(SALISBURY, MD) – A Wicomico County man is being treated for wounds he sustained early this morning when he was shot by a Maryland state trooper after he fled from a traffic stop while holding the trooper inside his vehicle.
The suspect is identified as Harry F. Wyatt-Swift, 23, of Salisbury, Md. He is currently undergoing treatment for injuries at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. He is under State Police guard at the hospital. Charges against him are pending and are expected to be filed later today.
The trooper involved is identified as Trooper First Class Richard Keidel, a five-year veteran of the Maryland State Police. TFC Keidel is assigned to road patrol duties at the Salisbury Barrack.
The preliminary investigation indicates that shortly before 1:30 a.m. today, TFC Keidel was patrolling in a marked State Police vehicle on Johnson Road near Nevins Place in Wicomico County, when he saw a car that was speeding and had a tag light out. As he moved behind the vehicle, the trooper saw the Honda passenger car swerve and almost hit a telephone pole.
The trooper stopped the car on Johnson Road east of Nevins Place and made contact with the driver and only occupant of the vehicle, who was later identified as Wyatt-Swift. The trooper smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage and began a DUI investigation.
After the trooper had Wyatt-Smith get out of his car, he began to demonstrate a field sobriety test he was asking the driver to perform. The suspect then ran back to his car in an attempt to flee the scene.
TFC Keidel reached into the car in an attempt to take the keys. The investigation indicates Wyatt-Smith grabbed his arm and drove off, with the trooper hanging out the driver’s side window. The trooper repeatedly told Wyatt-Smith to stop, but the suspect refused to and continued to drive down Johnson Road.
In fear for his life, TFC Keidel fired his Department-issued .40 caliber pistol. Wyatt-Smith was struck in the abdomen and in the side of his face. The suspect let go of the trooper, who fell to the roadway as the car continued on.
TFC Keidel ran back to his patrol vehicle, called in the shooting and proceeded in the direction of the suspect. About two miles later, he found the suspect’s car where it had apparently struck a telephone pole support wire and overturned on Johnson Road east of Eastwood Circle. The suspect was not in the car.
Troopers and Wicomico County deputies responded to the scene and began a search for the suspect. A short time later, Wyatt-Smith walked out of the woods and surrendered. He was given immediate emergency care and EMS personnel were summoned to the scene.
Wyatt-Smith was transported by ambulance to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center. He was later transported by ambulance to the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore.
TFC Keidel sustained injuries and was treated and released at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center. As is procedure in police involved shootings, he has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
The shooting investigation is being conducted by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, which is procedure in police involved shootings. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be presented to the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office for review. An investigation will be conducted by the Maryland State Police Internal Affairs Unit, which is also procedure.
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Although it is probably police instinct to reach in to turn off the car, I can't count how many times officers have been injured doing this. My recommendation would be to option deadly force immediately when the suspect pulls this move. The officer should not have had to put himself in danger .Due to the observation it was clear that the suspect was somehow under the influence of a substance unknown which caused him to do what he did. That is not normal and could be a harm to society if he were to continue on.
ReplyDeleteTo all other police personnel out there - don't do what this trooper did - it may not end up the same next time - and like 9:28 above stated, give the command, if he still runs, then shoot and ask questions later. May not be protocol, but if not, it should be. Really don't want any more of our officers hurt.
ReplyDeleteYeah that will fly real well in court...
Delete"Well troop, why did you shoot my client?"
"Because its protocol"
"No troop, no its not."
"Well......it should be!"
10:33 obviously watches too much t.v. In a real life scenario the police officer must actually articulate (look that word up) as to how and why a situation turns into what it does. With proper articulation and sound reasoning the shooting will be justified.
DeleteI am assuming the suspect is white because if he wasn't the coverage would be relentless and of course MSP would be getting a royal tongue lashing by the usual characters.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that police officer was doing what he was taught to do. People, place the blame on the stupid drunk driver who ran rather than the police officer. Who cares what color either of them were. Wrong is wrong in case you didn't know it. Good work Mr. Keidel, you may have saved an innocent person who was on the road with that fool. Job well done!!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't see any comments saying the Trooper did anything wrong 10:37.
Delete10:37 you know it does matter what color the suspect was. There is a specific ethnicity who seems to feel entitled whenever they break laws and are held accountable.
DeleteIf you are going to be nonresponsive to police commands - you get what you get. This guy could have killed other people with his drunk driving. Thank you to all of law enforcement who put their lives on the line each day to keep us safe and from harm from these lowlifes.
