Rock-Throwing Vet Goes to Jail

A man shot by a state trooper after throwing large rocks at passing cars on Rt. 40 in Cecil County has been released from the hospital and jailed on $250,000 bond.

The accused man, identified as Clyde S. Patterson III, 50, was wounded in the upper torso Tuesday night when he refused to surrender and, investigators reported, “lunged threateningly at one of the troopers.”

Officers said Patterson kept one hand in his pocket, implying he was armed. He threw stones at two of the responding troopers, breaking a window in one of the patrol cars.

Patterson, who had been a voluntary resident at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Perry Point, Md, was charged with six counts of first degree assault, six counts of second degree assault and one count of malicious destruction of property.

State police got the first call at 6:14 Tuesday night from three motorists who said their cars had been struck by large rocks thrown by a man on Rt. 40 west of Red Toad Road.

One driver who stopped to confront the man reported the suspect told him he had a gun – then pulled a weapon from his waistband.

Trooper Brad Pennington stopped his patrol car near the suspect, who he saw walking with one hand in his pocket and carrying an American flag in the other. As soon as the man saw the trooper, picked up a large rock and threw it at the trooper but missed. The rock rolled under the patrol car.

“Pennington drew his weapon and ordered the suspect to show his hand and surrender,” according to the MSP report. “The suspect refused, saying that was not going to happen and that he was going to meet ‘J.C.’”

Trooper James Parker pulled his patrol car close to the suspect and, the report states, “The suspect picked up another rock and threw it at the trooper as he was getting out of his car. The rock broke the driver’s side window but did not injure the trooper.”

Troopers requested a North East Police Department officer, armed with a less lethal  Taser, to come to the scene. Next the man crossed the grass median. He walked toward several troopers and Cecil County deputies. Officers ordered him to surrender.

The report states, “Without warning, the suspect lunged toward TFC Parker. In fear for his life, TFC Parker fired one shot from his Beretta .40 caliber pistol. Simultaneously, the North East 0fficer fired his Taser at the suspect.”

The man fell, wounded by the bullet in the upper torso. A state police helicopter flew him to the shock trauma center.

MSP crime scene technicians arrived on the scene, which closed the westbound lane of Rt. 40 for several hours.

Trooper Parker, a three-and-a-half-year veteran, was placed on administrative leave, which is routine when an officer is involved in a shooting.