MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The suspect in a sexual abuse case is in custody after a downtown foot chase.
Theodore Gibbs, 23, is accused of forcing himself on 70-year-old woman on April 25. Gibbs was scheduled for arraignment Friday night on a charge of first-degree sexual abuse.
“There was a relationship with a family member of the victim and the assailant at one point in time, so they knew each other,” said Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston. “Following the report and investigation, the officers were able to obtain an arrest warrant.”
Spotted and approached by police on Friday afternoon near Wall Street and University Avenue, Gibbs ran toward the Chestnut Street parking garage, where he was arrested.
“He has been arrested not solely by our police department. He has a criminal history. He is known to law enforcement. We were able to locate him quickly and get him off the street,” Preston said.
“This is the first thing of this caliber and magnitude that he has done, obviously. but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the capacity to do more. So, right now, he’s in custody.”