The streets are a little bit safer after a judge threw the book at a lowlife who shot a City of Middletown police officer in an attempt to kill him.
The incident occurred on August 29, 2020. During a jury trial in Orange County Court, prosecutors argued that Owens attempted to kill City of Middletown Police Officer Evan Barone by shooting him with a 9mm pistol.
Barone was on patrol when he was flagged down by a man who stated Desean Owens, age 31 of the Bronx, was refusing to leave a house which he illegally entered. The police officer approached the residence. Owens emerged and shot Barone. The bullet passed through the officer’s left arm, permanently damaging a nerve and shattering a bone. The bullet exited his arm and struck the officer’s chest area of his bulletproof vest.
Barone shot back, striking Owens before he could shoot another round and potentially kill Barone.
When Owens shot Barone, there was a car with children inside directly behind Barone. They were in the path of the bullets Owens was spraying.
On May 13, 2022, an Orange County jury found Owens guilty of crimes including Attempted Murder in the 1st degree, Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer, Assault in the 1st degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd degree, Reckless Endangerment in the 1st degree, Criminal Trespass in the 1st degree, Reckless endangerment, and Criminal Trespass in the 1st degree.
During a court appearance yesterday, Owens was sent to rot in the state penitentiary for the next 58 1/2 years to life.
In 2015, all Orange County police chiefs and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office adopted a protocol to be used when police officers use deadly physical force that results in death or serious injury to a suspect or bystander. The protocol designates the Orange County District Attorney’s Office as the lead agency in the investigation and mandates that the New York State Police must process the scene. The protocol is designed to enhance public confidence so that a police department cannot investigate itself.
Orange County District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police and the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation and their assistance in the prosecution. He commended Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Assistant District Attorney Peter Fernandez who prosecuted the case.
“Desean Owens has shown absolutely no remorse for either his actions in shooting the police officer or endangering the children who were dangerously within his line of fire,” Hoovler observed. “This defendant turned down a reasonable plea offer and claimed he was innocent despite the overwhelming evidence of his guilt. Police Officer Barone heroically prevented this defendant from further injuring him, and others by his fast actions. The community will be far safer while this defendant is incarcerated.”
