Ritchie County Sheriff's Office

10/30/2026

10/25/2026

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened to learn of the reported line-of-duty death of a Logan County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the deputy’s family, friends, fellow deputies, and the entire Logan County Sheriff’s Department during this difficult time.

Although miles may separate our departments, the bond of the law enforcement family remains strong. We stand with our brothers and sisters in Logan County as they face this tragic heartbreaking loss.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Logan County Sheriff’s Department and all those affected by this tragedy. 🖤💙

10/23/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE – MOCK ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILL

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office would like to inform the public that a mock active shooter drill will be conducted at Pineview Nursing Facility on Saturday October 24, 2026, at approximately 8:00 am.

This exercise is being conducted for training purposes to help prepare law enforcement and facility personnel to respond to an emergency situation. During the drill, the public may observe an increased law enforcement presence and emergency response activity in the area.

Please be advised that this is a planned training exercise and not an actual emergency. We ask that the public remain calm, avoid the immediate area if possible, and allow responding personnel to safely complete the exercise.

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the cooperation and understanding of the residents, families, staff, and community as we continue our efforts to improve emergency preparedness and protect the safety of our community.

09/12/2026

COME OUT TOMORROW AND SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS!

Join us tomorrow for the Heroes Day Celebration and help us show appreciation to the men and women who serve our community!

In conjunction with Heroes Day, the Ritchie County Deputy Sheriff’s Association will have a Dunk Booth set up near St. Luke’s! Come out, have some fun, and maybe even get your favorite deputy a little wet!

The Heroes Day Celebration is FREE to attend and will feature:
🍔 Food Vendors
🏰 Bounce Houses
🎶 Live Entertainment
🚗 Car Show
🇺🇸 And much more!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
9 a.m. Main Street Car Show
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Inflatables near St. Luke's UMC
11 a.m. Opening Ceremony (courthouse steps)
12:30 p.m. Free Concert featuring Rick K Rock & Roll Review: Decades of Hits (St. Luke's Amphitheater)

- The West Virginia DNR will have a booth set up and information for the community.
- Smokey Bear will be there
- Dunking Booth, fundraiser for the Deputy Sheriff Association.

The Dunk Booth will serve as a fundraiser for the Ritchie County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.

Bring the family, enjoy the day, and most importantly, come out and show your support for our local first responders!

We hope to see everyone there!

09/11/2026

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office would like to sincerely thank the residents and staff of Pine View Nursing Center for their thoughtful goodies and handwritten thank-you cards showing their appreciation for our first responders.

Acts of kindness like these mean so much to our deputies and all of our first responders. Knowing that our community supports and appreciates the work we do makes a difference every day.

Thank you, Pine View Nursing Center, for thinking of us and for your continued support of those who serve our community!

09/01/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/1/2026

Ritchie County Sheriff's Office

Public Notice Regarding “Cat in the Hat” Online Trend

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of an online trend involving the Dr. Seuss character “The Cat in the Hat” that has circulated across social media and has now appeared in our area.

The trend began on TikTok with videos featuring the live-action film character accompanied by unsettling music. The content has gained wider attention online and has evolved to include individuals using artificial intelligence, costumes, and staged videos to depict the character appearing in residential neighborhoods, sometimes presented as though the footage was captured by surveillance or doorbell cameras.

While much of this content appears to be fabricated, staged, or created for entertainment and online engagement, some posts associated with the trend have included threats or concerning references involving individuals, homes, schools, or other locations.

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of this type of activity occurring in Ritchie County. An investigation was conducted into a reported incident, and as a result, one juvenile petition was filed.

We want to remind the public that we take these calls and reports very seriously. Any report involving a potential threat, suspicious activity, or conduct that may place an individual or community at risk will be evaluated and investigated based on the circumstances and information available to law enforcement.

We ask the public to:
• Report concerning or threatening posts to local law enforcement rather than attempting to investigate or confront individuals on your own.
• Preserve the original content, including screenshots, usernames, links, and other relevant information when possible.
• Avoid sharing or amplifying threatening content, particularly when it identifies a specific person, residence, school, or location.
• Do not provide personal information, including home addresses, schedules, or real-time locations, in response to online trends.
• Talk with children and teenagers about the difference between viral content created for attention or entertainment and content that may constitute a legitimate threat or criminal conduct.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages parents and guardians to remain aware of what children are viewing and sharing online. Social media trends can change quickly, and content that may initially appear to be a joke can result in real-world concern or law-enforcement involvement when specific people or locations are targeted.

Anyone who becomes aware of a specific threat or suspicious activity is encouraged to contact local law enforcement and provide as much information as possible.

08/25/2026

Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office —Public Information

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office is aware of rumors circulating regarding an alleged gun being found at Ritchie County Middle/High School.

We want to assure the public that no weapons were found, no threats were made, and no students were escorted from the school in handcuffs.

We understand that situations like this can cause concern and quickly lead to rumors. Please know that the school has established safety protocols that are followed when reports or circumstances of this nature arise. These procedures are designed to ensure the safety of students and staff while law enforcement and school officials assess the situation appropriately.

We encourage parents, students, and community members to rely on information provided by school officials and the Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office rather than unverified reports circulating on social media.

The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support of our schools and community.

08/06/2026

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a Seatbelt checkpoint on Friday August 7, 2026. The checkpoint will operate from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

The Seatbelt checkpoint will be conducted on Rt. 16/E. Main Street in front of the Harrisville City Building, Harrisville, Ritchie County, West Virginia. The alternate route around the checkpoint will be Ferguson Lane and Pullman Drive.

The alternate place for the Seatbelt check point will be on Myles Ave. in front of Myles Stadium in Pennsboro, Ritchie County, West Virginia. The alternate Route around the checkpoint will be Masonic Ave and Kimball Ave.

If you have any questions in regards to the Seatbelt Checkpoint please contact Sheriff B.C. Davis or Captain C.D. Cox at the Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office 304-643-2262.

05/29/2026

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Ritchie County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Junior Police Academy scheduled for June 7–11, 2026, has been canceled.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate the interest and support shown by students, families, and our community.

Please stay tuned for future programs and opportunities. If you have any questions, contact the Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office at 304-643-2262.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support

05/12/2026

The Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office was proud to participate in an educational event at Ritchie County High School focused on the dangers of driving under the influence. Students had the opportunity to wear impairment simulation goggles while operating pedal carts through an obstacle course, giving them a firsthand look at how alcohol can affect coordination and reaction time. Students also participated in standardized field sobriety testing while wearing the goggles to better understand the challenges law enforcement officers encounter during DUI investigations. We appreciate the students and staff for helping make this important awareness event a success and for promoting safe and responsible driving habits.