September 4, 2026

CHERRY RIDGE TOWNSHIP, WAYNE COUNTY — A Honesdale man is facing a series of felony charges, including terrorism and aggravated assault, after Pennsylvania State Police allege he intentionally rammed a pickup truck into the Honesdale state police barracks Wednesday evening, injuring a communications officer and causing extensive damage to the building.

Wade Louis Rickard, 36, of Honesdale, was taken into custody a short time after the Sept. 3 crash. Court records show Rickard is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, terrorism, risking catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief, and DUI among other charges.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police, surveillance video showed a gray 2012 Nissan Frontier ram into the eastern side of the Honesdale barracks at 14 Collan Park at approximately 6:53 p.m.

Police said the operator fled toward the rear of the building and then crossed Route 191 on foot.

Investigators said numerous empty and full cans of Busch Light were found inside the pickup and an odor of alcohol was coming from the vehicle. Both front airbags had deployed and the windshield was damaged from the inside. Police said it appeared the operator had struck the windshield. 

The communications room and entrance to the barracks sustained extensive exterior and interior damage, preventing the station’s telephone lines from operating, according to the affidavit.

A police communications officer was seated at a desk inside the communications room when the truck struck the building and suffered injuries after being hit by communications equipment. Three other people were in close proximity to the communications room at the time, police said. 

The criminal complaint identifies Trooper Kenneth Byers, Trooper Carrie Angeli, Police Communications Officer Lauren Sandercock and Honesdale Borough Police Officer Jennifer Esterline as the four people placed in danger during the incident. 

Following the crash, Byers obtained a ballistic shield and an AR-15 and cleared the entrance to the barracks. He then went outside and found the pickup still running with its windshield smashed and front airbags deployed. No one was around the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

A registration check identified Rickard as the owner of the pickup.

At approximately 7:15 p.m., a responding firefighter reported seeing a man with a visible head injury walking along Ski Run Road.

Honesdale Borough Police Sgt. Keith Colombo was then provided information that Rickard was the registered owner of the vehicle used to ram the building. Colombo later received information from the Wayne County 911 center that Rickard had been spotted along Ski Run Road near KC Pepper restaurant.

Colombo responded to the area and located Rickard. According to the affidavit, Rickard was not wearing shoes or a shirt and had blood on his hand.

Colombo stopped his vehicle, exited and gave Rickard verbal commands. The affidavit states Colombo instructed Rickard to comply with his commands, and Rickard was taken into custody.

While Rickard was in custody, Colombo asked him what he was doing.

“I’m drunk,” Rickard allegedly replied. 

Rickard was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital, where Trooper Robert Sibello read him his O’Connell warnings at approximately 7:44 p.m. Police said Rickard refused a blood draw.

Investigators later obtained a search warrant for Rickard’s blood. The warrant was served at approximately 10:32 p.m., and a phlebotomist drew blood from Rickard’s right arm, according to the affidavit. 

At approximately 7:45 p.m., investigators interviewed Rickard’s parents at the Honesdale barracks. They told police there was no reason for Rickard to have been traveling on Route 191, according to the affidavit. Rickard’s father told investigators he believed the crash was intentional. 

Among the charges filed against Rickard is felony terrorism. The criminal complaint alleges Rickard committed a violent offense with the intent to affect the conduct of government. He is also charged with risking catastrophe. 

Police filed aggravated assault charges alleging Rickard attempted to cause or caused serious bodily injury to the troopers, communications officer and Honesdale Borough police officer while they were performing their duties by driving the vehicle through the front of the barracks. 

State police said Rickard was transported from Wayne Memorial Hospital to the Wayne County Prison for arraignment.

The investigation is being led by Corporal Jason Traino of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop R Dunmore Criminal Investigation Unit.

Rickard is being held at Wayne County Correctional Facility on $6,000,000 bail.