N.Y. Deputy Significantly Burned When Flare Gun Fires During Stop
What to know
- An Oneida County sheriff’s deputy and a juvenile were injured after a flare gun discharged during a police stop Saturday evening in Utica.
- The deputy suffered significant burns to his neck and hands, while the juvenile was burned on his back.
- Police said the flare gun went off as officers struggled with a second juvenile during the stop, which stemmed from reports of suspicious activity.
UTICA, NY—An Oneida County sheriff’s deputy and a juvenile were injured Saturday when a flare gun went off during a police stop in Utica, officials said.
The deputy suffered “significant” burns to his neck and hands after the flare gun discharged Saturday evening, according to a joint news release Sunday from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Utica Police Department.
The male juvenile was burned on his back, officials said.
Both were taken to Wynn Hospital.
The deputy was later taken to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. He was released Sunday morning.
The incident began when the deputy and several Utica police officers stopped two juveniles around 6:30 p.m. on Chestnut Street in connection with “suspicious activities,” officials said.
Officers spoke with one of the juveniles and learned he had a flare gun, officials said. They were able to secure it.
The second juvenile began to struggle with the officers as they tried to speak with him, officials said. That was when the flare gun went off, they said.
Officers detained the juvenile and found another flare gun on him, officials said.
The two juveniles were released to their guardians.
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