It is one of a law enforcement officer’s worst nightmares, a seemingly normal traffic stop that turns unexpectedly violent.
On Monday August 17, as reported in a press release, a Hardy County Deputy Sheriff pulled over Hayden Hart, age 20 and a resident of Wardensville. Hart had outstanding warrants for kidnapping and wanton endangerment out of Hampshire County at the time of the stop.
Quickly, Hardy County Sheriff’s Department officials put a release online asking for information on Hart’s whereabouts, but also advising that he was armed and dangerous and stated emphatically “do not approach him.”
Hart pulled a weapon and opened fire on the law enforcement officer, who shot back and wounded Hart, who returned to his vehicle and drove off. Hart sped down Waites Run and drove into the George Washington National Forest where he broke into a structure and attempted to hide from the law.
Assisting Hardy County deputies in the ensuing manhunt was the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, the Moorefield Police Department, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, and police of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. A search located him in a house on Waites Run at about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon.
Refusing to surrender, Hart again fired at those who had located him, a Hardy deputy, and Hampshire deputy, and a DNR officer. They returned fire and killed Hart
