CLEVELAND — Cameron Howard, a 28-year-old Mayfield Heights man found guilty on multiple charges connected to the attack of an Orange Village police Sgt. Mike Debeljak nearly two years ago, learned his fate as he was sentenced in the case Monday morning.
While court records show that Howard was found guilty of attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder and felonious assault back on Jan. 30, the prosecution had agreed to merge all counts with the sentence focused on attempted aggravated murder.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Shannon Gallagher ultimately decided that Howard will serve a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 10.5 years.
We streamed live coverage of the entire sentencing hearing, which you can watch in full below:
HOWARD ISSUES AN APOLOGY
“I wanted to say sorry to officer Debeljak and his family," Howard said prior to the judge announcing her decision on sentencing. "I wanted to say sorry to my family. I just wish this never happened. That is all. Thank you.”
The case dates back to March 30, 2022, when authorities responded to the Extended Stay America Hotel in the 3800 block of Orange Place amid reports of an unwanted guest who was "being disrespectful to hotel staff."
After making contact with Howard at the scene, a physical altercation ensued in which authorities say Howard was “armed with a knife.” During the attack, Orange Village police say Sgt. Debeljak sustained “significant injuries.” The officer was taken to the hospital with lacerations to the head, neck and hands.
A GoFundMe was also launched to raise money for the officer and his family.
SGT. DEBELJAK SPEAKS OUT
Prior to the judge announcing her decision on sentencing, Sgt. Debeljak spoke to the court about the attack.
"I was blindsided, attacked with a nine-inch knife," he said. "Stabbed 10 times. He stabbed my head. The blade pierced my skull, fracturing it, miraculously missing my brain by less than a millimeter. This created an air pocket between my brain and skull with bone fragments floating inside my head. The pain was unbearable. Blood was gushing from my neck, head and rushing down my chest inside my uniform. I bled so profusely that my boots were filling up like little fish tanks as fellow officers rushed me to the ambulance."
You can watch his full statement in the video below:
He said doctors had stapled the numerous stab wounds on his neck and head to stop the bleeding, leading to 10 months of "physical and emotional turmoil" as he recovered.
"This brutal attack has transformed every facet of my life." Sgt. Debeljak said. "The constant reminder how close I came to death haunts me every minute of every day. It has changed me as a husband, a father, a son and a police officer. This has impacted my family, affecting us physically, mentally, emotionally for the rest of our lives. The defendant was fortunate that day. Fortunate that myself and my fellow officers exercised restraint and professionalism while he repeatedly yelled, ‘I’m going to kill you.’ His past violent behavior, stabbing a family member years prior, escalated to a point where he nearly took my life with 10 vicious stabs. But I’m a warrior, and warriors don’t die. We just multiply.”