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05/01/2012 06:22 PM

Statements admissible in Vangorden trial

By: Web Staff

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STEUBEN COUNTY, N.Y. -- A judge has ruled all statements are admissible in the case of a Steuben County man accused of shooting at police in Hornellsville last September.

Richard Vangorden was charged with attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and reckless endangerment.

In a Huntley hearing Tuesday, State Police said troopers attempted to pull Vangorden over when he refused to stop. They said he drove toward troopers head on, swiped a patrol vehicle, and kept going until he shot at them.

Vangorden was taken into custody following a standoff in Wellsville. Police used tear gas to get him out of the home. Vangorden later told police he didn't want to kill anyone. He just didn't want to deal with police and that he didn't want to lose his girlfriend, since there were warrants out for her arrest at the time.

His attorney said the tear gas could have impaired him but the judge ruled otherwise.

Terrence Baxter, Vangorden's Attorney said, “I think it's extremely difficult to get into another person's head after having being subjected to those types of compounds if you will to determine whether or not the person is voluntarily providing this information."

Brooks Baker, Steuben Co. District Attorney said, “There wasn't much question in our mind that the police had done the right thing here in getting these statements. They were extremely attentive to the defendant’s rights and his needs during the process. So we were pleased with the ruling."

A trial date has been set for July 30th.