Sheriff's candidate charged with heroin possession in West Virginia

A candidate for Berkeley County Sheriff in West Virginia was charged with heroin possession earlier this week, according to a criminal complaint.

John Wayne Orem, 47, was arraigned on Tuesday and released from custody after posting $5,000 bail, according to a West Virginia State Police statement.

The Republican candidate for Berkeley County Sheriff was found unresponsive on his bathroom floor on Tuesday morning. According to the statement, Corporal M. D. Gillmore, and another trooper were called to Orem's house to assist EMS.

Gillmore said EMS officials told them Orem was given Narcan, an emergency overdose drug.

"Trooper Gillmore also learned EMS responded the previous day and Narcan was also administered to Mr. Orem," according to a statement from state police.

According to the statement, a plastic bag commonly used to store narcotics was found in the toilet, and a spoon containing a white substance, which later tested positive for heroin, was also found in the bathroom.

The Herald Mail-Media  reported that Orem told reporters he would issue a "clear and concise" statement about the incident.

"It's nowhere ... close to what it seems like," Orem said, according to Herald Mail-Media.

A statement posted on Orem’s Facebook asked that people refrain from comment on the incident until they know the facts.

“There will be plenty of time for commenting once the facts of this event are aired and a statement released,” according to the post.

Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.