West Virginia Code 60A-5-501 – Powers of enforcement personnel
(a) Any member of the State Police, any sheriff, any deputy sheriff, any municipal police officer and any campus police officer may in the enforcement of the provisions of this act:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 60A-5-501
- Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
- Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(1) Carry firearms;
(2) Execute and serve search warrants, arrest warrants, subpoenas, and summonses issued under the authority of this state;
(3) Make arrests without warrant for any offense under this act committed in his presence, or if he has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a violation of this act which may constitute a felony;
(4) Make seizures of property pursuant to this act; or
(5) Perform such other law-enforcement duties as said state Board of Pharmacy or said appropriate department, board or agency, as specified in section 301, designates.
(b) All officers, agents, inspectors, and representatives of the said state Board of Pharmacy and of the said appropriate department, board, or agency, as specified in section 301, and members of the State Police may execute and serve administrative warrants issued incident to the enforcement of the provisions of this act. Any such officer, agent, inspector, and representative of the said state Board of Pharmacy and of the said appropriate department, board, or agency, as specified in said section 301, may:
(1) Execute and serve subpoenas and summonses issued under the authority of this state;
(2) Make arrests without warrant for any offense under this act committed in his presence, or if he has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a violation of this act which may constitute a felony; or
(3) Make seizures of property pursuant to this act.
(c) All prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General, or any of their assistants, shall assist in the enforcement of all provisions of this act and shall cooperate with all agencies charged with the enforcement of the laws of the United States, of this state, and of all other states relating to controlled substances.