Most serious charges dropped against former officer in shooting at DuBois bar
DUBOIS — The most serious charges against a former police officer accused of shooting a man in the face during a dispute last month in DuBois were dismissed Thursday by a Centre County judge.
Senior Magisterial District Judge Carmine Prestia Jr. dismissed firstdegree felony charges of aggravated assault and attempted aggravated assault against Zachery Allen Dodson, 27, of Clearfield, who was an officer with the Curwensville Borough Police Department and the Clearfield County Sheriff’s Office at the time of the incident.
Prestia also dismissed a third-degree felony charge of terroristic threats and a second-degree misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person. Dodson remains charged with seconddegree felony charges of aggravated assault and attempted aggravated assault, a third-degree felony charge of terroristic threats, a second-degree misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person, a seconddegree misdemeanor charge of attempted simple assault and two seconddegree misdemeanor charges of simple assault.
In addition, Prestia set Dodson’s bail, which had previously been denied, at $50,000.
According to Spirit reports from the time, the incident took place after midnight Feb. 19 at Invictus, a DuBois bar and multi-recreational facility that offers weapons throwing, “rampage rooms” and a virtual reality arcade, among other attractions. The owner/operator reportedly witnessed Dodson, who was off-duty at the time, yelling on his phone and punching the windows. The owner confronted Dodson and escorted him toward the door, while Dodson reportedly screamed at him.
Dodson returned approximately eight minutes later and approached the owner. A bystander moved between them in an attempt to defuse the situation, at which point Dodson allegedly drew a gun. The bystander reached for the weapon and began to push Dodson out the door. The owner closed the distance and took hold of the gun. During the struggle, the firearm discharged once, striking the bystander in the face.
At that point, the owner was able to bring Dodson to the ground and take away his gun, unloading the magazine and ejecting the live round. He held Dodson down until police arrived. The incident was captured on surveillance footage inside the business.
The bystander was flown to UPMC Presbyterian, where he underwent surgery for a broken jaw. A GoFundMe page set up to defray medical expenses said he also suffered multiple facial fractures and needed surgery to remove bone and bullet fragments from his head.