Father Helps Son Bail After Being Accused of Beating Him During Fight with Police

A Complex Legal Case Involving Family Violence and Police Intervention

A man from Perry County, who was shot by a police officer during an altercation involving his family, has been released from prison after posting a $250,000 bond. The case has raised questions about the use of force by law enforcement and the legal consequences of domestic violence.

Zachary Conroy, 42, of Marysville, posted the bond on Tuesday, according to court documents. His father, one of the victims of the assault, provided a surety bond that includes real estate valued at $250,000. This means that if Conroy fails to appear in court, the property could be seized and sold to cover the bond amount.

Conroy is facing five counts of aggravated assault, all classified as felonies, related to an incident that occurred in October 2024. He also faces additional charges for resisting arrest, fleeing from law enforcement, and disarming an officer. These charges highlight the severity of the situation and the potential legal repercussions for the actions taken during the confrontation.

A surety bond is a legal arrangement where a person guarantees that a defendant will attend their court appearances. In this case, Conroy’s father is taking responsibility for ensuring his son's presence in court. If Conroy does not show up, the district attorney’s office can take legal action to seize the property and sell it to fulfill the bond requirement.

The incident began around 6 p.m. when a fight broke out between Conroy and a woman inside his home on the 300 block of Church Street in Marysville. The woman called Conroy’s father for help, leading to a further escalation of the conflict. When Conroy’s father arrived, the fight moved into the street, and Conroy started attacking his own father.

As Marysville Officer Andrew Bustin approached the scene, Conroy’s father warned him, “He’s violent, stay back, he’s gonna hurt ya.” Conroy then turned his attention to Bustin, prompting the officer to use his stun gun. The device temporarily incapacitated Conroy, but he quickly recovered and removed the prongs from his chest before charging at Bustin again.

During the struggle, Conroy tackled Bustin to the ground and began beating him in the face. The two grappled for several minutes until Bustin drew his gun and shot Conroy. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots, and Conroy’s attorney later stated that his client was shot multiple times during the incident.

“I could hear the quiver in the cop’s voice,” said a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. “You could tell he did not want to hurt him.”

After the gunfire, Conroy separated from Bustin and lay on the street, stating, “I can’t die so it doesn’t matter.” Bustin eventually placed a handcuff on Conroy’s right wrist, and when state police arrived, they used additional stun guns to subdue him and provide medical care.

Conroy’s father later told Bustin, “You did what you had to do.” He added, “I knew it was coming,” according to court documents.

Perry County District Attorney Clay Merris cleared Bustin of any criminal wrongdoing following the incident. However, the case remains ongoing, with Conroy awaiting the resolution of his legal proceedings.

Rich Wagner, Conroy’s attorney, declined to comment on the facts of the case. He confirmed that Conroy has since recovered from his injuries and that the Conroy family is waiting for the outcome of the legal process. Wagner also noted that the family supports Conroy throughout this challenging time.