SUSPECT WOUNDED AFTER ASSAULT ON POLICE IN DORCHESTER CO.

(HURLOCK, MD) – A suspect is under police guard while being treated for what is believed to be a non-life threatening injury he sustained when shot by a police officer after assaulting two officers and driving at one of the officers early this morning in Dorchester County.

The suspect is identified as Leon J. Spry, 35, of the 4300-block of Harmony Road, Preston, Md. Spry sustained a gunshot wound to the upper torso and is under State Police guard at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center where he is being treated. Criminal charges against him are pending.

The officers involved are from the Hurlock Police Department and are identified as Officer Frank Schmidt and Officer Kyle Willey. Officer Schmidt is a two-year veteran of the Hurlock Police Department and has prior law enforcement experience. Officer Willey has been with department for ten months.

When the police involved shooting occurred, Chief Les Hutton, of the Hurlock Police Department, requested the investigation be conducted by the Maryland State Police. Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit are conducting the investigation, assisted by uniformed troopers and criminal investigators from the Easton Barrack and State Police Forensic Sciences Division crime scene technicians.

The preliminary investigation indicates that minutes before midnight on Friday, February 10, 2012, Officer Willey and Officer Schmidt were dispatched to the area of North Main Street and Academy Street in Hurlock for a report of possible shots fired. The report came from personnel at the fire house down the street, who reported hearing what sounded like loud bangs.

When the officers arrived minutes later, they saw a pickup truck parked in the roadway in front of 201 Academy Street. The driver’s door was open and the engine was running. A witness met the officers and said someone had been knocking on his door just before they arrived.

The officers then heard a loud noise coming from the common area of the apartment building at 201 Academy Street. The officers, who were in full uniform and had arrived in marked police cars, entered the building and found a man, later identified as Spry, slumped over just inside the door. The officers attempted to talk with Spry, but he was argumentative. Officers noted Spry was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Without warning, Spry ran from the officers and entered the pickup truck parked in the street. The officers ran after him and attempted to extract Spry from the truck. The officers gave repeated verbal commands for Spry to surrender. Instead, Spry swung his arm and repeatedly struck the officers as he attempted to drive away.

During the altercation, Spry grabbed Officer Schmidt’s arm and accelerated the truck forward. Due to the position of the officers at the driver’s side door, both were caught up and dragged by the truck. The suspect continued to accelerate forward until he crashed into one of the patrol cars, causing enough damage to disable it.

After the crash, the officers were able to disengage from the vehicle and Spry backed his truck away from the patrol car. The preliminary investigation indicates Officer Schmidt was in front of the suspect’s truck when Spry accelerated directly at him.

In fear for his life, Officer Schmidt fired his pistol at the suspect. Fearing for the life of Officer Schmidt, Officer Willey also fired his pistol at Spry. Both officers were carrying police department issued .40 caliber Glock pistols. Spry then accelerated away and fled from the scene in the truck.

A Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived on the scene to assist and, while collecting information from the officers, received a call regarding a crash on Route 307 about two miles north of Hurlock. The deputy and the Hurlock officers responded and found Spry and his truck where it had left the roadway and struck a pole. Emergency medical services personnel responded and transported Spry to the hospital.

Officer Schmidt was not injured during the incident. Officer Willey sustained a minor injury, but did not require hospitalization.

Throughout the early morning hours, Maryland State Police investigators conducted numerous interviews of residents in the area and crime scene technicians processed both scenes. Nothing found during the scene processing indicates that any shots were originally fired in the area. The loud noises reported may have been caused by something else. Investigators are unsure why Spry was in the apartment building, but they believe he may know at least one person who lives there.

Maryland State Police investigators have consulted with the Dorchester County State’s Attorney and advised him of the case information so far. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be forwarded to the State’s Attorney for his review.

Chief Hutton has placed both officers on routine administrative leave. The investigation is continuing.