ReplyDeleteYes, 10:03, the coverage would be relentless...but probably more so because the headline would likely read something along the lines of "Traffic Stop Leads to Attempted Murder of MSP." And the tongue lashings would be from the other group of "usual characters."
ReplyDeleteAnd we know all too well who they are 10:58.
DeleteI'm pleased to hear TFC Keidel is okay and was released from the hospital.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you saying he should have never tried to turn off the car, please don't judge. You weren't there and the decision was in the public's best interest. Obviously this person was intoxicated. It says he reached in and the suspect grabbed his arm and held him there while driving off. I'm glad that the officer wasn't killed. This scum bag will be tried for attempted murder.
ReplyDelete11:22 read 9:28's comment thoroughly and look at stats. You will see that changes are needed in procedure. Nobody said the Trooper was wrong!!!
DeleteYes. There are many scenarios that simply cannot be practiced in training due to obvious safety concerns. Seeing as hanging from a vehicle is one of them it is obvious that a general order be implemented for this. In this case deadly force would have been sanctioned because by returning to the vehicle and attempting to flee would have put potential others at risk.
DeleteAre you kidding me? He should shoot the guy for not stopping?
ReplyDeleteStupid driver. The trooper was sober, so he had no excuse for being stupid.
hasn't anyone ever heard of shooting the tires out? Good grief.
ReplyDeleteOnly if you want to be sued 12:29. The firearm is for deadly force. It's not to be used to warn, injure, or incapacitate. Hollywood helps not.
DeleteI'm not saying the trooper was wrong. He had to do what he had to to keep his own life. On the other hand, all those that said, "the boy ran, he didn't adhere to orders, he should've been shot, this should be procedure"; this man was 23 years old, did something stupid, and it came down to either disband him in some shape or form, or you're going to drug to death. But alot of youth may consider the option of running from an officer for fear of getting into trouble, regardless of whatever it is they were doing at the time. Before you start hollering that this should become procedure to shoot at somebody that disobeys an order, you might want to think about it. Imagine Salisbury officers opening fire on the University students for disobeying orders to disperse. I don't think it would be as welcome as some are thinking if the police opened fire on 700 college kids. If you do, some of you need to think back to the riots on campus during the Vietnam war.
ReplyDeleteare you kidding me this is what you get when you disobey an order from a police officer? that's the problem with today society everybody thinks that we should be conformed to do whatever the police say. the cop had no business jumping into the car he should have gotten into his car with lights and sirens and proceed to give chase and wait for assistance. they don't teach jumping into a car for a reason in the Academy because you are not supposed to do it. the trooper is obviously the one he was doing the TV and Hollywood stuff here. this trooper should be charged with attempted murder all out reckless endangerment and all kinds of other charges to start. this cop was not being gunned down by this guy he jumped into the vehicle he's the one that put himself in that situation there was no fear for life just stupidity on the cops behalf.
ReplyDeleteOK 5:40, so while giving chase let's say you or your family gets killed. Who gets the blame?Who gets sued? You're obviously an idiot who knows nothing about the challenges faced by law enforcement.
DeleteThank God you're not a cop 5:40 because apparently the only life you would be worried about is yours. Do you not think that the Trooper might have been worried about others on the road? And we all know how the liberal public and media feel about chases. The Trooper did what had to be done to put the least amount of people in danger. He's a hero, give him some respect you jerk!
DeleteIt all boils down to standard operating procedures . And this trooper didn't follow protocol.the cop had no reason to feel life threatened until he jumped into the car.the shooting was unjustified period. You just can't shoot people that are fleeing that are not armed. And let's be real here folks the kid was scared....if it was your kid shot you'd be Pissed they didn't give chase. He wasn't near a school zone with kids about. He was on Johnson Rd headed deeper into the country not the city. That trooper saved a bunch of trees and squirrels.net to mention almost killed.himself that tax payers would've had to pay for the next forty years.. And the state will now have to pay for this kids medical bills for as long as need be plus his law suit pay out. And only life I worry about is mine? Lmao. I fight fire in this County for free. I carry countless drug addicts to the hospital at two in the morning just so they can get their next fix. I risk my life daily so that others may live yet my family is put last. What do you do but Piss and moan about the counties problems? I try to help the people and fix problems but I'm the jerk.. You are all sheeple who feel the government is always right. Trooper kiedel IS a great guy personally....and as a trooper. He just dropped the ball folks.
