Police seek fugitive in Weirton

WEIRTON - Local law enforcement officers and U.S. marshals continued to search early today for a Follansbee man who has been missing since he failed to appear for his sentencing in federal court last week.

The departments and other law enforcement officials searched for Donald Gaschler, 41, of Follansbee in a wooded area near an apartment building on Heathermoor Drive, where he was spotted Wednesday afternoon.

Brooke County Sheriff Rich Ferguson said Gaschler may be armed and is considered a dangerous person, and anyone who sees him shouldn't approach him.

Ferguson said search dogs and helicopters were assisting in the search.

Ferguson said Gaschler is believed to be alone.

Gaschler was to be sentenced Monday after being indicted in February by a federal grand jury in Wheeling for conspiring to possess heroin with intent to deliver, distributing the drug and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

He has been described as a white male, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 200 pounds and with green eyes,a brown hair and tattoos on both arms, his chest and back.

Ferguson said Gaschler was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt and light blue pants similar to surgical scrubs when he was spotted by a plainclothes police officer near the apartment building.

Also spotted was Gaschler's blue Ford Windstar van, which has West Virginia tags.

Anyone with information about Gaschler should call the Hancock County Sheriff's Department at (304) 564-4068 or Brooke County Sheriff's Department at (304) 737-3660.

(Scott can becontacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)