Police ID injured man, but not officer, in shooting incident involving riding mower

Police have released the identity of the man shot by a Northern York County Regional Police officer early Wednesday morning in Heidelberg Township.

Paul Ray Hutchison Jr., 38, of Hanover, was wounded when a Northern Regional officer tried to take him into custody, state police confirmed. The officer had been called to the 6000 block of Pamadeva Road for an alleged domestic-related incident at about 12:20 a.m.

Authorities would not release the name of the officer. The York Dispatch has filed a Right-to-Know Law request for the use-of-force incident report.

Hutchison was riding a John Deere mower on a roadway when the officer attempted to pull him over, police said. The mower became disabled when Hutchison drove it into a field, and he attempted to flee on foot, according to court documents. 

Hutchison didn't comply with verbal commands and allegedly tried to choke the officer, state police said. That's when the officer drew his gun and fired one time, shooting the man in the neck, according to police.

Other officers rendered medical aid, and Hutchison was taken to WellSpan York Hospital, police said, where he remained in serious but stable condition on Thursday.

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The Northern York Regional Police officer who shot Hutchson is on administrative duty pending a review of the investigation by the York County District Attorney’s Office, according to Kyle King, a spokesperson for the DA's office.

King said the name of the officer will likely not be released unless the officer is charged with a crime. 

“The Pennsylvania State Police are currently conducting a thorough investigation of yesterday’s officer-involved shooting in accordance with best practices,” King said. “Once the investigation has been completed, it will then be turned over to District Attorney (Dave) Sunday to determine if the NYCRPD Officers actions were justified.” 

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Hutchison will likely be charged with aggravated assault on law enforcement, according to a written statement from Pennsylvania State Police. Those charges would be filed in the court of Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey A. Sneeringer, who has jurisdiction over Heidelberg Township.

Northern York Regional Police Lt. Gregg Anderson said that those charges would be filed by state police.