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Naked man shot by police; 2 troopers hurt
March 26, 2009A 35-year-old Newport man faces felony assault was charged with felony assault this afternoon in the aftermath of a police shooting east of town that left him wounded and two state troopers injured.
Fabian Silvestre, of Bennett Court, was admitted to Christiana Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder following the 2:45 a.m. altercation.
It stemmed from an earlier domestic incident at about 2:15 a.m. at a relative's home in the first block of North Avenue, off Boxwood Road, where he allegedly assaulted his wife, leaving her with a broken nose and a concussion, state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Whitmarsh said.
When New Castle County police were called, they found Silvestre's wife lying on the ground. Silvestre had ripped off his clothes and fled the area, county police said.
Silvestre was spotted a half hour later by a state trooper traveling on East Newport Pike near Forest Drive.
The trooper was unaware of the earlier incident and notified the dispatch center of his location and that he was checking on a naked subject, Whitmarsh said.
But when the trooper got out of his car to aid the man, Silvestre allegedly lunged at him and began beating the trooper, who attempted to back away in the rear of Alpha Pizza at 1402 E. Newport Pike (Del. 4).
The trooper yelled at the suspect to stop while Silvestre continued swinging at the officer, Whitmarsh said.
The trooper tried unsuccessfully to subdue Silvestre with pepper spray, who by this time had grabbed the officer’s radio and started beating the trooper with it, Whitmarsh said.
Silvestre allegedly backed the trooper against a brick wall when the officer pulled his gun and fired twice, hitting him once in the upper shoulder.
Even when shot, Silvestre continued to fight with the officer, Whitmarsh said.
By this time, a second officer arrived and used his stun gun, but Silvestre was unfazed and continued his attack.
A third officer arrived and deployed his stun gun, and the officers were able to subdue Silvestre and take him into custody.
A passer-by saw the events unfold and confirmed what happened, Whitmarsh said.
County paramedics arrived and took the suspect to Christiana Hospital.
The injured officer was also taken to Christiana and treated for a separated right shoulder, injuries to his left arm, cuts and bruises.
The assisting officer was also treated at the hospital for an injured right knee.
Whitmarsh said the trooper involved in the shooting was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
The suspect’s wife was also treated at the hospital for a fractured nose, a concussion and multiple bruises.
Silvestre was arraigned at his bedside in the hospital this afternoon on a county police charge of felony assault in connection with the domestic incident, and on state police charges of felony assault and resisting arrest.
Secured bond was set at $21,000 and he was placed in the custody of the Department of Correction, which will guard him until he is released from medical care.
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