GREENE – The Greene man who allegedly assaulted a New York State Trooper in May was released to the custody of his mother Monday following a bail review.
Derek W. Coviello faces felony assault and criminal mischief charges in relation to an incident which took place on May 20 in the Village of Greene.
According to the New York State Police, they were alerted to a problem by Coviello’s parents, who called 911 to report their son was “extremely paranoid” and “having a panic attack.” When law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the 38-year old man with bricks in hand, banging on the doors of residences along North Chenango Street and then on the glass doors of the Citizens Bank at the thoroughfare’s intersection with Genesee Street.
Troopers Christopher D. Marinelli and Charles Tuttle attempted to subdue Coviello, first with pepper spray and then by using a taser. Neither method proved successful, and a physical altercation ensued during which Marinelli was struck in the head with the bricks.
Coviello reportedly continued to resist arrest and had to be restrained while an ambulance was called to the scene. He was transported to Binghamton General Hospital for physical and mental evaluation. Marinelli was also treated at the hospital for the head injury he sustained in the attack.
Coviello was released from Binghamton General on June 1, and arrested the following day. He is charged with second degree assault, a class D felony, and third degree criminal mischief, a class E felony, as well as fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon and resisting arrest, both Class A misdemeanors.
Following his arraignment before Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan, Coviello was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail. He remained incarcerated at the county jail until yesterday, when he appeared again before Judge Sullivan.
The hearing was requested by Coviello’s defense attorney, Jim Chamberlain. According to Chamberlain, his client, who has been diagnosed with delusional paranoid schizophrenia, has no recollection of the incident.
“He’s currently on medication,” Chamberlain said, explaining that, according to the medical professionals who evaluated his client, he is no longer “a danger to himself or others.”
Nor, the lawyer said, does he pose a flight risk. He asked that Coviello be released to live with his mother, Pamela, at the Standish Road address where he has been living since November. This would allow him to be treated for his mental illness through Chenango County Mental Health’s day treatment program, he explained.
Sullivan questioned the mother, who was present in the courtroom, to verify her willingness to make sure her son continued to take his medication as prescribed as well as transport him back and forth from treatment before granting the request.
“Basically it’s house arrest,” instructed Sullivan. “He can leave only with you.”
District Attorney Joseph McBride said that Coviello could face first degree assault charges depending on the extent on injuries sustained by Marinelli in the attack. He requested that an order of protection be granted not only for the trooper, but for all law enforcement, because of the violent nature of Coviello’s actions on May 20.
Coviello has yet to be indicted on the felony charges.