HARTFORD, CT – Jason Spencer, the samaritan who defended state Rep. Maryam Khan from a deranged attacker in June 2023, was in Hartford Superior Court to request a diversionary program Wednesday in lieu of prosecution on a related assault charge.
Spencer, 43, of Coventry, an honorably discharged former U.S. Army sergeant, came to Khan’s aid outside the XL Center in June and reportedly fought off the alleged attacker, Andrey Desmond, and then pursued him and detained him until police arrived. News reports say that police later charged Spencer with third-degree assault based on surveillance video from the incident.
Wednesday, Spencer’s attorney, Aaron Romano, asked Superior Court Judge Courtney M. Chaplin to allow Spencer to apply for a diversionary program to avoid prosecution and have the charges dismissed. Chaplin told Spencer to apply for the program and return to court March 13.
Rep. Khan, a Democrat representing Windsor, was leaving a service to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday when she was attacked. She was in the courtroom for Spencer’s appearance and told members of the news media afterward that Spencer’s heroism in June should be celebrated rather than prosecuted.
“I’m standing here today with the man that stood with me,” Khan said outside the courthouse. “Today is about him.”
Khan said flaws in the criminal justice system have come to light through Spencer’s case.
“It is unfair that someone that assisted a woman being attacked is having to defend himself,” she said. “Jason Spencer should be rewarded for his bravery, should be celebrated and uplifted and not criminalized … I am unhappy about the fact that we even have to go through this process for somebody that decided to come to the defense of me being attacked.”
Although the surveillance video of Spencer detaining Desmond has not been made public, Romano said he didn’t think Spencer needed to be arrested.
“I don’t think that needed to occur. There could’ve been discretion by the Hartford police and by the State’s Attorney’s office on whether or not to issue a warrant for him,” Romano said. “On the other hand, we do have this generous offer that they made after the fact [to allow Spencer to enter a diversionary program].”
Khan said she’s concerned that Spencer’s prosecution could act as a deterrent to bystanders who witness a crime.
“People should not fear coming to assist someone being attacked,” Khan said. “People should feel confident the law is on their side.”
According to Romano, Spencer’s one regret is that he hadn’t gotten there sooner to prevent the injury that occurred, and Romano also pointed out that two other people were nearby, witnessing the assault on Rep. Khan, but did absolutely nothing.
Romano said Spencer “was actually down the block, hearing her cries, and he ran at top speed down the block to save her. Were it not for him the attack might have continued.”
Spencer, who served in New York City following the Sept. 11 attack and served two tours of duty in Iraq, was asked why he took it upon himself to intervene.
“If I see someone needing help, I have to intervene. I feel all citizens should do that, we should all look out for each other,” Spencer said. “I just could not hear this lady scream, you know, fighting for her life, and just stand there and not do anything. That’s not how I was raised and that’s not what the U.S. army instilled in me.”
Romano said the police response to the incident is under investigation for possible litigation.
