BECKLEY, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police in Beckley confirm that Brandon Lee Cantley has been arrested.
State Police in Raleigh County got a tip at around 9 a.m. Wednesday that Cantley was spotted coming from the woods along Saxon-Bolt Road. He then entered a residence and demanded a female in the home drive him out of the area. Children were present in the home, so the female complied to get him away from them.
Cantley was driven to the Post Office in Eccles. He left the vehicle and got into another vehicle. As that vehicle was pulling out of the Post Office, two Raleigh County Deputies arrived. The driver fled as Cantley was removed from the vehicle and taken into police custody.
He was wanted from a Tuesday incident in which he broke into a Rock Creek home and held the 91-year-old homeowner at gunpoint. He then forced the woman and her caretaker into an elevator and stole several items from the residence including a 2001 Jeep Cherokee. Area residents were placed on high alert for almost 24 hours as Cantley was believed to be “armed and dangerous”.
Cantley will be charged with felony violations in Raleigh County Magistrate Court including kidnapping and strong armed robbery. He will also face two counts each of battery, assault and wanton endangerment. The West Virginia State Police want to thank the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office and the public for their help with the investigation.