Kent Beating Investigation Continues

Kent Police are awaiting forensic reports from a criminal laboratory that they hope will lead them to the persons responsible for the vicious beating of a local resident in February.

The unidentified 50-year-old man residing along a dead end road off Farmers Mills Road continues to improve from life-threatening injuries received when he was severely beaten at his residence.

The man, who is employed by the Putnam County Office for the Aging, stopped by his home for a bite to eat at lunchtime on Feb. 17 and, according to police, interrupted a burglary.

Lt. Alex DiVernieri said “one of the suspects struck the man several times about the face and head with an instrument, causing massive head and facial trauma.”

While the lieutenant did not divulge the “instrument” used in the attack or reveal the extent of the man’s injuries, a reliable source told the Courier the victim’s ear was nearly severed and his eye socket was fractured as a result of the beating with a liquor bottle which Kent Police said was recovered at the scene.

Authorities said the man’s life was saved because of a policy initiated by the county whereby when the employee did not return from his lunch hour and was unable to be contacted by cell phone, a supervisor responded to the man’s home and observed the countyowned van in his Continental Drive driveway.

Lt. DiVernieri said the supervisor went to the residence and when he observed a broken window, he called authorities.

Officers responded and found the gravely injured man on the floor inside the home in a pool of blood. Paramedics and EMT personnel were summoned. Due to the extent of the injuries, a MedEvac helicopter was summoned and the victim was airlifted to St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, where he was admitted in critical condition. Sources tell the Courier the victim has since recovered but remains scarred by the ordeal.

The lieutenant said Monday detectives had interviewed the victim on numerous occasions and were “working with members of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and surrounding agencies to follow up on leads. Once we receive information from the lab we will have a better handle on the case, which remains a top priority for this department.”

Anyone who might have been riding through the area on that morning and observed anything suspicious is asked to call Kent Police at (845) 225-4600. All calls will be kept confidential.