WAYNESBORO- Brave actions by a gas station worker and quick response from Waynesboro PD has landed a Falling Waters, WV man behind bars in Franklin County. Zachariah Alexander Smith has since been charged with felony kidnapping to inflict injury/terror, misdemeanor stalking, misdemeanor unlawful restraint, misdemeanor false imprisonment, two misdemeanor counts of assault, misdemeanor defiant trespassing, and misdemeanor disorderly conduct engaged in fighting. Smith remains behind bars on $100,000 bail in Franklin County.
Waynesboro PD were dispatched to the Turkey Hill gas station around 5am on January 20th for a reported assault. The caller, an employee, told dispatch that a woman came into the store and stated she was assaulted and wanted the worker to call police. When police were en route, they say they learned that the man who had assaulted the initial victim was in a vehicle outside the store and was named Zachariah Smith.
Officers say that the victim had gone to the bathroom prior to their arrival to clean herself up, but that she didn’t need EMS. While the victim was in the bathroom, Smith allegedly entered the station to look for her, wearing a black ski mask and black clothing, before leaving to the car again. When police arrived, they say they saw Smith back in the store, actively assaulting the staff there…