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Updated: 5:09 AM Sep 18, 2008
UPDATE: Huntington Mayor Felinton, Wife Cleared in Domestic Call Case
Huntington Mayor David Felinton and his wife were involved in a domestic call at their home Sunday morning.
Posted: 12:46 PM Sep 17, 2008Reporter: Melanie Chapman; Dave Benton Email Address: melanie.chapman@wsaz.com; dave.benton@wsaz.com |
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UPDATE @ 4:15 Wednesday
The Huntington police department will not pursue charges against Huntington Mayor David Felinton and his wife, who were involved in a domestic call at his home Sunday morning.
Huntington Police Captain Steve Hall said Bethany Felinton, the mayor's wife, admitted to embellishing the story with police and 911.
"She lied if you will," Captain Steve Hall said. "Because she was just flat mad at her husband and wanted to see him in trouble."
Police Chief Skip Holbrook said there were no visible signs of injury on either Mr. or Mrs. Felinton. Holbrook said there were signs both consumed alcohol, but neither appeared to be impaired.
Hall said the police won't charge Mrs. Felinton for making the false call Sunday morning. Hall said it would set a dangerous precedent for the police department.
"It would have a chilling effect. It would deter anyone from reporting a domestic incident," Captain Hall said.
Chief Skip Holbrook applauded the work of his department in the case.
"The way we approached this from the beginning is to be professional, ethical and consistent with how we handle any domestic situation," Skip Holbrook said.
UPDATE @ 12:10 Wednesday
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The Huntington Police Department has announced a news conference for 4pm Wednesday to announce the findings of the investigation into the domestic disturbance at the mayor's home.
UPDATE @ 5:22pm
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- WSAZ obtained a copy of the 911 call made by Bethany Felinton early Sunday morning. Mrs. Felinton tells 911 dispatchers that her husband, Huntington Mayor David Felinton, was trying "to jump into me and my mother."
Mrs. Felinton claims on the call that Mr. Felinton tried to slam her head into a brick wall.
Monday, in an interview with WSAZ's Dave Benton, Mrs. Felinton said she is sorry for misusing 911 and that what she said on the 911 call was not true.
"He has never given me a reason or inkling to have any kind of fear," Bethany Felinton said of her husband. "He's a very loyal, very gentle man."
Mrs. Felinton admits her marriage is not perfect, but says she thinks this incident will help them grow stronger.
Mrs. Felinton said a stressful situation at home with her children and family contributed to the incident Sunday morning.
Huntington officers did not arrest anyone at the home after an hour and a half on the scene.
WSAZ obtained the 911 recording from a third party source. A Freedom of Information Act request to 911was denied on the reasoning that police are still investigating the matter. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook confirmed to WSAZ.com Monday afternoon that the investigation continues.
911 Call Transcript
The following is a transcipt of Bethany Felinton's call to 911.
Dispatch: 911
Bethany Felinton: I need uh a domestic at (address withheld).
Dispatch: What’s going on?
Bethany Felinton: Mayor Felinton has lost his mind. He is jumping into my mother and me.
Dispatch: Where’s he at?
Bethany Felinton: (address withheld).
Dispatch: Where’s he at?
Bethany Felinton: He’s right here. He just tried to slam my head up against a brick wall.
Dispatch: What is your name?
Bethany Felinton: Bethany, I’m his wife.
Dispatch: Huh?
Bethany Felinton: I’m his wife.
Dispatch: And what was your first name?...Ma’am?
Original Story, Sunday September 15th
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Huntington Mayor David Felinton held a news conference to explain a domestic disturbance that happened at his home early Sunday morning.
Huntington officers responded to the Felinton home after the mayor's wife, Bethany, called 911 around 12:45 a.m.
When officers arrived, the mayor was standing on the sidewalk and his wife was on the porch, according to a police report. Police found a broken wine glass on the front porch and personal items thrown across the front yard and sidewalk.
Neither was injured, and no one was arrested in the incident.
Mayor Felinton said it all resulted from a misunderstanding due to his wife's stressful situation.
Bethany Felinton asked for forgiveness from emergency workers for her "misuse of the critical resources" that are provided to the community.
Mayor Felinton would not elaborate on what started the argument, other than to say it was due to stress in their relationship. The mayor said the couple will seek counseling.
Police have never been called to the Felinton home before.
Mayor Felinton said police followed proper protocol and did not treat him any differently than any other member of the public.
Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.
Latest Comments
I support Mayor Felinton. However, WSAZ will not display any of my comments on this subject. What did he do? Refuse an interview at one time. Please be fair!
Apparently no ones reads the actual story here. There were no arrests made because there was no actual PHYSICAL EVIDENCE of domestic battery. An officer cannot make an arrest on something when the victim recants her story and there is no evidence to prove contrary. If she refuses to file charges and there is no evidence to show that she was assaulted, then they CANNOT prove that a crime was actually comitted. Whatever the reason was that she called, there was nothing proving that it happened. Until she is ready to press charges and file a report, then the officers can do nothing without evidence. Those laws were put there to protect EVERYONE, not just the mayor or anyone else of some political significance. And to address the issue of why "part of the 911 tape was missing", well, it wasn't. She hung up on the dispatcher before they could tell her that officers would be sent. You can't make someone stay on the phone with you. There are no holes. That's it.
I find it funny that neither mayor or wife went to jail considering in most cases of domestic disturbances at least one of the party goes to jail. Tha mayor isn't above anyone else when it comes to slapping a woman. She's still with him, apparantly he didn't slam her head against the wall hard enough.
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