Suspect admits guilt of Trooper hit and run

By Amber Bass
Jennifer Elaine Garretson, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of malicious wounding. Garretson admitted to running over an off-duty West Virginia State Trooper during an alleged shoplifting incident in St. Albans earlier this year. Sgt. Aaron Nichols was injured after he followed Garretson to her car after a departments store’s security alarm was set off. Witnesses said that Nichols ordered the woman to stop as she was getting in her car and jumped on the vehicle’s trunk as she was backing out. Sgt. Nichols was in attendance at the hearing Monday. “I’m glad to have resolution with this case,” Nichols said outside the courtroom. He hopes to return to full duty in December.