The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

March 8, 2013

DA: Cop justified when he returned gunfire

By Melissa Klaric Herald Staff Writer

PYMATUNING TOWNSHIP — Pymatuning Township patrolman Michael T. Brown on Thursday was cleared of any wrongdoing in last month’s shooting of Jessi L. Hudson during an alleged home invasion.

District Attorney Robert G. Kochems said in a news release he found that Brown’s actions “were fully and completely justified under the laws of this Commonwealth and he committed no criminal offense.”

Kochems, who declined further comment, said his findings were based on an investigation into the shooting led by trooper Troy L. Owen of the Pennsylvania State Police.

On Feb. 6, Pymatuning Township police were called with a report of burglary in progress at the home of Amanda Brown, 3812 N. Hermitage Road.

As Brown and a patrolman from Greenville-West Salem Township entered the house, Hudson fired at them.

State police found that Brown followed the letter of the law when he returned fire, hitting Hudson in the ankle.

Hudson, 22, of Youngstown allegedly broke into Brown’s home that night and shot her in the back as she protected her three young children in the bathroom.

After a four-hour standoff with the Mercer County Critical Incident Response Team, Hudson was taken into police custody.

Hudson was charged by Pymatuning police with three counts of attempted murder, 14 counts of aggravated assault, two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm, two counts of aggravated assault on policemen, burglary and possession of cocaine with intent to deliver for having the drug on him.

Hudson was also charged by Hermitage police for an incident earlier that evening in which he allegedly forced another woman to take a substance suspected of being a harmful drug, pulled out a loaded gun and threatened to kill her.

Hermitage police charged Hudson with unlawful restraint, making terroristic threats, simple assault, two counts of carrying a firearm without a license, two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment

Hudson is in Mercer County Jail on $400,000 bond awaiting trial in Mercer County Common Pleas Court after he stipulated all the charges in his preliminary hearing with District Justice Brian A. Arthur, Greenville.

 

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