By Alex Lang
The Dominion Post
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A woman accused of drunkenly running over and injuring a Morgantown Firefighter appeared in Magistrate Court on Monday as attorneys argued over evidence in the case.
Yasmine Ghantous was charged with DUI with injury by the Morgantown Police Department. According to police: In November, Ghantous was behind the wheel as she drove past Morgantown firefighters responding to a call.
Firefighters told the officers that a firefighter was exiting one of the vehicles when a black Jeep Compass tried to pass the engine, struck it and dragged the firefighter.
Police spoke to Ghantous, who said she had a few drinks. Officers also noticed a strong smell of alcohol and saw Ghantous was unsteady on her feet. Field sobriety tests showed that Ghantous was under the influence.
On Monday, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ami Main argued to quash a defense request for worker’s compensation records through the City of Morgantown. She said there was no reason for the defense to have those and the state has provided the firefighter’s medical records.
However, Defense attorney Raymond Yackel said he subpoenaed the city for documents in addition to the worker’s compensation forms. Main said the first time she learned about the extent of the request was during Monday’s hearing.
Yackel said court procedure allows him to request the documents and they are relevant to the defense. He added that city officials have just ignored the request.
At times, the debate between Yackel and Main before Magistrate Jim Nabors became contentious.
Nabors said that he feels some of the items Yackel requested are repetitive and already produced by the state. He asked Main to go through the list and note those items and he would rule on the one that remained.
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