AUSTERLITZ–State Police investigators from Livingston and troopers from New Lebanon charged a Massachusetts man with breaking into an Austerlitz home, September 14.
Scott Van Zandt, 27, of Lee was charged with one count of second degree burglary, a class C felony.
Police say, Mr. VanZandt and another man broke into the residence and made off with several items.
State Police worked with several police agencies in the Bay State to identify Mr. VanZandt as one of the suspects.
He was arraigned in Austerlitz Court before Justice Robert Lagonia. He was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.
Police continue to investigate the identity of the other man. He is described as Caucasian, about 5’10”, weighing 160 pounds with light brown or blonde hair. He was seen wearing a white baseball jersey with the number 3 on the back. Anyone with information about the man should contact the State Police at Livingston at 518 851-2001.
Greenport
Frank Werner, 43, of Hillsdale was charged with second degree burglary, a class C felony, fourth degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child by Greenport Police, September 23 at 9:23 p.m.
Police investigated a break-in at a residence on Wortman Square. The resident told police that when she returned from watching fireworks, she discovered that items were moved around in her home. She noticed that the toilet seat was left up and some personal items were disturbed. She also noticed some keys were not in the same place she left them. Officer Lewis Hatch conducted the investigation that started in July 2010. He took a bottle of mouthwash that appeared to have been tampered with as evidence.
Police say the investigation revealed that Mr. Werner went into the house of a former girlfriend and urinated into a mouthwash bottle that belonged to the woman’s daughter. The daughter was 14 years old at the time of the incident and the mouth was a prescription that Mr. Werner knew about.
DNA samples collected at the scene linked Mr. Werner to the break-in after he had denied any wrong doing. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Red Hook Police detained Mr. Werner and turned him over to Officer Corey Cox. He was arraigned before Greenport Justice Robert Brenzel and jailed in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond. Sergeant Jerald Rowell assisted with the investigation.
Stuyvesant
Anthony J. Farinacci, 32, of Stuyvesant was charged with one count of fourth degree grand larceny, a class E felony, by State Police investigators at Livingston and troopers from Kinderhook, September 12.
In early August, Mr. Farinacci allegedly stole a credit card from a Stuyvesant residence. He allegedly used the card in several stores throughout the Capitol District, allegedly stealing over $5,000 from the account.
He was released with an appearance ticket directing him to return to Stuyvesant Court, which he failed to do. Stuyvesant Justice Joseph Bruno issued a warrant for his arrest and Trooper Timothy Milone brought him in for arraignment September 22 in Stuyvesant Court. He was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail. The investigation into the other larcenies committed during this crime spree is continuing and further charges are expected.
Pine Plains
Blaire Coons, 25, of Pine Plains was charged with first degree endangering the welfare of a child by State Police at Livingston, September 22.
Ms. Coons allegedly bought alcohol for minors. She was released on an appearance ticket returnable in Pine Plains Court.
Livingston
Vincent Barratt, 26, of Livingston was charged on a Columbia County Court issued bench warrant by Deputies Thomas Bagnall and Travis VanAlstyne, September 13 at 9:55 p.m.
Mr. Barratt allegedly failed to return to County Court on an original charge of second degree forgery, which caused Judge Jonathan Nichols to issue the bench warrant. Mr. Barratt was taken into custody at his residence and jailed without bail pending future county court action.
Philmont
Christopher Smith, 19, of Philmont was charged with second degree reckless endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child, both class A-misdemeanors and unsafe backing of a motor vehicle, a traffic infraction, by Deputy Andrew Broockmann, September 12 at 4:20 p.m.
Mr. Smith was allegedly drove his vehicle on West Street towards a woman who was carrying her 19-month-old child at the time, September 11.
Arraigned in Greenport Court before Justice Robert Brenzel, Mr. Smith was released on his own recognizance to appear in Philmont Court at a later date.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Lisa Kenneally, 40, of Hudson was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08% and illegal window tint by Deputies Brendan Filli and Louis Bray during a traffic stop on Route 23B, Greenport, July 24 at 3:18 a.m. Ms. Kenneally was issued tickets directing her to appear in Greenport Court at a later date. She was released to a third party.
