Upper Providence man charged with shooting at police

UPPER PROVIDENCE » An Upper Providence man faces attempted homicide charges after he fired multiple gunshots at police officers who responded to a report of a “behavioral/psychiatric emergency” at his residence.

David John Naumenko, 62, of 1400 block of Meadowview Lane in the Mont Clare section of the township, was arraigned before District Court Judge Deborah Lukens on charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, firearms not to be carried without a license, risking a catastrophe, simple assault and recklessly endangering other persons in connection with the 2:59 a.m. March 16 incident.

Naumenko was unable to post the $2 million cash bail and was remanded to the county jail to await a March 25 preliminary hearing on the charges before District Court Judge Richard H. Welsh.

Naumenko’s arrest was announced on Thursday by District Attorney Kevin R. Steele.

“Police officers are called to help day in and day out and never know what situation they will encounter upon arrival. This defendant began firing at the first arriving officer almost immediately and then continued firing multiple rounds, endangering the lives of not only the officers but many others who live in the area,” Steele said.

“Thankfully, the Upper Providence and Limerick police officers are well trained, and they reacted quickly and courageously at every point in this incident. Most importantly, every officer came out of this incident uninjured and were able to go home to their families, and the defendant is also alive, suffering only an arm injury,” Steele added.

The investigation led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau included numerous interviews, a review of bodycam and police vehicle video footage and the processing of the crime scene. Naumenko, who suffered a single gunshot wound to the arm during the incident, eventually was taken into custody by members of the Montgomery County SWAT Western Region.

The investigation began at 2:59 a.m. March 16 when Upper Providence police were dispatched to the Meadowview Lane residence after a family member called 911 to report a behavioral/psychiatric emergency. Naumenko’s wife reported that Naumenko was having a mental breakdown, “has guns” and was leaving their residence but was “harmless,” according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Gregory Henry.

Naumenko’s wife later told detectives she became alarmed and called 911 when Naumenko “began gathering up handguns and ammunition while telling her that they needed to go meet people,” according to the arrest affidavit.

The first arriving Upper Providence officer observed a pickup truck in front of the residence. The truck was running and Naumenko was observed pushing his wife toward the open passenger door, according to court papers. The officer exited his police vehicle and said to Naumenko, “What’s going on?”

As the officer approached he observed Naumenko crouch behind the passenger door and reach toward his waistband. Believing at that time that Naumenko was retrieving a firearm, the officer attempted to retreat to a position of cover while drawing his service revolver, according to the criminal complaint.

“Before (the officer) could get behind cover and prior to his service weapon being fully drawn, he heard a volley of gunshots coming from the direction of David Naumenko,” Henry alleged. “(The officer) returned fire in an attempt to stop the gunshots from Naumenko. (The officer) continued to come under fire and he turned to put additional distance between himself and Naumenko. As (the officer) did this, he fell to the ground and dropped his service weapon and flashlight.”

Detectives alleged that one bullet grazed the back of the police officer’s uniform and struck his radio cord, disabling his police radio.

Naumenko allegedly continued firing at the officer, who from a position of cover eventually was able to ready his service weapon, according to court papers.

“At this point, Naumenko had entered his truck and began to drive toward (the officer) while still firing at him,” Henry alleged. “Naumenko drove around (the officer’s) vehicle as they exchanged gunfire.”

The officer continued to hear gunfire as Naumenko drove out of view and the officer ceased firing at that time and then heard a vehicle crash, according to court papers. The officer then heard a second officer over police radio say, “shots fired,” got into his vehicle and responded to the second officer’s location, according to the arrest affidavit.

The second officer told authorities that when he arrived at the location he observed the white pickup truck traveling directly at him.

“At that point (the second officer) heard bullets whistling past him and he could see muzzle flashes from the driver’s side of the truck,” Henry alleged, adding that officer exited his vehicle in an attempt to get to cover behind some vehicles in a parking lot. “As (the second officer) exited his marked patrol vehicle, he fell to the ground and rolled on the ground believing that Naumenko was going to run him over. As the (second officer) was getting up from the ground, Naumenko crashed his truck into three parked vehicles in front of (the officer).”

As the second officer returned to his feet he returned fire at Naumenko who was still shooting at him, detectives alleged. While returning fire, the second officer felt his magazine fall from his firearm, so he ran to find cover past Naumenko’s truck. Naumenko then drove past the officer and stopped at the end of the block, at which time the second officer relayed “shots fired” to dispatchers via his police radio.

Police observed Naumenko’s wife exiting the passenger side of the truck and the officer called to her to come to his location, securing her safety, court documents indicate. Naumenko allegedly continued shooting at the officers at this location, but they maintained cover and did not return fire.

A Limerick Township police officer arrived to assist as shots continued to be fired by Naumenko, court papers alleged. The Limerick officer was able to gain access to a second-story apartment in the area in an attempt to observe the suspect from a window when he was fired upon, according to court documents.

As Naumenko allegedly reloaded his weapon, the Limerick officer discharged his patrol rifle, striking Naumenko once in the upper right arm and causing him to fall to the ground.

Members of the Montgomery County SWAT Western Region responded to the area and observed Naumenko lying in a grassy area, issued commands to the defendant who did not respond. SWAT officers moved in and took Naumenko into custody, where he was treated by emergency medical responders and transported to a local hospital for treatment of his wound, court documents indicate.

Detectives alleged multiple firearms and boxes of ammunition were found in the interior and in the bed of Naumenko’s truck as well as at his residence. A records check revealed Naumenko had eight firearms registered to him, including 9mm handguns, according to court papers. Other firearms came back as “no record found,” detectives alleged, adding, Naumenko does not have a permit to carry firearms.

Based on interviews, detectives said Naumenko had a prior history of suicidal thoughts but no known mental illness diagnosis. Detectives determined Naumenko had been taking opiates for back pain for several years and had recently been smoking non-prescribed marijuana, according to the arrest affidavit.