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BERWICK — The man charged with shooting at police officers at a Berwick industrial park Monday allegedly first opened fire on warehouse employees who approached him after he crashed his SUV, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.

The complaint’s affidavit of probable cause paints a clearer image of what police described as a shootout between responding officers and James Francis Calderone, 35, who reportedly had himself worked at a warehouse in the Berwick Industrial Development Association’s complex.

Clair Hock, the complex’s maintenance manager, told police he received a call Monday afternoon from someone advising him of a motor vehicle crash behind a building within the complex. He went to the area in a golf cart, where he saw Calderone’s crashed SUV.

Hock told police he had begun to take photographs of the crash for insurance purposes when Calderone became angry and yelled at him to leave, firing a series of bullets into the side of a building near the crash scene. Hock then tried to leave in the golf cart, but it would not start.

Calderone allegedly fired a series of rounds into the golf cart, prompting Hock to flee the scene on foot.

Michael Samsel, an employee at Berwick Offray, also told investigators he saw Calderone standing by the crashed SUV. When Samsel approached him, Calderone allegedly brandished a handgun and told Samsel to leave. Samsel told police he also saw Calderone shooting at the golf cart.

Shootout with police

According to the complaint, police dispatched to the scene of the crash were en route when they first got information that there was a weapon in one of the vehicles involved. They allegedly arrived on scene to find Calderone holding a rifle.

Despite police commands to drop the weapon, Calderon allegedly “screamed, cursed and continued to respond to the officers that they would have to kill him.”

Calderone then moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and out of the officers’ sight, then fired through the black tinted windows of the SUV at three officers that took protective cover. One of the officers was wounded by either shrapnel or a bullet allegedly fired by Calderone.

Police returned fire and Calderone fired another volley of shots at the three officers. Calderone then moved to the back of the SUV and in sight of the police officers, who fired a series of rounds that struck Calderone, who fell to the ground.

Officers administered first aid for Calderone’s wounds. He was later taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for treatment.

Neighbors interviewed Tuesday gave a mixed description of Calderone. One, who declined to give his name, called Calderone a “good guy” and could not understand why the alleged shooting happened.

Another, however, said the Calderone household had been the site of numerous argument in the last month — some, she said, were so loud they could be heard throughout the neighborhood.

Court records show Calderone has been charged with four counts of attempt to commit criminal homicide, seven counts of first-degree aggravated assault and eight counts of second-degree aggravated assault.

A preliminary hearing on the charges has yet to be scheduled.

Pennsylvania State Police investigators examine the scene of a shooting at the Berwick Industrial Development Association complex Monday evening in Berwick.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_srm-6452-24.jpg.optimal.jpgPennsylvania State Police investigators examine the scene of a shooting at the Berwick Industrial Development Association complex Monday evening in Berwick.

By Travis Kellar

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Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews