Blair County jury watches bodycam footage in alleged assault of Altoona police officers
Morse accused of attempting to take officer’s firearm
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Blair County jury on Wednesday watched police bodycam footage in which a city man can be heard saying "I got your gun" as he reached for an officer's holster.
Daniel Carl Morse, 33, is on trial for allegedly assaulting officers trying to arrest him for a domestic violence incident.
Sergeant Adam Miller told the jury that he began striking Morse with a closed first in an attempt to regain compliance and control over the situation after Morse attempted to take his service weapon.
"He was also trying to grab me as an individual," Miller said.
Morse is facing eight felony counts of aggravated assault, two felony counts of escape and single felony counts of attempt to disarm a law enforcement officer and attempted robbery, as well as 21 misdemeanor charges in relation to the events of April 12, 2025. He has been held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail since his arrest.
Miller was called to the stand by Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks during the second day of Morse's trial and testified to responding to the state police barracks in Hollidaysburg after being told Morse resisted arrest in a suspected domestic violence incident. Miller said when he arrived, Morse was handcuffed and sitting on the floor of the barracks lobby.
Miller told the jury that Morse was coherent, talking to officers, following directions and was able to walk himself to the back of an ambulance.
Miller followed behind the ambulance toward UPMC Altoona, saying "about 95% of the trip was uneventful." When nearing the Seventh Street bridge, Miller said the ambulance stopped and "began to visibly rock back and forth." The officer in the back of the ambulance with the paramedic and Morse then notified Miller that he needed immediate assistance.
When Weeks asked Miller what he did next, Miller said he opened the rear of the ambulance and saw Morse trying to escape while the paramedic and officer tried to stop him. Miller pushed Morse back into the ambulance but he continued to resist.
"He was nearly successful in overcoming our force and pushing us back out of that ambulance," Miller said.
Miller told the driver to proceed to the hospital, where he knew there would be additional help, not realizing the doors were still open. The force of the vehicle's acceleration was "jolting," Miller said, adding that Morse was still trying to push him toward the back of the ambulance.
Miller immediately told the driver to stop and the doors were secured before proceeding to the hospital, he said.
In describing the altercation, Miller said Morse, whose hands were cuffed behind his back, was able to pull his hands to the front right side of his body.
"That's not normal," Miller said. "That would be very uncomfortable for someone to do."
Weeks then played bodycam footage for the jury, in which Morse can be seen fighting with those inside the ambulance and reaching for Miller's holster.
On cross-examination, defense attorney William Wigman asked Miller if his firearm or pepper spray ever left his holster, to which Miller said no.
The jury also heard from expert forensic toxicologist Erin Spargo, who said she reviewed and reported on the blood draw performed on Morse when he was taken to UPMC Altoona. She said the request in the case was to test the blood for alcohol and a variety of other drugs.
When asked about her findings by Weeks, Spargo said three types of THC and two of their metabolites were present in Morse's blood.
Weeks then specifically asked about the finding of Delta 9 THC and its effect, to which Spargo said it was a central nervous system depressant and hallucinogen.
Spargo told the jury that consumption of Delta 9 can lead its user to feeling a sense of calm and relaxation, but also result in altered perception, distorted perception, paranoia and anxiety.
Under questioning by Wigman, Spargo said the test she conducted would not be able to determine when the drugs were consumed. She also confirmed the absence of any methamphetamine or alcohol in Morse's blood.
Testimony is expected to continue at 8:30 a.m. today in courtroom three of the Blair County Courthouse.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.