*Dominic Scovel, 20, of Elizaville was charged with driving while intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08% by Deputy Peter Grzeskow, August 16 at 6:08 p.m. Mr. Scovel was detained by State Police at the intersection of State Route 9G and Middle Road, Greenport and turned over to deputies who were investigating an earlier Germantown incident in which Mr. Scovel was involved. He was released with appearance tickets after arraignment before Greenport Justice Robert Brenzel and directed to appear in court at a later date.
*Christopher A. Williams, 27, of Hudson was charged on a Hudson City Court arrest warrant for resisting arrest, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana by Deputy Brian J. Molinski, August 17 at 11:15 a.m. He was arraigned before City Judge Richard Koweek, released on his own recognizance and directed to return to city court at a later date.
*Jermel Blanks, 36, of Catskill was charged on an arrest warrant for failure to answer charges of driving while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol content greater than .08% and other vehicle and traffic law violations by Deputies Ian Boehme and Jason Garvey, August 29 at 1:55 a.m. The warrant was issued by Greenport Town Justice Francis Abitabile. Taken into custody in Catskill by Village Police, Mr. Blanks was turned over to deputies and was arraigned in Greenport Court. He was released on his own recognizance and directed to return to court at a later date.
*Wei Ping Hou, 27, of Troy was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, fourth degree criminal possession of marijuana and fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (ketamine, a/k/a Special K) by Greenport Police Sergeant Jerald Rowell with the assistance of Captain David Bartlett and Sergeant William Zincio of the Sheriff’s Office, August 30 at 7:45 a.m. Greenport Police received a report of a vehicle blocking traffic at the intersection of state routes 66 and 23. Sgt. Rowell arrived to find a 2011 Hyundai sitting under the traffic light. After interviewing the driver, Mr. Hou, it was determined that he was under the influence of narcotics. He allegedly had more than four ounces of marijuana and more than 1,600 milligrams of ketamine. Police also seized $940 in cash. When he was brought to the emergency room for a blood test, officers say Mr. Hou asked them why they had stopped him in a parking lot. He was arraigned before Justice Robert Brenzel and sent to county jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.
*Keith Torrico, 19, of Mount Washington, MA was charged with possession of alcohol by a person under 21, two counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana and by Trooper Nicholas Lombardi during a stop on State Route 22, New Lebanon for not wearing a seat belt, the afternoon of August 31.
Mr. Torrico allegedly had bottles and cans of beer, a mason jar filled with marijuana, crushed Adderall, which is a prescription stimulant and MDMA, a/k/a, ecstacy. Mr. Torrico was arraigned in New Lebanon Court and sent to the county jail in lieu of $2,500 bail to return to court at a later date.
*Corey Hinz, 23, of Stephentown was charged with driving an unregistered vehicle with switched license plates, inadequate brakes and unlawful possession of marijuana by Trooper John La Plante during a traffic stop for speeding on Route 20, West Lebanon the evening of August 31.
Troopers say when a tow truck operator tried to line up Mr. Hinz’s 1986 Toyota pick-up truck so it could be towed, he found that the vehicle had no brakes and it rolled backward down an incline. The pick-up had to be stopped by the push bumpers on the trooper’s patrol Tahoe. Mr. Hinz will appear in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
*Brad McAdam, 26, of Westfield, MA was charged with driving while intoxicated and unlawful possession of marijuana by State Police at Livingston, September 3. Police stopped Mr. McAdam for vehicle and traffic law violations on Route 66 in Ghent and was found him to be intoxicated. He was released with tickets to appear in Ghent Court.
*Justin McCarthy, 22, of Clermont was charged with unlawfully growing cannabis in violation of the Public Health Law and unlawful possession of marijuana by State Police at Livingston, September 2. Police went to investigate a dispute in Clermont. While there police discovered the marijuana. Mr. McCarthy was issued tickets to appear in Clermont Court.
*Christopher Patterson, 25, of Old Chatham was charged with driving while intoxicated by State Police at Livingston, September 4. Mr. Patterson was stopped for vehicle and traffic law violations on Route 66, Ghent and was found to be intoxicated. His blood alcohol content was found to be three times the legal limit at .24%. He was issued tickets and released to appear in Ghent Court.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
