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ZZUNUSED
Fugitive arrested, charged in murder
Roger Lewis Coleman, Jr., 38, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on first- degree murder charges when authorities found him in South Point, Ohio.
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HUNTINGTON -- Roger Lewis Coleman Jr., 38, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on first-degree murder charges when authorities found him in South Point, Ohio.
Coleman was captured by the joint efforts of the U.S. Marshal's Service and the Huntington Police Department after an anonymous tip led to his arrest. He was found in a trailer behind Lowe's in South Point, Ohio.
"We had the tip line open, and we got a lot of tips, but one tip that we received had some very specific information about where he was hiding," said Lt. Rocky Johnson.
Huntington Police officers Lt. Rocky Johnson, Det. Chris Sperry and Sgt. John Williams assisted in the arrest as deputized U.S. Marshals with the Fugitive Task Force.
"We get to go out of our usual jurisdiction as long as we are there with a marshal, and the benefit of that is that we can be there and look for evidence that we need for our case," said Johnson.
After alerting the U.S. Marshals Service to the whereabouts of Coleman, Huntington Police went to the residence where he was believed to be hiding.
"He peeked out the window and when we approached, he came outside and surrendered without incident," Johnson said.
Investigators initially believed Coleman was still in the region, but expressed concern that he might attempt to flee once he was able to gather more resources.
Coleman was arraigned at about 6 p.m. by Magistrate Dan Goheen, who said he advised Coleman of his rights and made him aware that he would be held without bond.
"He was very cooperative with the officers," Goheen said.
Goheen said Coleman is scheduled for a hearing at the Circuit Court at 10:30 a.m., Aug. 1.
Authorities believe Coleman has lived in Huntington for the past two years, but he was wanted for a parole violation from Washington, D.C., stemming from a prior crack cocaine offense.
This charge made it easier for authorities to bring him from Ohio to West Virginia because they did not need to go through an extradition process.
A warrant for Coleman's arrest was issued earlier this week linking Coleman to the murder of 27-year-old James Patrick Green III. Green was killed at about 7 p.m. Sunday at 1114 9th Avenue.
Johnson said a preliminary investigation indicates the dispute that ended in Green's death may have only been over $12 worth of CDs.
According to the police report, investigators believe Green went to the 9th Avenue residence Sunday with two other individuals to see Coleman and was killed with a single gunshot to the face.
Police responded to the call of the shooting and found Green's body lying on the front lawn of the 9th Avenue residence. He was transported to St. Mary's Medical Center. He was unable to share information with officers before he died later that evening.
The original search for the suspect was delayed by the belief that the shooter was still inside of the residence. Police searched the home to find that Coleman had gone elsewhere.
Green had two daughters, both under 10 years old. He is also survived by a brother and sister.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the Full Gospel Assembly Church followed by a burial at Spring Hill Cemetery by the Ferrell-Chambers Funeral Home in Huntington.
