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CLEARFIELD -- A former Clearfield County police officer accused of shooting a man at a nightclub in DuBois last winter signed a plea agreement Wednesday.
Zachery Allen Dodson, 28, DuBois, has agreed to plead guilty to aggravated assault and terroristic threats, both felonies, and one misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person, according to Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers.
Both the victim and the arresting officer, Cpl. Matthew Robertson, are satisfied with this outcome, he said. The victim has moved from the area and now wants to put the incident behind him.
This conviction achieves three things, Sayers explained. Dodson will serve time for the crimes, which will prevent him from ever being a police officer again and keep him from possessing firearms.
This is an open plea, leaving the sentence to specially presiding Senior Judge Patrick Kiniry of Cambria County. The minimum for the assault charge alone is nine months, Sayers said.
Dodson is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 14. Prior to the agreement, Dodson was scheduled to go to trial in March.
Dodson was originally charged with two counts each of aggravated assault, criminal attempt – aggravated assault and terroristic threats, all felonies, as well as two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and misdemeanor criminal attempt – simple assault in relation to an incident shortly before
1 a.m. Feb. 19, 2023, at Invictus.
At the time of the incident, Dodson was a police officer with the Curwensville Borough Police and he was also a deputy in the county sheriff's office. He has since left both positions.
During a preliminary hearing, a video of the incident was shown which confirmed testimony of Joseph Morrison of DuBois, who is the owner of the business.
After an argument that night, Dodson left the business but returned inside shortly after, while talking on his phone, Morrison testified. Ani Myrtaj, who had been there with Dodson, tried to de-escalate
the situation.
As Morrison approached Dodson, Dodson went for his gun.
Myrtaj stepped in, saying "no, no, no," Morrison explained.
Morrison grabbed Dodson's wrist and the gun went off, with the bullet striking Myrtaj. Morrison was able to get Dodson to the ground, get the gun out of his hand and was able to unload it. He then kept Dodson outside on the ground while he waited for police.
When Myrtaj testified, he admitted he does not remember everything clearly. He stated he saw Dodson come back in with a gun and he tried to talk with him.
"The last thing I remember is getting shot," he said.
After being shot, Myrtaj said he was in a lot of pain. The bullet went through his lip, broke some teeth and his jaw and left some fragments by his ear. He has a scar from his left ear to his throat from surgery performed at UPMC in Pittsburgh.
His jaw had to be wired shut causing him to lose more than 25 pounds because he could only eat things through a straw. He said he still can't open his mouth all the way.