Pubdate: Wed, 30 Aug 2006
Source: Charleston Gazette (WV)
Copyright: 2006 Charleston Gazette
Contact:  http://www.wvgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/77
Note: Does not print out of town letters.
Author: Tom Searls

TWO MEN CHARGED IN OFFICER'S SLAYING

A Beckley police detective was gunned down in the middle of a 
downtown street early Tuesday when an undercover drug buy "went 
sour," a State Police captain said.

Two men were arrested several hours later and charged with the murder 
of Detective Charles "Chuckie" Smith, 29, who died at Raleigh General 
Hospital a short time after being shot.

The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on South Fayette Street 
outside Club Attraction, where Smith had arranged to purchase crack 
cocaine from the two suspects, according to a criminal complaint 
filed by State Police Trooper R.A. Daniel.

"It actually happened in the street," said State Police Capt. Scott 
Vanmeter, who heads the Beckley detachment. "It's near the corner of 
South Fayette and Willow streets.

Michael Martin, 41, and Thomas Leftwich, 24, both of Beckley, had 
arranged to sell crack cocaine to Smith, who was working undercover, 
the criminal complaint states. The three reportedly arranged to meet 
near the bar.

When Smith pulled out his badge, Martin ran and Leftwich allegedly 
shot Smith three or four times with a .357 revolver, the complaint said.

Vanmeter said another officer was working with Smith and was in the 
area at the time.

"When police got to the scene, the suspects weren't there," the captain said.

After an investigation of several hours, the two suspects were 
arrested at different nearby Beckley residences. "We picked them up 
through the investigation," Vanmeter said.

The complaint states that Martin rode to the scene with Smith to meet 
Leftwich and make the drug purchase. The two got out of the vehicle 
and Martin told Leftwich that Smith had the money.

Martin told police he saw Leftwich hand something to Smith and the 
detective then showed Leftwich his badge, according to the complaint. 
Martin took off running and said he heard three gunshots.

Leftwich told police he shot the officer three or four times and ran 
on foot, the complaint states.

Martin and Leftwich appeared in Raleigh County Magistrate Court on 
Tuesday, were charged with murder and were being held without bond at 
Southern Regional Jail in Beaver.

Smith grew up in the Sophia area, near Beckley, and was married with 
a young daughter. He had been with the department for five years, 
Vanmeter said.

The last Beckley officer killed on duty was Sgt. David Lilly, 30, who 
was shot during a traffic stop in May 1975. Ron Williams, who escaped 
from prisons more than once and allegedly also killed more than once, 
was convicted of the murder. Williams, a McDowell County native, is 
serving a life sentence at Mount Olive Correctional Center.

Gov. Joe Manchin, who was in Huntington to announce the results of a 
20-month drug enforcement effort, called the shooting "tragic."

"As we were painfully reminded today, our progress in confronting our 
drug problem in West Virginia does not come without a tremendous 
sacrifice on the part of our dedicated law enforcement personnel, who 
every day put themselves in harm's way to keep our communities safe," 
Manchin said in a prepared statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman