Heidelberg Twp. man fled on mower, shot in neck by police

Teresa Boeckel, York Daily Record
·2 min read

A Northern York County Regional Police officer shot a 38-year-old man in the neck early Wednesday morning after the suspect placed him in a chokehold, causing him to gasp for air.

Paul Ray Hutchison Jr. of the 6400 block of Pamadeva Road in Heidelberg Township was taken to York Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, according to state police.

An officer gestures towards a treeline while police investigate the scene of a shooting on the 6400 block of Pamadeva Road, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Heidelberg Township. The man was flown to York Hospital by a medical helicopter.
An officer gestures towards a treeline while police investigate the scene of a shooting on the 6400 block of Pamadeva Road, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Heidelberg Township. The man was flown to York Hospital by a medical helicopter.

State police are investigating the officer-involved shooting, and Hutchison has been charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement, strangulation - applying pressure to the throat or neck, simple assault and harrassment.

The officer involved in the shooting will be on administrative duty pending review of the case, state police said.

Court records say Officer Logan Chetaitis was the one who was assaulted.

Police tape sections off around a crashed riding mower at the scene of a shooting on the 6400 block of Pamadeva Road, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Heidelberg Township. The man was flown to York Hospital by a medical helicopter.
Police tape sections off around a crashed riding mower at the scene of a shooting on the 6400 block of Pamadeva Road, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Heidelberg Township. The man was flown to York Hospital by a medical helicopter.

Northern Regional police received an emergency call for a domestic-related incident around 12:20 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to the area, where Hutchison attempted to flee on a John Deere riding mower, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police said the man failed to yield and fled into a field, where the mower became disabled. The suspect began fleeing on foot toward his home, ignoring orders by an officer to stop. When the officer attempted to take the man into custody, he began to assault the officer and choke him, according to a news release.

The officer, who was unable to free himself, fired one round from his department-issued pistol, striking Hutchison in the neck, the affidavit states.

Officers, including the one who was assaulted, provided medical care until emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene.

Northern Regional Police said the department does not have a comment at this time.

The York County District Attorney requested that state police investigate the incident, according to the news release.

Check back later as this is a breaking news story.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Police shot man in Heidelberg Township, state police investigating