Man arrested on numerous charges after dragging trooper with his vehicle
On Dec. 18, 2018, at approximately 7 p.m., troopers assigned to the “Syracuse Initiative” in the city, conducted a traffic stop on a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in the parking lot of the Syracuse Upstate Market, 124 Merriman Ave. The operator, Shaun H. Clark, was unable to produce a driver’s license or any sort of valid identification and was visibly nervous.
Troopers asked Clark to exit the vehicle. As they began to search Clark, he abruptly ran and re-entered his vehicle. He then sped forward, dragging Trooper Andrew Skerpon with him. The vehicle struck the building in front of the pickup truck, and then backed up, striking a marked state police vehicle, pinning Skerpon between the two vehicles.
Clark fled the scene. Troopers began a traffic pursuit, which ended on Niagara Street when Clark struck a fence and fled on foot. Troopers Skerpon and Burdick, with the assistance of officers from Syracuse Police Department, took Clark into custody after a brief foot pursuit.
Clark, who actively resisted arrest, sustained lacerations to his face and shoulders. He was transported SUNY Upstate Medial University, where he was treated and released.
Clark, 31, from 2 Woodruff Place, Auburn, was charged with the following:
- Assault on a police officer, a class C felony
- Second-degree criminal mischief, a class D felony
- Second-degree reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor
- Resisting arrest, class A misdemeanor
- Third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer, a class A misdemeanor
- Second-degree obstructing governmental administration, a class A misdemeanor
- Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor
Clark was transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center for centralized arraignment.
Skerpon was transported by ambulance SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he was treated and released.