NEWS

Standoff suspect pleads not guilty

Mark Caudill
Reporter

NORWALK – A 39-year-old Mansfield man who engaged in a nine-hour standoff before shooting himself in late December pleaded not guilty Thursday to five charges.

Eric Patrick was in court in Huron County after being indicted last week on charges of burglary with a gun specification, theft of a firearm, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, failure to comply with a gun specification and inducing panic with a gun specification.

Huron County Prosecutor Russ Leffler said the burglary and inducing panic charges carry three-year gun specifications.

"He was waving the gun at the cops," Leffler said.

There is a one-year gun specification with one of the charges of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.

Patrick, who is being held in Richland County Jail, had previously been indicted locally on charges of burglary and grand theft (five counts).

He is accused of a two-day crime spree in late December starting with an aggravated burglary on Taylortown Road in Shelby. Patrick reportedly assaulted the homeowner and took his wallet and a .22 rifle.

From there, deputies think Patrick may have committed up to four other armed invasions and robberies. In a vehicle pursuit, authorities chased Patrick to Huron County, where he reportedly forced his way into an unoccupied home in Olena.

Patrick has been in jail since Jan. 30 after recovering from his gunshot wound. He is scheduled for a March 26 trial in Richland County and a May 19 trial in Huron County.

Conceivably, Patrick could be tried in both counties.

"That remains to be seen," Richland County Assistant Prosecutor Gary Bishop said. "It depends, in part, on who has their case go first."

Leffler said negotiations will take place.

"You always hope you can work something out and he'll swallow a huge sentence, but you never know," Leffler said.

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill