Uniontown standoff results in arrest of man and son
Uniontown police arrested a man and his son Thursday evening following a 40-minute standoff with police that started after the father allegedly pointed a shotgun at an officer who responded to a report that a car had struck the house. Gary Tracy, 52, and his son Clifford Tracy, 26, both of 142 Coolspring St., surrendered peacefully following the standoff with city police, its Emergency Services Unit and state police after family members arrived and talked them out of the house.
The pair locked themselves in the house with six guns, according to police.
“I’m just thankful it ended peacefully and nobody got hurt,” city detective Phillip Jones said. “This had the potential to be a horrible tragedy.”
The elder Tracy was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and simple assault. He was arraigned by District Justice Brenda Cavalcante and committed to the Fayette County Prison in lieu of a $25,000 percentage bond.
His son was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, obstructing administration of law and harassment; and was committed to prison in lieu of a $10,000 percentage bond.
Preliminary hearings for both are tentatively set for Monday before Uniontown District Justice Mark Blair.
Police said the incident began at 5:46 p.m. when officers Jonathan Grabiak and Michael Garrow were dispatched to the house after it was struck by a car driven by an elderly woman.
Jones said the driver, Agnes Corday, suffered a medical problem and struck several vehicles along the street before her car struck the front corner of Tracy’s house and stopped.
While Grabiak, Garrow and paramedics Bob Delorenzo and Gordon Byrd were attending to the driver, Gary Tracy twice opened the front door and asked for the FBI and CIA to be summoned, according to police.
When he opened the door a third time, he allegedly pointed a shotgun at Grabiak. Jones said Grabiak was about three or four feet away from Tracy and was standing in front of Garrow and the paramedics, when the suspect produced the gun.
Tracy went back inside when officers ordered him to drop the weapon.
When assisting officers arrived, they formed one-block perimeter around the house. It was then when Clifford Tracy arrived. Police said he ran to the back yard and threw a handgun to the ground.
When officers approached him, he retrieved the gun and fled into the house, police said.
Police then called Gary Tracy’s brother Edwin Tracy and his brother-in-law Dennis Sykes. Police said Sykes called and managed to talk the pair into surrendering at 6:31 p.m.
Jones said police found the 12-gauge shotgun was fully loaded as was a .300-caliber rifle, a .30-06-caliber rifle, a .30-30-caliber rifle and a 9mm handgun inside the house.
Some of the guns were propped against a wall near the door and numerous boxes of ammunition were on the floor. Jones said the first two rounds loaded in the 30-.06 were Teflon coated, armor piercing bullets.
He said the .40-caliber handgun Clifford Tracy had was also loaded.
Corday survived the medical problem and was treated at Uniontown Hospital, Jones said.
State police are investigating the crash.
Jones said the car caused minor damage to the house.