CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The FBI has started a civil rights investigation into the Cedar Grove police chief who witnesses say dragged an 80-year-old man off his ATV and slammed him to the concrete, according to an FBI official.

"We have initiated an investigation regarding that incident," said Joe Ciccarelli, FBI Supervisory Special Agent in Charleston.

The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department had been investigating Cedar Grove Police Chief Johnny D. Walls before the FBI stepped in.

Lt. Sean Crosier said the department was notified Wednesday the FBI would be investigating.

Kanawha County prosecutor Mark Plants said he discussed the case with the U.S. Attorney's office.

Plants said he always communicates with his federal counterparts when an investigation may overlap into their jurisdiction.

"We don't want to double-prosecute people for the same crimes," he said. "If the FBI steps in, then the sheriff's department wouldn't still do an investigation, which is typical. You don't want to duplicate resources.

"Any time they take a case, they are welcome to it. ... They have much stiffer penalties. If they want a case, I want them to take it."

On Aug. 16, Robert McComb, 80, was riding ATVs with two friends and was heading back to his house in Cedar Grove after coming out of the woods when he was stopped by Walls.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The FBI has started a civil rights investigation into the Cedar Grove police chief who witnesses say dragged an 80-year-old man off his ATV and slammed him to the concrete, according to an FBI official.

"We have initiated an investigation regarding that incident," said Joe Ciccarelli, FBI Supervisory Special Agent in Charleston.

The Kanawha County Sheriff's Department had been investigating Cedar Grove Police Chief Johnny D. Walls before the FBI stepped in.

Lt. Sean Crosier said the department was notified Wednesday the FBI would be investigating.

Kanawha County prosecutor Mark Plants said he discussed the case with the U.S. Attorney's office.

Plants said he always communicates with his federal counterparts when an investigation may overlap into their jurisdiction.

"We don't want to double-prosecute people for the same crimes," he said. "If the FBI steps in, then the sheriff's department wouldn't still do an investigation, which is typical. You don't want to duplicate resources.

"Any time they take a case, they are welcome to it. ... They have much stiffer penalties. If they want a case, I want them to take it."

On Aug. 16, Robert McComb, 80, was riding ATVs with two friends and was heading back to his house in Cedar Grove after coming out of the woods when he was stopped by Walls.

Witness Carrie Balser said she watched in horror as McComb was pulled off the side of the ATV by Walls and slammed to the concrete face-first.

McComb was hospitalized for three days after the incident. On Saturday, Cedar Grove residents held a candlelight vigil for McComb, who attended.

On Wednesday, Cedar Grove Mayor James Hudnall said the incident remains under investigation. He said Walls was still employed Cedar Grove, but that he was on leave.

Karen McComb, Robert McComb's daughter, said he was still having a hard time walking because of the incident.

"I think he's feeling his age right now," she said Wednesday. "He got around well before this happened. He's not getting around as easy as he used to. Hopefully, that'll get better with time."

Walls went through three other West Virginia police departments and twice received training in Ohio before becoming a fully certified officer, according to information provided to the Gazette by the state Law Enforcement Training (LET) unit of the Division of Justice and Community Services.

He was sued for his actions as an officer in Chesapeake. William Pullen won a $36,000 settlement against the city after accusing Walls of beating him when Walls was an officer there in 2006.

Walls also worked at South Central Regional Jail, said Paul O'Dell, deputy director for the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. Walls worked there from March 1, 2007, through Sept. 19, 2007, when he resigned for personal reasons, O'Dell said.

Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.