June 12, 2007

(click here to download the 684k Actual Search Warrant!)

Are there Amish Ninjas in East Earl? Last Thursday, Police Officer Martin Greg Yarbrough claimed a man dressed in dark clothing assaulted him outside his Route 23 home. The incident resulted in the Yarbrough service gun being discharged and the police launched a manhunt with that little bit of information.

TV news reports that the cop returned home yesterday. According to sources, Yarbrough was shot in the upper right leg. While the bullet penetrated, it did not hit any bones or major arteries. Shortly after the accident, Yarbrough said that he was in "a lot of pain".

Later that same day, Pennsylvania State Police asked and receive a search warrant to look for "Any signs of attempted forced or forced entry into the dwelling, blood, hair fibers, shoe/boot impressions, latent finger prints, tool mark impressions, instruments of the crime of burglary or attempted burglay. (sic)".

The search warrant for the supposed burglary raised questions about how much the cop was cooperating. As of Monday morning, the state police had not returned the warrant that would list the items seized in the search. Other thoughts on the subject is that the cop might have given permission but the investigators wanted a judge to sign off on it for proof.

In characteristic form, 5thEstate.com gives you the actual search warrant as well as analyze it! Don't think we're right? That's alright, we trust our readers to form their own opinions! Here's what we learned from the search warrant:
Yarbrough was sitting across the road from his house in what is called "a stationary detail" otherwise known as parking.
At 12:39 AM, Yarbrough told the investigating trooper that "he noticed a dark figure pass across the northside of the residence in a east to west direction. Yarbrough contact county-wide and reported a "possible burglary in progress" and gave his home address. Yarbrough "immediately proceeded to the residence, exited his vehicle and began searching for the suspect."
Yarbrough went around the back of the house where "he was tackled to the ground, a struggle ensued and Yarbrough's service weapon was discharged". Three minutes after radioing county-wide, Yarbrough called again, this time reporting, "Officer Down" According to Yarbrough, the suspect fled to the east.
The affidavit is interesting because of the details it provides but also because of the attitude that it reveals. When the other cops came to Yarbrough, he gave them a description that is characterized as "vague". Not exactly a confidence starter word choice! The affidavit has Mrs Yarbrough saying that they left a basement window open "in case they locked themselves out of the residence." Apparently they never heard of a "hide-a-key"? If you were having suspicious person, why would you leave a window open? Police were observed using lawn rakes the next day. Unless they were starting Pennsylvania State Police lawn care, one would assume they were looking for anything that might have fallen out of pockets during Yarbrough's life and death struggle with the "assailant" After tackling the cop, Yarbrough says the man in black fled "east". The search was called off by police. Amish Ninjas? Time will tell!