WATERLOO – According to a local news report, a Waterloo Village Judge, Roger W. Barto, has been hospitalized for several days after being choked and then struck on the back of the head with a toilet tank lid.
Waterloo Judge, Dean Matton, said that Barto was locking up the building at 10:00 p.m Saturday night after completing an arraignment when the assault occurred but does not believe it was related to the case.
Barto was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and listed in guarded condition. According to his family, Barto has been taken off a ventilator and his condition is improving. Mayor Ted Young said that town employees are very concerned: “This is an incident that hits right close to home. He’s one of our employees, well known and liked in the village. We’re concerned about how something like this can happen and why it happened.”
Waterloo Police Officer James Chechak told a local reporter that he was first on scene and that Barto had regained consciousness immediately after the attack and was able to call 911. Barto slipped in and out of consciousness but managed to tell Chechak that he believed there were two attackers.
According to Waterloo Police Chief Doyle Marquart, authorities are following several leads but they do not have an indication of motive at this time. Nothing was stolen nor was there evidence of a robbery attempt.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at (315) 539-2022.
Photo: Facebook
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