CLEARFIELD – A 45-year-old Hyde man who has been accused of firing numerous gun shots at his Clarendon Avenue residence waived his right to a preliminary hearing at Centralized Court on Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Jeffrey L. Myers of Hyde faces four counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats. He’s also been charged with disorderly conduct (eight counts) and public drunkenness (one count). Myers’ bail has been set at $50,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the Lawrence Township Police Department responded to numerous shots fired along the 1300 block of Clarendon Avenue on Dec. 7, 2009. While responding to the incident, police said they were advised of another call from a different complainant who said more shots had been fired.
Police said they arrived and parked on Lawhead Street in order to walk to the Clarendon Avenue address. While the officers were en route to the scene, they were told the shots came from the last trailer. Police said they noticed a light on inside, as they approached the residence.
Officer Charles Marshall advised what he’d observed through the window and communicated the activities going on inside. He related that he observed Myers inside the trailer. At that time, Officer James B. Glass said he walked to the north side of the trailer and knocked on the door.
“(Myers) yelled, “Go away or I’m going to blow you away,” Glass stated in the affidavit of probable cause. He said Marshall then advised him the defendant possessed a weapon. Glass said he returned to the front of the trailer and watched the front door.
Glass said Myers opened the door with a silver weapon pointed to his head. At this time he related he was going to shoot himself. Glass said he indentified himself as the police and instructed the defendant to drop the gun.
Glass said Myers continued to “bob” his head in and out of the doorway. He said he instructed the defendant to drop the weapon numerous times. He said Myers refused to do so.
“(He) then began to say, ‘Come on, Jeffrey. You can do it. Just pull the trigger,’” Glass said. He said the defendant went inside the residence but left the door open. He said he again advised Myers to put the weapon down and come to the door.
At this time Glass indicated the Pennsylvania State Police of Clearfield arrived at the scene and took positions with Marshall. He said Myers came outside, pointing the silver handgun in his direction. He said the defendant then “bobbed” back inside the trailer.
Glass continued to instruct Myers to place the gun on the ground and step outside. He said the defendant threw the silver handgun onto the ground. Glass said he then ran onto the stairs and grabbed Myers. He said they engaged in a struggle during which the defendant attempted to turn and re-enter the trailer.
According to the affidavit Glass said he noticed a very large caliber revolver on the couch. He said the weapon was approximately three feet away from both he and Myers. Glass said Marshall then grabbed Myers, and they began to pull him from the trailer. He said Myers grabbed the door frame and wouldn’t let go.
Glass said Marshall struck the defendant’s arm in order to break his grip from the doorway. He said Marshall was able to do so and placed Myers on the ground. He said Myers was then handcuffed and searched for more weapons.
Once the defendant was secured, Glass said Marshall and two troopers searched the trailer for victims and weapons. He indicated no victims were found inside. However, he said they found a silver .380 caliber handgun, a .44 magnum handgun and a .22 caliber handgun.
Glass said all three weapons were placed in the trunk of the patrol car. He said Myers was placed in the back seat and transported to the Clearfield Hospital for medical evaluation.
“While en route to the emergency room, (he) kept saying, ‘I thought that I had placed eight rounds in the gun,’” Glass said. He said Myers began to laugh, stating he only placed five in the magazine.
Glass said Myers was left in the care of the emergency room doctor. He said Marshall returned to the residence and was able to locate two spent 0.380 caliber rounds outside the trailer. He said they weren’t able to locate the others.
