Trial begins for man charged in hostage crisis

By RACHEL HANSON
EMILY REHRING
and TIM SWIFT
Collegian Staff Writer

BELLEFONTE -- The trial of a 35-year-old Boalsburg resident who allegedly held his former fiancee captive and raped her in November began yesterday at the Centre County Courthouse.

Shane A. Dawson allegedly broke into the victim's parents' home Nov. 19 after she had broken off their engagement the night before, the State College Police Department said. She was held captive for seven hours, was raped and had a gun held to her head, according to court documents.

The victim was able to escape with a revolver after Dawson went into the bathroom, according to the documents.

Dawson tried to escape the house later that night when he drove the victim's car out of the closed garage door, according to the documents. He was arrested after driving between 300 and 400 yards, hitting two police cars blocking his path.

Witnesses called by the prosecution yesterday included State College police officers, relatives of Dawson's ex-fiancee, the doctor who examined the woman and a 911 dispatcher who responded to emergency calls the morning of the 19th.

Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar presented the prosecution's case to Centre County Judge Thomas K. Kistler by setting up the sequence of events and the actions of police officers during the standoff. Gricar also questioned relatives of the victim about her relationship with Dawson.

Cpl. Richard Garis and Detective Ralph Ralston of State College police testified they negotiated with Dawson throughout the standoff.

Garis, who was one of the first officers on the scene, initiated contact early in the morning with Dawson by cellular phone. When Garis spoke with Dawson on the phone, Garis testified he could hear Dawson's ex-girlfriend in the background.

"In the background, I could hear a female screaming, ‘Get me the fuck out of here. He's got a gun, he's going to kill me,'" Garis said.

When Ralston arrived on the scene later in the morning, he assumed control of the negotiations with Dawson. According to Ralston's testimony, Dawson had many demands including cigarettes, resuming traffic on the road and for police to drive around in a circle in a nearby field.

"Mr. Dawson was almost mocking us ... playfully saying things to us," Ralston said.

Numerous attempts by police to get Dawson to surrender himself and release the woman inside throughout the day were unsuccessful. At one point during the day, Dawson's mother unsuccessfully pleaded with her son to end the standoff.

State College police Chief Tom King requested assistance from the Pennsylvania State police during the standoff. Pennsylvania State Emergency Response Team (SERT) arrived at the scene at noon and set up command post in a near-by driveway. When the woman escaped from the house, she ran to members of the team.

"It was the most terrified I have ever seen someone in my life," said a Pennsylvania State police corporal, who was the first to have contact with the woman after she escaped.

Dr. John Randolph Paine, an emergency room physician, testified yesterday he interviewed Dawson's former fiancee shortly after she escaped. Paine said the woman told him she was physically abused and made to participate in oral and vaginal sex at gunpoint by Dawson. Paine's physical examination proved consistent with her story.

More evidence for the prosecution included taped 911 emergency phone calls.

According to the tapes, one call was made by Dawson's ex-fiancee as Dawson was banging on the door of her parent's house. The call was disconnected before an address was given. Another call was from the brother of the victim after he got a call from his sister earlier in the morning.

Due to scheduling conflicts of the witnesses, defense attorney Joseph Devecka also called a witness for the defense. By calling a toxicology expert to the stand, Devecka raised questions about Dawson's coherence when he gave his statement to State College police Detective Thomas Jordan about an hour after he was arrested.

Jordan said Dawson consumed up to 12 beers during the course of the day.

The prosecution will wrap up testimony today and the defense will also present the remainder of their case.

• July. 28, 1998: Change of venue decision delays Dawson trial
• July. 27, 1998: Trial opens for Dawson today
• Feb. 23, 1998: Man arraigned on charges of stalking, harassment
• Dec. 2, 1997: Hostage victim retracts petition
• Nov. 21, 1997: Hostage crisis suspect held in prison
• Nov. 20, 1997: Area man takes ex-fiancee hostage