SLABTOWN - A suicidal man was injured in a police shoot out after he shot at officers from Locust Township and Catawissa Borough police departments who returned fire Saturday night.
Locust Township Police Chief Allen L. Breach said township Patrolman Nicholas J. Thorpe and borough Patrolman Bradley J. Smith were dispatched to 50 Snyder Bridge Road, where Thomas Mensch was reportedly making suicidal threats.
Both officers arrived on scene at 8:19 p.m. Saturday, and Mensch allegedly fired three times at the officers as they approached the darkened home, police said.
Breach said the officers sought cover behind a Locust Township patrol car. When they determined Mensch's location, they returned fire. Following the officers' shots, Mensch indicated he was injured and surrendered to them.
Neither Thorpe or Smith were injured in the incident, but the light bar on a Locust Township Police Department's 2006 Dodge Charger was struck by one of Mensch's rounds, police said.
Locust Township is investigating the incident, and both officers have been cleared to return to duty by a staff psychologist, police said.
The Pennsylvania State Police in conjunction with the Columbia County District Attorney's office is conducting a criminal investigation.
Mensch was listed in fair condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Sunday night.
The township and borough police departments were assisted by Montour Township and Hemlock Township police departments and the state police at Bloomsburg.