NORWICH – Patrick W Ford III, 43, Norwich, a man involved in a shootout with police in 2012 entered a plea of not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect following an appearance in Chenango Count Court this month. He told the court he had absolutely no recollection of the incident, and his defense attorney cited various concerns with mental health treatment.

Ford was indicted in 2012 on two counts of first degree attempted murder of a police officer, a class A-1 violent felony; second degree attempted murder, a class B violent felony; three counts of first degree criminal use of a firearm, a class B felony; second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony; three counts of menacing a police officer, a class D felony; and six counts of first degree reckless endangerment, also a class D felony.

It was alleged that Ford, repeatedly fired a Glock .40 handgun at a Chenango County Sheriff’s Office deputy and sergeant, New York State Police trooper and a number of civilians after officers responded to a motor vehicle accident involving Ford on State Route 23 in the Town of Pitcher on Aug. 30, 2012. According to authorities, Ford had his nine-year-old son with him at the time of the incident.