JAMESTOWN — “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed round,” but maybe an airsoft gun or BB gun could halt a postal carrier.

While delivering mail recently on Maple Street, a Jamestown postal carrier was struck in the neck with an airsoft toy bullet, which he alleges was deliberately fired at him from an upstairs window at a Maple Street residence by a 17-year-old.

“I was delivering the mail along my route, when I started to hear things falling all around me,” said U.S carrier Michael Sacilowski. “Then I felt a burning sensation in my neck, where I got hit.”

Sacilowski then called the Jamestown Police Department who dispatched an officer to investigate the situation. The officer and Sacilowski spoke to the teenager and his mother at the residence from which he alleges that the toy gun was fired.

“The mother told us (police and Sacilowski) that there is no way the kids would fire the gun out of the house, and maybe it just ricocheted,” he said. “There’s no way that this wasn’t intentional, I’m not buying it. I was just trying to do my job, and this is what I have to put up with.”

Sacilowski also spoke about how upset he was with the way the police were unable to do much because the alleged shooter was under the age of 18 because of New York State law and bail reform.

According to nycourts.gov as of October 1, 2019, New York state has raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18. This legislation is commonly referred to as the “Raise the Age” law. The “Raise the Age” law also created new Youth Parts and a new adolescent offender category. Starting at age seven, children can be brought to court if they are accused of committing a crime. Where the case is handled and how the child is treated depends on a number of factors including the child’s age, intent and past record. Youth who are accused of committing crimes fall into three categories: Juvenile Delinquent, Juvenile Offender, and Adolescent Offender. Also, according to criminaljustice.ny.gov, stipulates the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO). This mandate requires that any youth charged with a status offense–offenses that if committed by an adult would not be a crime–shall not be locked in a juvenile facility.

“The officer said there wasn’t much he could do because of restrictions placed upon them by bail reform and the state,” he said. “So, I wrote a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul about how ridiculous the law is, and there are no consequences for actions -especially for the youth; the officer said I could press charges in family court against the youth and his mother. But I’d have to petition the court.”

Airsoft and other toy gun issues are becoming problematic, according to Sacilowski.

“I know of another gentleman that lives on Maple Street. He’s in his mid-30s and he was out doing lawn yard work and the same thing happened to him,” he said. “When I got hit, if I would have moved an inch or so, the round could have hit my eye.”

A report has been made with the Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement branch of the USPS, for further investigation. The Jamestown Police Department did not respond to a request for a comment.