Nov 5, 2009 6:38 pm US/Eastern
Man Shot By Trooper For Rock Throwing In Jail
ELKTON, Md. (WJZ) ―
-
-
The man shot by police after throwing rocks at cars in Cecil County is out of the hospital and now behind bars.
CBS
The man shot by police after throwing rocks at cars in Cecil County is out of the hospital and now behind bars.
Derek Valcourt reports he's facing a long list of criminal charges.
Police don't know why Clyde Patterson, 50, was throwing rocks at cars, but they do know how dangerous and potentially deadly it can be.
Several of the rocks were hurled at three cars driving on Route 40 in Cecil County Tuesday night.
State police say Patterson threw those rocks at the cars and then threw them at state troopers who tried to stop him. Patterson was shot when he lunged at a trooper.
Police warn they take rock throwing seriously.
"It's pretty much common sense that if you throw debris at a moving vehicle, you're not only endangering the lives of that motorist but other motorists and even pedestrians on the road," said Elena Russo, Maryland State Police spokesperson.
And it can be dangerous. Last year in Fallston, someone threw rocks at several vehicles and a driver was hurt. Newlywed Daphne Gibson was killed in Virginia when someone hurled a massive rock into her car.
Some of the most dangerous rock throwing incidents happen on bridges and overpasses, when rocks and other debris are thrown, sometimes over fences, onto the cars and trucks traveling below.
That's what happened in 2005 when state police say seven teens threw rocks and concrete chunks off an overpass onto Route 100.
"This huge block of cement came right in front of my car. I stepped on the brakes, it hit the front of my car, it went under the car and was immediately disabled," said Michelle Williams.
"Those juveniles who probably thought they were having fun at the time now have a criminal record," said Russo.
State police say they will aggressively go after anyone throwing rocks at cars.
As for Patterson, he's being held in the Cecil County Detention Center on $250,000 bail.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WJZ.COM's Most Popular Slideshows
Winter Storm Hits Maryland, Part 3
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments