MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office did a bit of housekeeping this week. During their “warrant round up,” they found one suspect in the attic. 
It happened Tuesday. a total of 50 warrants were involved in this, the first wave of what BCSD is calling an ‘ongoing, continuing effort’ on warrants related to a variety of charges.
During one of the arrest attempts, a male subject barricaded himself in an attic until “chemical munitions” were deployed, and that man, Joseph Boyer, 32, ended up kicking a hole in the ceiling where he was “assisted into custody by SWAT Members waiting on the lower level.”
Arrested at the same location was 64-year-old Michael Austin, who was arrested without incident.
Out of fifty warrants, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office conducted twenty seven (27) attempts and made 8 arrests. “Of the 8 arrests, the charges were for battery, domestic battery and possession with intent (drugs). The remaining warrants will continue to be served until all offenders have been arrested,” according to the sheriff’s department.
Offenders with outstanding warrants are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office to arrange a date and time to turn themselves in. Unserved warrants will be posted on the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
The story, as reported by the BCSD: On June 4, 2024 deputies responded to Driftwood Court to served arrest warrants on two occupants for drug charges. The first occupant, Michael Austin – 64 YOA W/M, was arrested immediately without incident. Another male that matched the description of the subject with the second warrant was seen inside the residence attempting to evade the police presence. An initial attempt to search the residence was made but do to the size and safety concerns of the residence the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was requested to assist.
During the initial search for the offender, illegal narcotics were observed. A search warrant was then obtained for both the suspected wanted person and drugs. After the required 2 notifications were sent inside the residence to the offender, the SWAT Team deployed Chemical Munitions with no response. The SWAT Team along with K-9 searched the home in its entirety except for the attic, where they believed the suspect hiding.
Chemical Munitions were then deployed and a short time later SWAT Operators heard knocking and a male voice stating that he was in the wall. The suspect kicked a hole in the ceiling where he was assisted into custody by SWAT Members waiting on the lower level. The male subject was transported to the ERJ. The second subject was identified as Joseph Boyer, 32.”
This operation included patrol deputies, SWAT, Criminal Investigations Unit, Berkeley County Marshals Transportation Division, Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Eastern Regional Jail Transportation Division.
