SUSPECT FATALLY WOUNDED BY TROOPER IN WICOMICO COUNTY

03/19/2014
Maryland State Police

(SALISBURY, MD) – Maryland State Police continue their investigation into a trooper involved shooting which fatally wounded a man who struck and dragged a trooper with his car to avoid further police investigation last night, at the Salisbury Barrack.

The deceased is identified as Winfield C. Fisher, 32, of the 6100 block of Westbrooke Drive, Salisbury, Md. Fisher was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center by emergency medical personnel from the Wicomico County Fire Department. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the hospital. The deceased will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

The preliminary information indicates Fisher entered the Salisbury Barrack around 8:30 p.m. on March 18, 2014 and asked the duty officer to check a vehicle repair made after receiving a safety equipment repair order. The duty officer went outside to the parking spaces in front of the barrack with the Fisher.

Moments later, the duty officer came back inside and requested the dispatcher to call for back up. As he returned to the vehicle, the dispatcher immediately contacted another trooper who had just left the barrack. That trooper returned to assist.

Details are preliminary but it is believed both troopers fired their Department issued pistols. The duty officer was found lying along the edge of the parking lot near the entrance to Rt. 13. He had sustained injuries consistent with being struck and/or dragged by a vehicle.

Fisher was found in his vehicle about 150 yards north of the barrack on Rt. 13. His vehicle had struck the center median guardrail on the northbound side of Rt. 13.

EMS personnel responded and transported the suspect and the duty officer to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Fisher was pronounced dead at the hospital. The duty officer has been treated and released.
Maryland State Police investigators obtained a search warrant for the vehicle. State Police crime scene technicians processed the vehicle and the barrack parking lot for evidence. Marijuana was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.

Investigators from the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit responded and are conducting the investigation, which is procedure in police involved shootings. They will be reviewing evidence developed in this investigation. Investigators will also present the Wicomico State’s Attorney’s Office with their completed investigation for review, which is also procedure in police involved shootings.

Corporal Anthony Meyers is a nine-year veteran of the Maryland State Police. Trooper Jeffrey Wilkins is a three year veteran of the Maryland State Police. Both have been placed on routine administrative leave, which is procedure in police involved shootings. The State Police Internal Affairs Unit will also be conducting an investigation.