Man Shot by Police Acquitted of Assault Charges

PASADENA, MD — A judge has acquitted a Pasadena man of all criminal charges, ruling there is no evidence the accused fired a gun at police, who shot and wounded him in an encounter.

John Christopher Delich, 39, was charged after the March 15, 2015, incident, when Anne Arundel County Police were called to his home in the 900 block of Ninth Street in Pasadena. A drunk Delich had reportedly been outside his house with a gun, prompting neighbors to call police.

Judge Ronald A. Silkworth ruled Tuesday that police fired first, shooting Delich in the leg, and there was no evidence he shot at officers. But the judge blamed Delich for the armed confrontation, noting he had a blood alcohol level of 0.3, and he had fired his weapon earlier, according to testimony from neighbors.

"You were shot that night. You carry the scars of that night today and will for as long as you live," Silkworth told Delich, reports The Capital-Gazette. "I hope the injury you suffered that night serves as a reminder to you to never take another drink."

Delich’s attorney said his client has completed alcoholism treatment and been sober since the shooting.

Prosecutors dropped attempted murder charges at the start of the trial, but Delich was still accused of various assault and reckless endangerment charges. Silkworth found him not guilty on all the remaining criminal count.

No officers or civilians other than Delich were injured during the incident.