20070416 MAN SHOT AFTER STRIKING STATE TROOPER WITH HIS TRUCK

Man Shot After Striking State Trooper With His Truck

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2007

(Elkton, MD) – A Delaware man was shot by a Maryland state trooper last night as he tried to run down the trooper who was attempting to stop him for a traffic violation in Cecil County.

The trooper is identified as Trooper First Class Robert S. Nitz, 26, a six-year veteran of the Maryland State Police. TFC Nitz is assigned to road patrol duties at the North East Barracks.

The accused has not been positively identified and family members have not been notified of his condition. He is believed to be a 49-year-old Delaware man. He is listed in critical condition at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Charges against him are pending.

At about 6:45 p.m. yesterday, Trooper Nitz radioed the North East Barracks and said he was attempting to stop a 1990 GMC pickup that was displaying Delaware tags registered to another vehicle. Trooper Nitz said he was in the area of Middle Road approaching Blue Ball Road near Elkton and the driver was refusing to stop, even though the emergency lights and siren on his unmarked Ford Crown Victoria patrol car were activated. The trooper reported speeds up to 85 mph during the pursuit.

The pickup driver continued north on Blue Ball Road until about one mile north of Warburton Road, where the road was closed due to the bridge being out. At the point the road was closed, he drove his truck into a yard in front of a house in the 2800-block of Blue Ball Road. Trooper Nitz exited his patrol car and began to wave and shout to the driver to stop.

Residents in the area who witnessed the incident said they saw the uniformed trooper waving at the driver and heard him shouting at him to stop. As the trooper stood between the right side of his patrol car and the yard, witnesses said the pickup driver drove back up through the yard and accelerated directly at the trooper. While still shouting at the driver to stop, the trooper drew his Department issued .40 caliber Beretta pistol.

Witnesses told investigators the truck struck the trooper and knocked him onto the hood of the pickup. In fear for his life, the trooper fired his pistol at the driver. Witnesses said the trooper slid off the hood onto the ground, but got back to his feet as the truck passed and fired his pistol again.

The pickup then ran through a fence and came to rest in a pasture about 200 feet from the road. Trooper Nitz and a witness approached the truck and removed the driver who had wounds to his head and torso. They applied emergency care until fire and ambulance units arrived. No one else was in the pickup.

Due to their injuries, the pickup driver and Trooper Nitz were flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore by Maryland State Police helicopters. Trooper Nitz’s injuries were found to be non-life threatening and he was treated and released around midnight. The pickup driver remains at Shock Trauma undergoing treatment for life-threatening injuries.

The pickup truck was not reported stolen, but was unregistered. Troopers saw an empty vodka bottle inside the truck, but it is unknown at this time if the driver had been drinking. The truck was towed to the North East Barracks where it will be processed.

Trooper Nitz will be on medical leave due to his injuries and then on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation into this incident. Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, North East Barracks Criminal Investigation Section and the Internal Affairs Unit are conducting continuing investigations.

CONTACT:

Program Manager Gregory Shipley Office of Media Communications & Marketing 410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)