Joseph Spennato
Defendant allegedly attempted to stab the sergeant multiple times as police were taking him into custody; Second officer fired duty pistol twice to stop defendant
On July 16, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced today that an Armonk man was indicted for the attempted murder of a North Castle police sergeant in May.
DA Rocah said: “We are seeking to hold this defendant accountable for his alleged attempt to kill a police sergeant who was simply trying to do his job. We are grateful that the officer was not seriously injured or killed during this unprovoked attack.”
The defendant, Joseph Spennato, 38, was arraigned today before New York State Supreme Court Justice Anne E. Minihan in Westchester County Court on an indictment by a Westchester County Grand Jury for Attempted Aggravated Murder and Attempted Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer, both felonies, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a misdemeanor.
The defendant remains remanded to Westchester County Jail. His next court date is Aug. 6
At approximately 12:26 p.m. on May 20, two North Castle police officers responded to a 911 emergency call on Hallock Place in Armonk to assist a 78-year-old woman who needed medical care. At the scene, officers became aware that the defendant, who had two outstanding bench warrants in North Castle Town Court, was also in the home. When officers attempted to arrest the defendant, he allegedly used a knife attempting to stab Sgt. William McClure multiple times in the back, striking the sergeant’s ballistic vest, before Police Officer Chris Costa used his duty pistol to fire two shots, striking the defendant twice. The incident was captured on police-worn body cameras.
The defendant and both officers were transported to local hospitals for treatment and evaluation; the officers were uninjured.
The defendant was arrested in the hospital on May 28 following an investigation conducted by the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Bureau Chief Jonathan Strongin and Assistant District Attorney Alexander B. Shapiro, both of the Trials & Investigations Division, with assistance from the Rye Bureau.
The charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
