MANHATTAN — Jurors heard testimony Monday from defense witnesses in the trial of 39-year-old Mark Harrison, who is charged with three counts of attempted capital murder in the January 2018 shooting and standoff which injured a Riley County Police Department officer.
Harrison’s attorney Barry Clark proceeded to call four total witnesses to the stand including Harrison, who sat through more than two hours of both direct and cross examination. Harrison pointed to a history of marital issues that had been boiling for years, including alleged infidelity on his part by his now ex-wife. The two got into a verbal argument Jan. 5, 2018, which ultimately led Harrison to leave work early after his wife said she would visit him for lunch. In an attempt to avoid her, Harrison says he went to Via Christi Hospital and later to his house after it became evident she wasn’t going to leave him alone. He says he went home to pack his belongings, which included two handguns, one of which was fired during the standoff.
Harrison testified he aimed the gun down at the ground but never at Officer Pat Tiede who had responded after a 9-1-1 phone call from Harrison’s wife, who was not home at the time. He testified that he fired two shots out of the home’s window, after telling Officer Tiede to leave. One of those shots struck Harrison, possibly as a result of a richochet from the home’s sidewalk. He also testified he was aiming at Tiede’s vehicle and at an armored vehicle where two other officers were sitting. Harrison claimed his intent was to scare Tiede away by firing shots at the vehicle. Harrison said he “wanted to break something” and never intended the shot to strike the officer’s body.
It was also revealed in court that Harrison was under the influence of alcohol which caused him to be belligerent toward officers. He also testified making several “empty threats” at law enforcement including threatening officers that his home was booby-trapped. District Attorney Barry Wilkerson questioned Harrison on his ability to be rational that day, which Harrison responded that he acted recklessly.
Harrison testified that three days prior to the incident he was diagnosed with diabetes which had caused him to have severe headaches leading up to the shooting. It was also revealed that he had a tumor on his adrenal gland, which the defense argues may have contributed to his irritable behavior that day. Harrison admitted to shooting more than 33 rounds during the standoff but continued his claim that he only made empty threats as a way to “gain control of the situation.”
Others who testified Monday included Andrew Spade, who created a 3-D model of Harrison’s home using laser measurements. Private detective Bruce Tomlinson testified he went to the home Nov. 16 to test a gouge in the sidewalk where prosecutors say a bullet ricocheted and hit Officer Tiede. Whitney Lynn of Wilson and Company, who is a geospatial analyst also testified he created measurements as instructed by Clark which showed different locations Officer Tiede may have been standing when Harrison fired out of his window.
Jurors were dismissed early Monday. More defense witnesses from out of state are expected to testify Tuesday. The trial resumes at 9 a.m. in Riley County District Court.
