DA Clears Officer Shot Saturday In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NY — The officer who was involved in a shooting Saturday during a domestic incident in Middletown was cleared of any wrongdoing. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said, during a news conference Tuesday, that City of Middletown Police Officer Evan Barone's actions were "proper and necessary" and that he was justified in everything that he did.

Hoovler said it was rare that findings in an officer-involved shooting were determined and released this quickly.

After showing video of the shooting during the news conference, he said the officer did "an amazing job" reacting under pressure.

Police released more details of the incident and said Barone was responding to being flagged down around 7:40 p.m. Saturday in front of 28 Myrtle Avenue in the city. He pulled over and got out of his patrol car to speak with the woman who hailed him.

She told Barone that her ex-boyfriend, Desean Owens, 29, of the Bronx, had arrived uninvited at her home and refused to leave. She also told Barone that Owens had a gun.

As she was speaking with Barone, Owens came out of the home onto the porch and fired a 9mm handgun without warning. He struck Barone in the left forearm.

Authorities said Owens was firing in the direction of a car that had children in it. Barone had placed himself between Owens and the car, Hoovler said.

Police said Barone immediately returned fire, hitting Owens in the lower extremities and the head.

Barone then radioed for help. Additional Middletown officers, along with the New York State Police, Orange County Sheriff's Office and Town of Wallkill Police Department, responded to the scene.

Medical assistance was provided to Barone by Middletown police, though he had already applied a tourniquet to his arm and controlled the bleeding, officials said.

Both Barone and Owens were taken to Garnet Health Medical Center. Owens was later transferred to Westchester Medical Center.

Authorities said a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, with 16 rounds of live ammunition inside it, was recovered from the scene. The weapon, which was secured by the state police for their investigation of the shooting, was not legally in Owens' possession.

Barone, 26, is currently in stable condition at Garnet Health Medical Center and underwent surgery to repair a broken forearm. He was born and raised in the city of Middletown and has been with the department since 2017.

Owens is in stable condition at Westchester Medical Center. Police said he is conscious and alert. He was arraigned Monday on the charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies.

The case was adjourned to Sept. 11, though Hoovler's office said the matter would be presented to a grand jury before then.

Prosecutors said he will be remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail when he is released from the hospital.

Owens is currently on parole for first-degree robbery, and at the time of the shooting, he had an active warrant from New York State Parole for absconding. Authorities said his criminal history also contains numerous violent felonies and weapons possession charges.

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