Dinneny – shot after refusing
repeated orders to drop weapon
GOSHEN – An Orange County grand jury has declined to file charges against two Middletown police officers who shot a man to death on July 13 at 109 Overlook Drive in the city. Following a full investigation, spearheaded by District Attorney David Hoovler, it was determined the police officers’ actions were justified under state penal law.
Richard Dinneny, was at his estranged girlfriend’s home in violation of an order of protection.
He called 911 from inside the home and said he was upset, intoxicated and armed with a gun. He said he wanted to die and would shoot any police officers who came to the home.
Four Middletown officers went to the house, approached the front door
and confronted Dinneny who produced what appeared to be a black gun in
his right hand. Despite repeated requests by officers to drop the weapon,
he refused and raised it in the direction of the officers. Two officers
fired five shots, striking Dinneny three times. He died after being transported
to Orange Regional Medical Center in Wallkill.
It was later determined Dinneny’s weapon was a pellet gun.
