Beckley, West Virginia: The Beckley Police Department announced the arrest of 32-year-old Joshua Aaron Lafferty yesterday on charges related to the abuse of an unidentified male victim.
Officers suspect that this incident was drug related.
According to the statement released by Lt. David S. Allard officers received a tip from a "concerned citizen" on Saturday, May 22 at approximately 5:00 pm about a badly beaten man being held in a dog cage.
Officers obtained a search warrant based on video evidence that the witness was able to provide to officers. At 8:25 pm that night, the executed that search warrant and located the "badly injured" adult male.
He was found to be "suffering from multiple lacerations, contusions, and a significant injury to an upper extremity." He was transferred by emergency medical services to a local hospital for treatment.
Later at the hospital, the victim told officers that Lafferty had beaten him, at one point with a shovel, and demanded a large sum of money from him.
Lafferty has been arrested and is being held in the Southern Regional Jail without bond. Officers are currently attempting to locate two other suspects and additional charges are expected as the investigation unfolds.
At this time Lafferty has been charged with kidnapping, malicious wounding and conspiracy to commit a felony.