DeleteHe was armed with a vehicle 9:47. Get hit by one and tell me it can't be classified as a weapon. Are you that dumb?
Deletejohnson rd is a bad SPEED Zone.
ReplyDelete1:08 - you're right. Those smart-a$$ white kids sure do! And their uneducated parents scream the loudest at law enforcement and the courts. There are too many 40+ year old parents out partying or looking for their third spouse to raise their children. Their kids are just following what they see their parents doing....
ReplyDeleteGood job trooper.
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny almost without exception those that are opposed to police and the split second life and/or death decisions have terrible command of the English language! As someone who had some time in law enforcement I can assure you anytime you make a decision like those that Officer Keidel did that night it's going to be a long couple of days as you face investigators, meet with you attorney, hide from the media etc... You will think man it would have been easier to just let him wrap that Honda around a pole or tree down the road and kill himself! However you signed up for the good and the bad parts of the job so you do the right thing and try to intervene before the driver kills anyone, shoot the guy because he clearly is trying to end your life and those he will encounter down the road and then comes the fun...just remember dead people can't testify it's easier that way. GOOD JOB TROOPER KEIDEL!
ReplyDelete7:47
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with many of the things you say your last statement speaks volume about you and why so many people are against law enforcement.
The fact that you think it's a ok to kill someone so they can't testify speaks volume about you and the thinking of other law enforcement. I'm glad you are no longer in law enforcement. People like you give them a bad name.
7:47 was absolutely correct in saying what he or she said. You on the other hand do not know how defendants lie and to what extent. Just remember, dead men don't tell tales!
Delete@12:58, I could not agree with you more. Actually if your scenario had played out and this drunk driver had not been stopped in the manner Officer Keidel did and a mile down the road killed a member of 5:40's family, they would then take the position, "All the police office needed to do was to reach in the car and take the keys".
ReplyDeleteTo 5:40, stop being so narrow minded and think for yourself rather than have your opinions formed for you by the liberals you support. The guy was breaking the law and took it upon himself to disobey an order from a police officer. Period.
I'm glad the trooper was not hurt any worse than he was. Our officers put their life on the line everyday of their lives.
ReplyDeleteFor the drunken person who put the trooper's life, his own life, and other's in peril, you got what you deserved. It would not have happened in the first place if you hadn't been irresponsible.
For all those you condemn the actions of the trooper, you weren't the one dangling from a vehicle, going heaven knows where, and how fast. Perhaps, if you were in that "hot seat", you may have reacted the same way! Be grateful we have a trooper that wants to PROTECT YOU!
So many people on here have had police training....NOT!!
ReplyDeleteI am just glad that Trooper Keidel is going to be ok. The kid made a dumb mistake and he got shot. I am thankful that we have police serving our community that will take the steps needed to protect us in a dangerous situation!!!
As a parent of a 20 yr old son I can only hope that I have raised him well enough to have respect for police and human life as this young man did not!
5:40 and 9:47 are either one in the same or come from the same mother. Their comments project a person who is CLUELESS and UNEDUCATED!!!
ReplyDeleteSome Sherlock lol....they are the same . He even says it. Duh!
DeleteThis sounds like the biggest crock of crap I've ever had the misfortune of reading. Harry was shot in the back of the head (the bullet exited through his jaw) and his abdomen yet still found the strength to get out of his vehicle and surrender on his own? This happening AFTER the serious crash which ensued after the officer was "dragged"? Right. The dash-cam will tell the story in this situation, I hope for the sake of both Harry and the officer that it didn't happen to "malfunction" that night.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, the details given in this account do not add up from the standpoint of Physics or Human Psychology. I won't form or share an opinion until a recording from the dash-cam is released. I should hope that in America, rational adults would withhold passing judgement until proof is obtained, since that is the basis of our American values. It seems many of these commenters forget what country they're in, very quick to judge on emotion and personal bias rather than being interested in objective fact/justice. And I am speaking to/from both sides. Here you are forming an opinion based on an internet news article written by some second hand human source. That's a blatantly nonsensical thing to do, to begin with! The only fair opinion would be Both parties are innocent until proven guilty (which is also a fact) and I hope to see the human beings involved recover from their injuries and learn from whatever mistakes may have been made, through both societal punishment (whether it be jail or some other sentence) as well as through personal feelings of remorse and regret.
DeleteWhat are you trying to say dannyboy?
DeleteIs Alex in jail or something? Haven't herd from her.
ReplyDelete