MILL CREEK, W.Va. — Trooper J.J. Cornelius of the Elkins Detachment is on the mend after a violent encounter with a suspect last week. However, it’s very likely he would be dead if it hadn’t been for a bystander who got involved.
Joe Austin of Mill Creek heard a commotion in the stream behind his house. He ran to the creek bank and was greeted by a frightening scene.
“The trooper was face down in the water with his knife in one hand and gun in the other,” said Austin. “He was struggling to keep his head above water. It looked like he was going in and out of consciousness.”
Cornelius was struggling after he attempted to apprehend suspect Nathaniel Wegman and the two got into a fight in the water. Cornelius struck his head on a rock in the creek during the incident and according to State Police was under attack by Wegman who allegedly pinned him to the bottom of the creek and held his head under water by his throat. Cornelius used his knife to fight his way free of Wegman’s grip.
Wegman was at the water’s edge when Austin arrived.
“When he saw me helping the trooper out of the water, he stood there and looked at me for a few seconds and he took off,” said Austin.
Wegman was caught a few hours later and faces attempted murder charges.
Austin said he believed Cornelius asked him for help even though he couldn’t make out the trooper’s words. Shedding his wallet and phone, Austin dived into the water and pulled Cornelius to the bank.
“At that time you could kind of see him release. He just let go,” said Austin. “The current was carrying him down. I got him up on my back and out of the water. He told me in his own words that if I wouldn’t have been there he would have drowned. He was fighting for his life.”
Austin said Cornelius was incredibly weak and groggy after the incident even when he got him to the bank. Armed with some basic first aid training Austin said he knew not to let the trooper go to sleep, so he kept talking to him and called 911.
“His radio was gone and he didn’t have anything. He asked if I had my cell phone, which thankfully I had thrown out of my pocket before I went in,” said Austin. “I called 911 and the ambulance responded pretty quickly.”
Austin said Cornelius and other troopers repeatedly thanked him for jumping into action, but Austin deflected any praise for his quick action.
“The troopers are the ones we should be thanking,” he said. “I’ve got kids and family and they go out there and face this stuff every day to keep our families safe.”