At 7:39 p.m. on Feb. 27, Tioga County Emergency Dispatchers received a call of an armed robbery in progress at the CVS Pharmacy located at 39 Park St. in Owego, N.Y. Initial reports were that the suspect, John R. Malowsky, age 62 of 19 High St., Attica, N.Y., was armed with a gun, according to Tioga County Sheriff Chief Investigator Pat Hogan.
When deputies arrived at the CVS, the suspect was exiting the drug store holding a bag. Officers ordered the suspect to surrender and get down on the ground, but the suspect did not comply, according to Hogan. John R. Malowsky fled on foot, and tried to enter a dark colored sedan in the Rite Aid Pharmacy, across Main Street from the CVS. The car was in the parking lot near the exit closest to Central Avenue, according to Hogan. Investigator Hogan asks that the occupants of that vehicle contact the Tioga County Sheriff's Office at (607) 687-1010.
After pursuing the suspect through an alley, Malowsky again tried to enter a vehicle on North Avenue, this time a dark colored late model full sized pick-up, according to Hogan. Although the drivers of those vehicles may believe the situation is resolved because Malowsky is in custody, Hogan asks that the drivers of both vehicles reach out to the Sheriff's Office, as they may have information important to the ongoing investigation.
After failing to gain entry into the pickup on North Avenue, the suspect tried to gain entry to a store on North Avenue. An employee of John's Fine Foods said he heard shouting in the front of the store. He rushed to the entrance to find a customer barring the door and a man outside brandishing what the witness said was a large knife. The employee quickly locked the doors, and said that moments later law enforcement arrived and engaged the suspect. The witness said that a taser was used to bring down the suspect.
Hogan said that when law enforcement arrived at John's Fine Foods, located on North Avenue in Owego, the suspect lunged at them with the knife. At least one Sheriff Deputy and one member of the Owego Police Department subdued and disarmed the suspect and took him into custody. Signs of a struggle were evident in a pool of blood on the sidewalk and what appeared to be blood spattered on the sidewalk in front of the store.
Malowsky was transported to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, N.Y. for treatment of injuries he sustained during the struggle with law enforcement.
Controlled substances and cash taken in the CVS holdup were recovered, according to Hogan. There was evidence to support probable cause for John R. Malowsky being involved in other pharmacy robberies in Chemung and Steuben Counties, according to Hogan. John R. Malowsky subsequently admitted to similar robberies in Corning, Big Flats, Batavia, and the CVS in Owego, Hogan said. The Senior Investigator added that John R. Malowsky would not be extradited to face further charges "until he's done here," meaning Tioga County.
Hogan said John R. Malowsky's vehicle was found later, adding to the suspicion that he intended to carjack the two vehicles he approached after fleeing the CVS parking lot. Hogan said it remains unclear why the suspect approached the vehicles.
"If those people recall what happened, we ask that they reach out to us," Hogan said of the occupants of the two vehicles that John R. Malowsky was alleged to have interacted with. Hogan asked that any witnesses to the events of Feb. 27 in downtown Owego call the Tioga County Sheriff at (607) 687-1010.
John R. Malowsky is listed as a level 3 sex offender in the state Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry arising from the 1983 incident, and according to reports has a long history of criminal related offenses to include first-degree robbery, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree assault and third-degree robbery charges. John R. Malowsky was discharged Nov. 23 from Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
