NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A U.S. Marine Corps veteran accused of attacking a Syracuse-area officer blames the attack on emotional trauma from his wartime service, but military officials say he never left the country while serving as a food service specialist.
The Post-Standard reports that 33-year-old Danon Edwards of Syracuse was charged last week with assaulting a village of North Syracuse officer at the scene of a May 12 traffic accident involving Edwards.
Officials say Edwards punched the officer, breaking his jaw, before fleeing.
Edwards’ lawyer said his client’s military service from 1999 to 2003 left him emotionally scarred and unable to work. The newspaper reports that the Marines said they had no records of Edwards serving overseas.
Christopher Gaiser, Edward’s lawyer, says a medical evaluation board report in 2000 said his client developed schizophrenia after his enlistment.
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Categories: News, Schenectady County
