FAIRMONT — A Fairmont woman is facing a felony charge in Martin County. Edith Lorraine Wayman, 53, has been charged with aiding an offender on probation, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

At approximately 1:54 p.m. on November 12, 2020, a Fairmont Police Department officer spoke with an anonymous subject who advised that earlier in the day she had been at the home of Wayman on North Orient Street. She advised that the house smelled strongly of meth, and that she had seen a lot of short-term traffic coming and going, and that a number of known users have been frequenting Wayman’s residence.

The woman advised that a man was at the residence, indicating that he had an active felony warrant for his arrest. The woman advised that the man was living at the residence. The officer confirmed that the man did have an active felony arrest warrant.

The officer passed the information to another officer, who agreed to assist. Officers attempted contact at the front door of Wayman’s residence, while another officer stood near the back door. After knocking on the door, one of the officers heard what sounded like a male voice inside.

No one came to the door, so an officer called Wayman on the phone. Wayman answered and the officer advised Wayman that the police department had received a complaint that she was harboring a fugitive.

When asked if she could come to the door, Wayman asked who the warrant was for. The officer indicated it was for the man, she hung up. Several attempts to call Wayman back went unanswered.

As officers went back toward a squad car, they observed an individual look out of Wayman’s back door. Shortly thereafter, Wayman called the officers and indicated they could come back and search her residence.

An officer made his way back to the residence and positioned himself near the back of the residence. Another officer informed him that there were fresh footprints in the snow, going from the front door and traveling west. Officers began to follow the footprints.

One officer following the footprints eventually observed the man standing next to a building. The man observed the officer and began running. After pursuit, the man was apprehended.

A short time later, the officer returned to Wayman’s residence and made contact with her. When asked why she hid the man, Wayman denied doing so. She denied knowing that the man had a warrant. After being told that the officer on the phone had told her about the warrant, Wayman was placed under arrest.