FRONT ROYAL
A former town police officer is free on bond after being charged with a felony and two misdemeanors for allegedly shooting at his son.
James Douglas "J.D." Striker, 51, of 4437 Remount Road, Front Royal, is charged with feloniously discharging a firearm within a dwelling on Tuesday and misdemeanors of reckless handling of a firearm and brandishing a firearm.
On Wednesday, Striker appeared in Warren County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and pleaded with Judge Ronald L. Napier to be released on bond. In contrast to the blue uniform that he had worn as a Front Royal police officer for 25 years, Striker was dressed in an orange jail-issued jumpsuit and was in leg irons.
Despite argument from Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Nicholas L. Manthos that Striker continue to be held without bond due to the nature of the charges, Napier set bond at $15,000 secured. A Warren County jailer said Striker posted bond within about an hour of his court appearance.
Before providing the court with a summation of the evidence, Manthos said that Commonwealth's Attorney Brian M. Madden was reviewing the case and that the office may choose to have a special prosecutor appointed.
Napier scheduled a preliminary hearing for 10:15 a.m. on Aug. 21.
In his evidentiary summary, Manthos said Striker and his wife, Cathy Sue Striker, 49, had been arguing most of the day on Tuesday. Manthos said Mrs. Striker left the residence, saying that she was not coming back, and then locked herself in her van.
The Strikers' oldest son, Brian Striker, 29, who lives in the basement of the home with his fiancee, Mary Brennan, and two children, was concerned about his mother's mental state, Manthos said. Brian Striker banged on a window of his mother's van in an attempt to get her to come out, Manthos added.
J.D. Striker observed what was happening from his bedroom window and retrieved a .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol, Manthos said. Manthos said Striker claims to have fired a shot up in the air through a bedroom window.
Manthos said Brian Striker and Brennan's version of events is that J.D. Striker fired the pistol through a screen in their direction. Manthos said he was concerned about the volatility of J.D. Striker's actions.
J.D. Striker told the court that it appeared to him that his son was trying to break the glass out of Mrs. Striker's van. J.D. Striker said he never pointed the gun at anyone.
The class 1 misdemeanors each carry a maximum punishment of 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine, while the class 4 felony carries range of punishment of two to 10 years in prison.
J.D. Striker called the felony charge a "smokescreen."
"I am a pillar of this community," he said.
One of the features of Striker's 2003 bid for sheriff in a race won by Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron came when Striker claimed that he could have information on the 1983 slaying of Front Royal police Sgt. Dennis Smedley. The case was reopened by the Police Department and Striker met with the state police, but the case remains unsolved.
"My wife needs me," Striker told the court, crying. "I need to be with my children."
Striker said his wife took two butcher's knives with her when she left to get in her van and that she is being treated for mental problems at an in-patient facility in Winchester.
The Strikers have a 20-year-old son, Bradley, who has cerebral palsy, and adopted daughters, 11 and 10.
Napier ordered that J.D. Striker have no contact with Brian Striker or Brennan, that he not possess firearms and that he not leave the state. Napier asked J.D. Striker how he would avoid contact with Brian Striker after learning they reside at the same house.
"We don't really mingle," J.D. Striker said.
Manthos appeared to be perplexed that Napier did not order J.D. Striker to stay away from the residence.
J.D. Striker's brother, John Striker, 57, said his brother retired from the Front Royal Police Department about a year ago after 25 years of service. John Striker, who was in court for the bond hearing, said his brother had lost his former residence as a result of foreclosure.
"I'm going to try to help him get out and wherever he wants to go to get hisself straightened out," John Striker said.
Warren County Sheriff's Office investigator L.M. Nelson says on the complaint form on file in court that she interviewed J.D. Striker, who told her that he shot through his master bedroom window "to scare his son into not beating on his mother's vehicle window." Nelson says she discovered a hole in the screen of a window in the master bedroom "along with 1 spent shell coming from a .25 semi-automatic handgun."
Nelson also appeared in court on Wednesday.
"Sometimes people make personal mistakes in their lives for a long time before they finally get help for their problems," Nelson said following the proceeding.
No comments:
Post a Comment