An Owego Police Officer was attacked by a 19-year-old with a rake last night, sending the officer to the hospital. The officer, who had recently graduated from the police academy, was taken to UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City. An update on his condition is not available at this time. The attacker was identified by his mother as John Desmond. Desmond’s mother, Elizabeth Jones, said the officer drove to the family’s home on Franklin Street in the village of Owego and told her that he wanted to give her son a warning about allegedly threatening to beat up another person. After a conversation between Desmond and the officer, Jones said her son went inside the home. But then, he came back out. At that point, Jones said the officer grabbed her son off the porch and shoved him into a grill. Her son, then reached for a rake and struck the officer. At some point during the physical altercation, Jones said her son was tazed. According to Jones, Desmond has special needs and has been treated in multiple youth homes for his disability. She said he is trying to get back on his medications and would not hurt anyone if he was thinking straight. Jones said her son deserves to be punished, but hopes he does not get a harsh prison sentence, since she does not believe her son will be able to last long in prison with his special needs.
