Otego Man Charged With

Grabbing Cooperstown Boy

COOPERSTOWN – An Otego man is facing charges of attempted kidnapping for allegedly grabbing an 8-year-old on Main Street last Friday.

Luke O’Hara, 36, allegedly left Community Bank at 1:3- p.m. on Friday, June 22, and grabbed the victim, who passed by him on his way to the post office, Police Chief Mike Covert said today.

 O’Hara allegedly told the victim, “You’re coming with me,” and when the boy broke free, the suspect allegedly grabbed him again, and repeated the statement, Covert said. The victim managed to get free a second time and run to his father a short distance away.

Witnesses told police O’Hara left the scene and walked through town, and he was later located near the Mirabito convenience store on Chestnut Street.  O’Hara was “extremely intoxicated” when he was arrested, and claimed he didn’t know what he was doing when he grabbed the child, the chief said.

O’Hara was charged with attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and disorderly conduct. He was remanded to the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.