Man Uses Sledgehammer During Dispute With 77-Year-Old; 2 Officers Injured: Police

NORTH BELLMORE, NY — A Bellmore man was arrested after a domestic disturbance during which two officers were injured while attempting to take him into custody, police said.

Jason Franco, 34, was involved in a verbal argument with a male victim, 77, at a North Bellmore residence on Thursday afternoon, police said

The argument escalated and Franco took a sledgehammer to the man's bedroom door, police said.

The man was in fear for his life and called 911, police said. Franco was located and while police attempted to place him into custody, he became violent and combative, causing the officers to sustain injuries, authorities said.

Franco was placed under arrest and transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation, police said. The injured officers were also taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation.

Further investigation revealed that Franco had violated an active order of protection, police said.

Franco is charged with second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal contempt, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, police said.

He was scheduled to be arraigned on Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.