SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man who apparently drowned in the Kanawha River last week is the same man who ran from South Charleston police a few days earlier, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
The body of Howard Stiltner, 43, of Prenter, was found Saturday in the Kanawha River near Riverwalk Plaza. His hands were handcuffed behind him when the body was discovered.
Further investigation determined South Charleston police had arrested Stiltner for allegedly obstructing an officer Thursday night. He fled police as he was being taken into the police station for booking, according to sheriff’s department Sgt. Brian Humphreys.
“The officer called for some assistance to help him look for him and he also called for a K-9 to come and help. A dog was brought down to follow a trail but they were unable to locate him that night,” Humphreys said.
Police couldn’t immediately identify Stiltner because he had given them a false name. They didn’t have enough information on him to get a warrant.
The preliminary indication is that Stiltner drowned, Humphreys said.
“I don’t want to speak too soon on the Medical Examiner’s report but that is the preliminary understanding from those who attended the autopsy,” he said.