CLEARFIELD – A state trooper who has been accused of brutally assaulting and then threatening his wife with his duty weapon waived all charges to court at his preliminary hearing today before Magisterial District Judge Jerome Nevling at the Clearfield County Jail.
Terry Drew Jordan, 46, of Clearfield has been charged with aggravated assault, F1; two counts of simple assault, M2; terroristic threats, M1; reckless endangering another person, M2; harassment, M3; and two counts of harassment and one count of public drunkenness, all summary offenses.
Jordan is currently incarcerated in lieu of $1 million bail at the Clinton County Prison, according to court documents. He is being represented by defense attorney Carl John Zwick, Esq. of DuBois.
Zwick discussed the case with Jordan prior to and again today at the jail, and he said Jordan was prepared to waive the charges to court. However, Zwick indicated that the commonwealth wanted bail to remain $1 million, and he wanted to request a reduction.
District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. adamantly opposed any bail reduction, calling attention to the fact that Jordan brutally assaulted the victim in the case and directed threatening statements toward her and others while holding her at gunpoint.
“He was a state trooper,” he said, “… The victim is deathly afraid; two others are also deathly afraid.” Shaw also called attention to a Centre County case in which a retired trooper was released following a domestic and carried out his threats in a murder-suicide in 2013.
“There is a bona fide concern for the safety of our victim and witnesses. The defendant has the ability to do some real damage [if he gets out].” Shaw stressed that if Jordan was to get out on bail, there wasn’t any way to ensure safety of the victims and others involved in the case.
Nevling said he heard the arguments of both Zwick and the district attorney and was well aware of the County Market shooing involving a retired state trooper in Philipsburg a few years ago. He said for him, the “big thing,” was the brutal assault with a weapon involved and the threatening comments. Nevling then ruled for bail to remain the same.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on April 21 Clearfield County Control advised Lawrence Township police about a female caller who was on the line to report that her husband had allegedly assaulted her and then threatened to kill her and himself.
The victim also advised her husband was a trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police. The weapon, he had in his possession was a “duty weapon,” she reported, and she had locked herself into a closet. She was using his work cell phone while he had hers in his possession.
While responding to the scene, police were advised by County Control that the victim’s husband was Jordan. Police were also advised that the victim wasn’t any longer able to hear Jordan outside of the closet door, and she wasn’t sure if he was still in the home.
Upon arrival to the scene, police observed a dark-colored Chevrolet sports utility vehicle in the driveway. Police asked County Control to find out from the victim what vehicles were to be in the driveway, and she indicated the SUV and a blue Honda passenger car, which was missing.
Police proceeded to approach the residence and asked County Control to let the victim know that police were at the home and would make entry. Police announced their presence three times after which the victim came out to them.
She told police that she and Jordan had dinner and a few drinks. They went to a friend’s residence for drinks in Clearfield Borough. When they returned to their home Jordan allegedly grabbed her and struck her, and it caused a large bruise and lump on the left side of her head.
Jordan grabbed her again and slammed her head into the wall. She went to the floor, and Jordan began to kick her numerous times in the back and in her right side area. Jordan then put a handgun against her head, stating “I’m going to kill you and then kill myself,” the affidavit alleges.
Clearfield Emergency Medical Services was summoned to the scene, as the victim was complaining of pain. Officers observed she’d suffered a bloody lip, a large scratch to the left side of her neck and a very large lump and bruise to the left side of her head. She was examined by emergency personnel at the scene and wanted to go to the hospital by private vehicle.
Police were then advised a vehicle was approaching the home. Lawrence Township and Clearfield Borough police and Clearfield-based state troopers observed a blue-colored Honda Coup pull into the driveway, and Jordan was the operator. Jordan parked the vehicle and placed his hands in the air.
Jordan proceeded to exit the vehicle and was handcuffed by police. He was taken to and placed inside a patrol vehicle, and a handgun was removed from the passenger’s seat of his vehicle. Police also detected a strong odor of a malt beverage coming from Jordan, according to the affidavit.
When Jordan was being placed in the patrol vehicle he asked if the victim was OK. He was advised she was experiencing pain from her injuries. Jordan was transported to the jail on a 48-hour detainer due to his level of intoxication and until his arraignment. 
