MONTICELLO – Sullivan Couty District Attorney Brian Conaty called the attempted murder of a police officer in the line of duty “a cold and calculated attempt to murder” an officer.
His comment comes following a jury verdict that found Markell Jarrett, 30, of Monticello guilty of attempted murder of a police officer, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, and menacing a police officer.
Jarrett’s convictions follow an eight-day jury trial in Sullivan County Court where he was convicted of pointing a loaded and illegal gun at Deputy Sheriff Andrew Foertsch and firing it at point-blank range. The officer was not struck by gunfire but sustained minor injuries in the April 10, 2025 incident.
During the eight-day trial, 24 witnesses testified, over 50 exhibits were entered into evidence including surveillance footage, police radio transmissions, firearms, spend shell casings, a spent projectile, DNA evidence linking Jarrette to the trigger and magazine of the gun, and ballistics evidence linking the shell casings and projectile to the gun.
When he appears in court again in April, he is expected to be sentenced by County Court Judge James Farrell to up to 63 years to life in prison.
“Let me be absolutely clear: anyone who targets a law enforcement officer is declaring war on the safety and order of our community. We will not tolerate it,” said DA Conaty. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with the men and women who put on the uniform and swear to protect us every single day.”
The State Police led the investigation in the case.
Comments