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VA patient accused of assaulting police officer not in custody

By Howard B. Owens

A suspect in an assault on a Batavia police officer yesterday Friday was still at large this morning.

In a note on the e-mailed press release Tuesday, Det. Rich Schauf wrote that the suspect, Paul F. Daly, was not in custody, but none of the local media who carried the report -- including The Batavian --  picked up on that fact.

I spoke with Det. Schauf this morning and clarified that Daly was not in custody, and I haven't heard any report since then of his arrest. Police are searching for the suspect.

Daly was initially taken for a mental health evaluation, but within hours, according to Schauf, he was released by medical personnel. Schauf did not say where Daly was evaluated. Police were not notified of Daly's release until after the fact.

Schauf did not have a description of the suspect at the time we spoke, but we hope to get one before the end of the day.

Daly, originally from Cattaragus, is or was a patient at the VA Medical Center.

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