State investigators have cleared an Oswego County sheriff’s deputy in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Miles Dignean, concluding they could not establish that a crime occurred. The decision comes as Dignean’s family in Constantia and members of the community continue to question how law enforcement responds to people in crisis.
The New York attorney general’s Office of Special Investigation announced that it will not pursue criminal charges in the March 21, 2025 shooting, which occurred during a struggle inside a garage in Constantia. Investigators said the deputy fired after Miles Dignean allegedly swung a heavy metal C-clamp and struck a state trooper as officers attempted to remove his 3-year-old son under an order of protection. The decision by the Office of Special Investigation concludes the criminal inquiry, while broader policy questions remain for local officials and the family.
As detailed by the Attorney General’s Office, investigators reviewed body-worn camera footage, ballistics evidence, interviews with responding officers and medical records. They concluded that “a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer’s actions were justified under New York law.” The report says the encounter began at 12:48 p.m. on March 21, 2025, when Oswego County deputies and New York State Police troopers went to the Constantia home to serve an order of protection and conduct a welfare check…