November 17th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
On November 16th, 2023 Deputies of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office were conducting traffic enforcement in the area of Westernport, Maryland. Deputies observed a moped committing several traffic violations in the area of Maryland Avenue. As deputies attempted to stop the moped, it failed to yield and began screaming obscenities toward the deputies. As the moped reached the 200 block of Maryland Avenue it began traveling through the yards of local residences where the deputies then created distance.
The operator parked the moped and began to flee on foot toward the area of Westernport Elementary School. Deputies observed the operator crossing the parking lot of the school and continued the foot pursuit. In the area of Allegany Street deputies observed a female matching the description of the suspect who fled. She was taken into custody and provided deputies with false identification two separate times. With the assistance of the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police the female was identified as Tonya Lynn VanMeter. VanMeter was also found to have an arrest warrant in the State of West Virginia.
Tonya VanMeter (42 Years old) of Keyser, West Virginia was transported to the Allegany County Detention Center and charged with the following:
Flee/Eluding
Obstructing/Hindering
Resisting Arrest
Disorderly Conduct
Fraud – Per Identification to avoid prosecution (X2)
At the conclusion of the criminal proceedings in Maryland, VanMeter will be held pending extradition to West Virginia for the outstanding warrant.
