Man, woman arrested after arguing at store, leaving child behind

By Heather Oney
The Salyersville Independent

SALYERSVILLE – Two were arrested arguing at a local gas station, then leaving a child behind at the store as they fled in different cars.

On Friday, April 12, Salyersville Police Department Officer Tracy Salyer was dispatched to a verbal argument in the Double Kwik parking lot. He was advised a male and female were arguing in the parking lot, then left in separate vehicles, leaving behind a 10-year-old child.

According to Salyer’s report, Magoffin County Sheriff Department’s Deputy Tipton talked to the worker at Double Kwik, who told law enforcement the two had been in a verbal argument, with both appearing to be intoxicated. The male, identified as Richard Caldwell, 42, of Caldwell Road in Salyersville, reportedly was outside the pumps, yelling and cursing at his girlfriend with the child and bystanders present. The two then left in separate vehicles, leaving the child at Double Kwik. 

Salyer located both vehicles at VIP Fuels, finding Caldwell pumping gas into his vehicle. He admitted to police he had driven from Double Kwik to VIP. 

After noticing Caldwell was jittery and had glassy eyes, Salyer performed a field sobriety test on Caldwell, with him exhibiting some signs of intoxication. He told Salyer he was prescribed hydrocodone and he had taken one six hours prior.

When running his plates and ID information, dispatch alerted Salyer that the vehicle’s registration had been canceled for failure to maintain insurance, and that Caldwell had a prior DUI.

He was placed under arrest and transported to Paul B. Hall Medical Center, where he was read implied consent and given 15 minutes to attempt to make contact with an attorney. During that time, he asked Salyer if he had more hydrocodone in his system than he was prescribed if it would be an automatic DUI, but Salyer advised him to keep trying to reach his attorney. He refused blood tests, but while at the hospital, he complained of chest pains and was cleared by the hospital before being transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. 

Caldwell is facing the following charges: endangering the welfare of the minor (Class A misdemeanor); second-degree disorderly conduct (Class B misdemeanor); operating a motor vehicle under the influence, second offense (Class A misdemeanor); no registration receipt (violation); no registration plates (violation); failure of owner to maintain required insurance, first offense (Class B misdemeanor). 

At press time he is still being held at Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on a $5,000 cash bond. 

Salyersville Police Department Officer Jeremiah Watson also responded to the call, giving the woman, identified as Margaret Ann Wright, 36, also of Caldwell Road in Salyersville, a field sobriety test. After noting she showed some signs of impairment. 

With consent, Watson searched her vehicle, finding a gabapentin subscribed to someone else, two full suboxone strips in her I.D. holder, and a bottle believed to be urine in her possession, as well. 

Social services advised law enforcement Wright was not supposed to have the child that was left at the gas station, but she admitted to going and picking up the juvenile when she did not have permission from the state. 

Wright is charged with: custodial interference (Class D felony); operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first offense (Class B misdemeanor); no/expired registration plates (violation); no/expired Kentucky registration receipt (violation); failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance (Class B misdemeanor); two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled substance, drug unspecified (Class A misdemeanor); and controlled substance prescription not in original container (Class B misdemeanor). At press time, she is also still being held at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center on a $5,000 cash bond.

A pretrial conference is scheduled in Caldwell’s and Wright’s cases for April 22 at 9:15 a.m. at the Magoffin County Justice Center.

By Heather Oney
The Salyersville Independent