Officer Shot As Pottstown Man Tried To Grab His Gun: DA

POTTSTOWN, PA — A Pottstown man was charged with attempted murder after trying to grab an officer's gun and setting it off Friday afternoon, authorities said.

It happened while police tried to arrest William Ciccoli Jr. for domestic assault. Ciccoli attempted to take Pottstown Police Cpl. Anthony Fischer's gun, leading to a struggle in which Fischer was shot in the hip, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.

Fischer underwent surgery at the Reading Hospital Trauma Center. He's in stable condition as of Saturday.

Police went to Ciccoli's apartment on 269 Chestnut St. twice that afternoon for reported domestic violence. During the first encounter at 2:40 p.m., officers separated Ciccoli from his girlfriend, who also lives there.

An officer gave his girlfriend domestic-violence information, and she and Ciccoli agreed to stay away from one another.

Police originally intended to mail Ciccoli two citations for harassment and criminal mischief. But they were called to the same apartment two hours later.

Ciccoli's girlfriend told police that he grabbed her by the neck. She had marks on her neck and swelling on her left cheekbone, authorities said.

As officers tried to arrest Ciccoli, he charged at Fischer, prosecutors said. During the ensuing struggle, Fischer can be heard on his body camera saying "he's trying to get my gun."

Another officer deployed his taser at Ciccoli. At that time, Fischer is shot in the right hip area, authorities said.

Fischer's body-camera footage shows Ciccoli had both hands on the gun before the gunshot, according to prosecutors.

Ciccoli was charged with attempted murder of an officer, aggravated assaulted and related charges for his alleged attack on Fischer. He was charged with strangulation, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person for the alleged domestic assault.

He was placed in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and arranged Saturday morning. A bail review is set for Monday, followed by a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 26.