CARROLL CO. MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER

(TANEYTOWN, MD) – Maryland State Police have charged a Carroll County man with the attempted murder of a police officer after evidence indicates the man fired a shotgun at the officer when he responded to a call for shots fired last night.

The accused is identified as Jose A. Acevedo, 41, of the 400-block of Red Tulip Court, Taneytown, Md. He is charged with attempted murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has been taken to the Carroll County Detention Center to await his initial appearance before a court commissioner for a bond hearing.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. yesterday, two officers from the Taneytown Police Department responded to the home of the accused after a call was received reporting shots being fired at that location. One of the officers, a sergeant, parked near the rear of the row of townhouses and moved on foot along a fence. As he neared the backyard of Acevedo’s home, the sergeant heard a shotgun being ‘racked’ and then heard a blast.

The sergeant was hit in the center of the knit cap he was wearing with shotgun wadding, which is the plastic cup that holds the shot together as it leaves the gun barrel after the weapon is fired. The sergeant dropped to the ground just before another round was fired and he observed another piece of shotgun wadding land in the street near him. The sergeant was not injured and was fortunately not struck by the shot pellets from the shotgun rounds.

As the sergeant retreated and called for backup, he said the accused continued firing the shotgun and was yelling and cursing, telling the officers to “come and get me.” The sergeant recognized the man as Jose Acevedo, due to a prior contact he had with him in September 2010.

Maryland state troopers from the Westminster Barrack, Carroll County deputies, and officers from the Westminster Police Department responded to assist the Taneytown officers. A perimeter was established and area residents were contacted through a reverse 9-1-1 system. Chief Bill Tyler of the Taneytown Police Department came to the scene and requested Maryland State Police take charge of the ongoing police response and investigation.

Although prior attempts at communication had failed, at about 1:00 a.m. today, members of the State Police Special Tactical Assault Team Element and the Hostage Recovery Team in an armored vehicle approached Acevedo’s home. A loudspeaker was used to communicate with him and he was urged to exit his home and surrender.

Minutes later, Acevedo walked out the front door of his home. An electronic control device was used briefly by members of the STATE Team as he was taken into custody. He was taken to the Carroll Hospital Center for a check up where he was examined and released. Acevedo was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of alcohol.

State Police criminal investigators had obtained a search warrant for Acevedo’s home, which was served after his arrest. Troopers found 20 spent shotgun shells on the back porch of the home. Inside, they found a .12 gauge shotgun, two rifles, a handgun, ammunition, and a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Neither Taneytown police officer who responded to the initial call was injured. No injuries were sustained by any law enforcement personnel who responded to the incident last night.

The investigation is continuing.