Patrick Hayward Beat, Shot Special Olympian: Police

OWEGO, N.Y. (AP) -- Police say a 6-foot-2, 220-pound upstate New York man has been charged with using a BB gun, golf club, tire iron and glass bottle during attacks against a developmentally disabled man

Police in the Southern Tier village of Owego (oh-WEE'-goh) say the charges against 22-year-old Patrick Hayward include assault, menacing and endangering the welfare of a mentally incompetent person.

Police say Hayward shot the man in the upper body with a BB gun.

Authorities say the 31-year-old victim reported the incident last Friday after being attacked over several days. Police say the man, a Special Olympics competitor, wasn't seriously injured.

Hayward was being held Tuesday morning in Tioga (tye-OH'-gah) County Jail on $25,000 cash bail. Police and jail officials said they didn't know if he had a lawyer.

Comments

[Lisa Streno]

Just thought people might like to know that patrick did not do what he was accused of.. yes he did shoot a bbgun, but not at that man. 2 other people were involved and they were the ones who did the abuse, patrick was chosen as a scapegoat because he has his own mental deficiencies.

[The Albany Kid]

Hate seeing an Upstate guy engaging in this sort of outrageous behavior!

[A Meat Beetle]

I used to work in a group home that housed five adult men with developmental disabilities. I'd like to give this guy to them and let them take him out in the back yard for a while. Karma.

[CoconutLime]

How nice. I'd like to get my hands on this person - just for one minute. That's all the time I'd need.

[michaleenflynn]

Maybe O. b@ma will make another Special Olympics joke.

[donia1970]

Uncalled for as this is NOT a joke - nor was the President poking fun at special needs individuals. People like you who would take this situation and turn it into a political barb are really and truly pathetic!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!

[mrtuan]

I hope the Judge requires he donate a large sum of money to Special Olympics and force him for volunteer hundreds of hours working with special needs people. I understand the anger I have read in some of these posts. My brother is mentally challenged. However I want him to understand what he did was wrong by spending time with special needs people and see how special they are. If he is beaten while in jail, he will only hate mentally challenged people more....

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

I can't understand how someone can get mis-wired so badly. Excise him from society because he'll never be a decent part of it.

[motoGpifupleez]

What an interesting time the pathetic loser patrick hayward will have in prison. A very painful, interesting time. Enjoy the shower, coward.

[CoolPapa]

Da.mn violent Republicans!

[MrsFonebone]

@CoolPapa -- How very ignorant to cheapen this event with your parrot-like comments.

[4 Real]

There will always be some neandrethal who likes to beat up vulnerable people because they are less likely to complain. I believe for some, this has nothing to do with personal beliefs or that the victim is less human, it's all about enjoying it while getting away with it.
Don''t get me wrong, plenty of bullies out there who like to beat up people they just don't like, but this guy reminds of the first type.

[demimckingwoodtx]

Lock him up and throw away the key, bread and water for life.

[SensibleJoe]

More proof that America has a problem with violence and empathy. It's time to revive one single ethic and shout it from the rooftops: "Treat others the way you want to be treated." I wonder if this sociopath bully would like to be shot, beaten and cut?

[killmenow]

This story should not be reported with such incomplete information. So typical of the AP.

[WhereIsTheTruth]

Perhaps it would be helpful if you enlightened us. What have they missed that could have changed the tone or our perception of the story?

[floridafun]

how awful for this young man and his family! i cant join in on the politics digs like some commenters. this is beyond politics. i hope the abusive bully is in prison for a long long time. i hope eventually the victims nightmares ease.

[haval2]

Another candidate for C Street.