A Frederick County woman has died after an altercation with State Police responding to a domestic disturbance in Libertytown.
Saturday, June 19 2010
By Kevin Dayhoff
The tranquility of a quiet sleepy town which straddles Liberty Road in eastern Frederick County was shaken on Thursday when a woman died in an altercation with Maryland State Police responding to a domestic disturbance.
An autopsy has revealed that Veronica Harding-Perkins, 46, of the 12,000 block of Main Street in Libertytown, Maryland, died of gunshot wounds, according to a police report. “Further tests are being conducted and additional results are pending. Additional details will not be released due to the ongoing investigation.”
Police say that at approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday afternoon, Corporal Eric Corbin, an eight-year veteran of the State Police, along with a second trooper, was dispatched to the scene of a domestic disturbance involving a firearm. The second trooper involved is not being released by State Police because “he did not fire his agency issued weapon.”
The 911 cell phone call to the Frederick County Law Enforcement Center came from the deceased woman’s husband, Dean Perkins, 45.
When police arrived on the scene, Harding-Perkins, who was reported to have been armed with a semi-automatic pistol, refused to respond to several police requests for her to surrender.
As the incident unfolded, police attempted in to gain entry through the front door of the residence. “Knowing Harding-Perkins was armed with a loaded weapon, CPL Corbin took cover behind a soda machine located off of the front porch of the home.
“As he peered around the corner, Harding-Perkins was standing inside of her front door with her semi-automatic pistol pointed at the trooper. Fearing for his life, as well as the safety of others, CPL Corbin responded by firing his agency issued firearm,” police say.
At that time, Hardings-Perkins retreated back into her home and the two troopers backed off and immediately secured the area.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 2009-year end report “responding to domestic disturbance calls proved to be particularly dangerous for America’s law enforcement officers during 2009…
“A total of 1,647 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the last 10 years, an average of one death every 53 hours or 165 per year… On average, more than 62,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted each year, resulting in some 21,000 injuries.”
Accordingly, police proceeded “on the side of caution, police secured the area and an evacuation was made of the adjacent residents.” Police report that at that time there was no clear evidence indicating Hardings-Perkins had been injured.
The Maryland State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element team, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, and the Hostage Recovery Team responded to the scene and tried to make contact with Harding-Perkins. “Again, police received no response,” said the police report.
Later, at approximately 5:45 a.m., the Special Tactical Assault Team Element entered the residence and Harding-Perkins was found lying on the dining room floor with a loaded semi-automatic pistol.
As the investigation into the incident continues, both state troopers who reported to the incident are on administrative leave.
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