Middletown Sex Offender Accused Of Assault, Robbery

MIDDLETOWN, NY — A Middletown man, who was accused of assaulting and robbing someone Sunday, had several run-ins with law enforcement over the weekend.

The City of Middletown Police Department said officers were sent to a location on East Main Street for a report of a fight around 11 a.m. Sunday.

Arriving officers said they saw a man lying on top of another man on the sidewalk, violently assaulting him.

The victim was bleeding profusely from significant injuries to his face.

First aid was immediately begun for the injured man, while other officers began searching for the man who assaulted him, police said.

David Johnson, 46, of the city of Middletown, was located hiding in a maintenance closet on the second floor of the building.

He was placed under arrest without incident, police said, and property belonging to the victim was found inside the maintenance closet.

Police said Johnson is a Level 2 sex offender, who is currently registered with the Middletown Police Department. He had a felony conviction for first-degree sexual abuse.

Middletown police said he was charged Friday with third-degree robbery after being accused March 7 with threatening an East Main Street store clerk and stealing about $201 from the cash drawer.

After he was arraigned, he was released on his own recognizance, because, authorities said, the charge is not a qualifying offense under which bail can be set.

Middletown police said they had other interactions with Johnson over the weekend.

Shortly after midnight Saturday, only a few hours after he was released from custody, officers were sent to Johnson’s residence after neighbors said he was acting erratically, trying to barricade a common door in the apartment building, according to authorities.

Police said he refused to speak with officers and did not exhibit behavior that could result in him being removed from the building or charged.

Later Saturday morning, police said Johnson was seen trying to enter several locked doors to the Middletown Police Department.

Officers made contact with him, and he was told that entry at those locations was prohibited.

Johnson was believed to be suffering a mental health emergency, authorities said, and he was taken to Garnet Health Medical Center by a civilian for evaluation. He was released shortly afterward by the hospital.

Around 10 a.m. Sunday, Middletown police were asked to assist the Orange County Mobile Response Team with conducting a mental health evaluation of Johnson at his home.

The response team briefly spoke with him but did not recommend he be taken to the hospital for treatment.

About an hour later, police were sent to DeFilippis Bakery on East Main Street because, law enforcement said, Johnson was yelling at employees at the bakery.

The workers didn’t want to file charges, but police said officers advised Johnson not to return to the bakery.

Within a couple of minutes, police were called to the assault and robbery for which Johnson was accused.

Authorities said Johnson was charged with first-degree robbery and arraigned at Orange County Central Arraignment Part Court.

He was sent to the Orange County Jail on $250,000 bail.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.