearm.
The suspect fled from the area but was apprehended as he rand into another officer that was responding to the scene.
Officers recovered a .22 caliber, Walther Semi-Automatic Pistol, that had been reported stolen from Uniontown, Pennsylvania. A record check on the suspect revealed that he was also a convicted felon at the time of this incident.
Wilbur Marvin Higgenbothem, 50 years of age of Morgantown has been charged as a “Person Prohibited from Possessing a Firearm and was confined at the North Central Regional Jail. This case is still under investigation and additional charges are pending.
The Morgantown Police Department is committed to its goal of eliminating crime in our city. Citizens are encouraged to become a “Partner in
Policing”, by reporting suspected criminal activity to Morgantown Police Department Switchboard at 304-284-7522. If you need immediate Police attention or a crime is in progress call 911.