York Dispatch
Leaving hospital for jail Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - A man accused of firing four or five shots from an illegal handgun at York City police officers -- and forcing a five-hour standoff with the county's Quick Response Team -- has been released from York Hospital and is now in prison. Scott Allen Wertz, 24, of 634 Salem Ave. is charged with two counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, as well as single counts of reckless endangerment, illegal gun possession and possessing a gun with an altered serial number. He remains in the county lockup on $100,000 bail. City Capt. Bruce Veseth said Wertz fired at city officers who responded to his mother's home around 11:45 p.m. Sunday because he was playing his music too loudly. At a press briefing yesterday morning, the captain pointed to a handheld police shield, called a "bunker" by police, that he said stopped a .25-caliber bullet allegedly fired by Wertz. Cpl. Bart Seelig was standing behind the shield when it was hit, and city officer Jennifer Harrison was standing behind Seelig, according to charging documents. The $2,000 shield, with a prominent dent in the center, can no longer be used because another bullet could easily penetrate the damaged area, Veseth said. "It spared many injuries and possibly saved (Seelig's) life," he said. "I would like to see more (bunkers) available to ... patrol officers." Neither Seelig nor Harrison could be reached for comment. Veseth said both officers will remain on active duty. "He's in good shape, in good spirits," the captain said of Seelig. "It was a very good outcome." Limited phone contact: Police said after officers responded to the Wertz home, Wendy Wertz led Officers escorted Wendy Wertz outside and set up a safety perimeter around the home. Shielded by the bunker, Seelig approached Scott Wertz's window to try to open a dialogue with him, which is when Wertz fired at officers, police said. "We believe he was possibly under the influence of drugs," Veseth said. At that point, the York County Quick Response Team, a SWAT-type unit, was called in. Its officers stopped foot traffic in the area and evacuated nearby neighbors, then tried to negotiate with Wertz over several hours. They were ultimately unsuccessful, police said. "He kept turning (his cell) phone off and on. ... That went on for about two hours," Veseth said. "At some point, he refused to communicate anymore. "With school (time) approaching, we wanted to resolve the situation," he said. "We wanted to get it wrapped up as soon as possible." At 5:06 a.m. yesterday, QRT officers used a 40 mm gas gun to shoot pepper-spray gas capsules into the home. The fumes drove Wertz outside, where he was arrested. He was then taken to York Hospital for treatment. "He got some cuts climbing out the window," and may have also cut himself during the standoff, according to Veseth. Dealt drugs: Wertz is a felon, having twice pleaded guilty to dealing drugs. Federal law prohibits felons from owning guns, which is why lead Detective Scott Nadzom filed the illegal gun possession charge. In the charging documents he filed, Nadzom said the serial number of Wertz's handgun had been sanded off, which is also illegal. Wertz pleaded guilty in July 2000 to delivery of drugs and possession with intent to deliver drugs and received 18 months' probation, according to court records. In July 2001, Judge John S. Kennedy determined Wertz had violated his probation and sentenced him to 23 months of strict intermediate punishment at a day-reporting center, records state. Wertz was again found in violation of his probation in March 2002 and was sentenced to nine to 23 months in county prison, although Kennedy ruled Wertz could be released after completing the Freedom Program (for people with drug issues) or after spending four months on the prison's outmate work-release program. He was released five months later. -- Reach Elizabeth Evans at levans@yorkdispatch.com or 505-5429. |
