MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon is hitting back at those who say he was out of line when he responded to his 22-year-old daughter’s car crash in the early hours of January 6th on Cemetery Road in Martinsburg. Critics have said the sheriff influenced the investigation into the crash. The deputy’s report said Carrie Harmon, 22, was not distracted nor impaired the night of the accident.
He said the responding deputy did not suspect impairment, so a field sobriety test would not have been done:
Harmon said he ‘did’ ask the deputy if Carrie Harmon had been drinking.
He said there was no breathalizer because there was no indication Carrie Harmon was impaired:
Critics contend Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon stayed on the scene of his daughter’s car crash in an effort to influence the outcome of the investigation. Sheriff Harmon said he did not interfere. As to why he didn’t ask for law enforcement from another jurisdiction to respond, —
As to a video on social media that seems to show his daughter voicing appreciation for her dad that some interpreted as proof he intervened, Sheriff Harmon said that video is from two years ago and he has never encouraged his family to use his name to get out of trouble with law enforcement:
Harmon said he does not regret responding to the scene:
Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney Catie Wilkes Deligatti /dell-ih-GETT-ee/ has asked for a special prosecutor to look into the incident:
As to whether the incident involving his child will hamper his effectiveness going after drug dealers:
You can hear Sheriff Harmon’s full appearance from January 24th on the Panhandle Live Facebook and Spotify.