Vehicle Theft in Mountain Lake Park
On August 14, 2026, around 4:00 a.m., deputies responded to the 700 block of N Street in Mountain Lake Park after a report of an individual running from a vehicle. The vehicle’s window had been broken and the ignition system damaged. A second vehicle with similar damage was found around the 600 block of P Street. Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division along with the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigator responded to the scene for further investigation. While investigating the two attempted motor vehicle thefts, Detectives received a report of a stolen vehicle from the 100 block of Alderson Street in Loch Lynn. Detectives learned that an orange, 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, Maryland Registration: 3FP-0702, was parked on the street in front of the residence when it was stolen. Later in the day, Detectives responded to the 400 block of N Street where another vehicle had the ignition system damaged in an attempt to steal that vehicle. During the course of the investigation, Detectives developed Brayden Lane Shaffer, 18 years old, as a suspect, and Deputies with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office were able to obtain video footage of Shaffer and the stolen vehicle at the Sheetz store in Keyser, West Virginia.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Shaffer with the following offenses:
• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Theft
• Unauthorized use of a Motor vehicle
• Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle
• Rogue & vagabond
• Malicious Destruction of Property
• Attempted Theft
• Attempted Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle.
Shaffer and the stolen vehicle, orange Subaru Crosstrek, were last seen around 5:00 a.m., on August 14, 2026, in the Keyser, West Virginia area. Sheriff Meyers stated, “I would like to thank the Deputies and Detectives for their quick response in this matter. Their hard work and dedication led to the identification of a suspect and obtaining an arrest warrant in a quick and efficient manner”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 301-334-1911.