GOSHEN -- A family member positively identified James Valles body, which was found by a fisherman near Twin Bridges on Wednesday, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
His body was transported to the state crime lab after being identified, sheriff's officer spokeswoman Kelly Cantrell said Friday.
Valles, 35, of Elkins went missing after he went into Richland Creek just after midnight Feb. 28. He was running from a deputy who had used a stun gun on him.
He was officially declared missing March 4.
The body was found about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday a half mile to a mile from the bridge, said Kelly Cantrell, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.
A positive identification hadn't been made as of Wednesday afternoon, she said.
A deputy stopped Feb. 28 to check on an empty car beside the east Twin Bridge near Wyman Road, according to a preliminary report.
One man nearby ran away into the tree line. Officials haven't identified the man.
The deputy saw another man, believed to be Valles, hiding under the north part of the ledge. The man ran and during the chase, the deputy got close enough to hit him with the stun gun.
Valles fell forward and rolled down the hill, then got up and began running toward the river, according to the report. The deputy lost sight of him and heard a splash.
The deputy saw Valles floating north in the creek, according to his report.
NW News on 03/17/2018
