Pocono News Section

East Stroudsburg Mayor Talks About Bat Attack

East Stroudsburg Mayor Talks About Bat Attack - Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 7:14PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday, May 8, 2008 @ 07:14pm EST
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY- It took more than a year and a half to find him, but a man accused of beating the mayor of East Stroudsburg with a baseball bat is behind bars -- and the mayor is talking about the attack.

Some people might call him Armand Martinelli or Mr. Mayor. But most just call him Doc. It's a title he picked up years ago -- as the Athletic Trainer at East Stroudsburg High School South.

He spends a lot of time patching up hurt students. He never expected he'd have to nurse himself back to health. More than a year and a half ago - someone attacked him with a baseball bat.

The mayor was sitting on his porch in East Stroudsburg when he saw a group of young men attack his friend. He went to break up the fight - that's when he got hit.

"The next thing I know - there was a bat coming at my head," he described.

Police say Melvin Cowart swung that bat. "This guy had really no reason to hit Craig or I - he just did it," said the mayor.

When police captured Cowart in New Jersey, they called doc right away. "I knew we'd get him. It was just a matter of time so I wasn't like overjoyed - 'cause I knew the day would come," he said.

Now he looks forward to the day he'll see Cowart in court. "I just want to see him convicted. I want to see him led out on his way to prison," added the mayor.

Even if Cowart gets sent to jail, the reminders of the attack will last. Doc will have to deal with a big scar forever. But he says that won't stop him from working in government - or helping the students.

Five other people were charged in that attack. They all agreed to testify against Cowart.