WESH
PALM Bay, Fla. — A man at the center of a police shootout that injured two officers will make his first appearance before a judge on Monday.
The shootout ended around 1:30 a.m. Sunday in Palm Bay. Police say the suspect is Mark Clark. He was arrested and booked into the Brevard County Jail.
About 6:30 p.m. Saturday, officials said Clark shot at officers James Bearden and Shane Carroll when they came to his home to arrest him for a dispute he had with family members on Friday.
Palm Bay spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez stated, “Officer Bearden, who was wounded in the left side of his jaw, was treated and released from the hospital and is recovering at his home. Officer Carroll injured his elbow during a fall while returning fire.”
Clark is charged with two counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer; along with aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault.
Clark had injuries from a police K-9 bite, and from breaking windows in his home during the seven-hour standoff. He was treated at a hospital, questioned at the police station, then booked into the Brevard County Jail.
Officials said Clark is expected to face a judge Monday afternoon to hear the charges against him, and for the judge to officially set or change Clark’s bond amount.
Martinez said, “According to the victims (Clark’s family), Clark threatened to kill them and any law enforcement officer attempting to intervene.
When officers arrived at the home there was brief conversation with the suspect when he opened fire. Officer Bearden was wounded in the left side of his jaw. He was treated and released from the hospital. Officer Carroll injured his elbow when he fell as he was returning fire.
Clark then barricaded himself in the home. He was believed to be heavily armed. SWAT teams from Palm Bay and Brevard County responded along with crisis negotiators. Communication with the suspect was intermittent for several hours until he finally agreed to surrender.”
Reprinted with permission from WESH