Caldwell, West Virginia. (WVDN) A Greenbrier County man was arrested on Monday, April 21, for allegedly breaking into a home near Caldwell and forcibly removing his girlfriend while her family attempted to intervene, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department.
Nathaniel Gunn, also known as “Yoshi,” was arrested without incident after deputies discovered him hiding behind a fence along Monroe Draft Road, accompanied by the alleged victim.
An officer responded to the call shortly before dusk, following reports of a burglary in progress at a private residence just outside Caldwell. According to the homeowner’s and alleged victim’s mother’s emergency call, a man entered the home through a window and was actively dragging her daughter out against her will.
The caller told 911 dispatchers at the Greenbrier County Emergency Operations Centre that she could hear her daughter pleading with Gunn to leave the property. The call came as events were unfolding, necessitating an immediate response from multiple deputies.
According to the report, Gunn and another male, later identified as Charles Tharp, fled the property with the victim and were last seen heading south on foot, cutting behind neighbouring properties before disappearing near a barn about 100 yards from the home.
A coordinated search began, with deputies canvassing the area on foot and in patrol vehicles. After about ten minutes, deputies discovered Tharp standing in a driveway on Monroe Draft. Following further investigation, Gunn and the victim were discovered hiding behind a nearby fence. Gunn was apprehended at the scene without resisting.
In statements to deputies, the victim’s mother described the tense moments preceding the confrontation. She stated that Gunn and Tharp had arrived at her home and knocked on the front door.
Aware of previous tensions between her daughter and Gunn, she told the men to leave, claiming that the victim was not inside. Despite her warnings, she reported that Gunn became agitated and threatened to enter the house without consent.
Shortly after, the mother reported hearing a sound from the side of the house and recognising Gunn’s voice. She discovered that a window in her daughter’s old bedroom had been forced open. Despite her warnings not to enter and that she would call the cops, Gunn allegedly climbed through the window.
Once inside, Gunn is accused of searching through the house for the victim while family members attempted to physically block him.
According to reports, the victim was hiding behind a shower curtain in a bedroom bathroom. Despite their efforts, Gunn pushed her aside and assaulted the victim’s family member, allegedly breaking his nose. He then found the victim and dragged her out of the house through the front door by her arm.
According to authorities, Gunn has previously stayed at the Monroe Draft residence but now lives with the victim in Fairlea. According to investigators, his status did not grant him legal access to the residence on Monday, and the homeowner explicitly told him to leave before he entered through the window.
As of Tuesday morning, Gunn’s charges had not been formally announced, but officials indicated that he could face multiple charges, including burglary, domestic battery, and unlawful restraint. Deputies confirmed that the case is still under investigation. Gunn is currently being held at the Southern Regional Jail.
