KINDERHOOK–State Police at Livingston charged Jordan Couitt, 21, of Schodack with two counts of second degree robbery, class C violent felonies, June 8.
Troopers and investigators were summoned to a 911 call about an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Xtra Mart convenience store/gas station, State Route 9 at about 12:30 a.m. that night.
The overnight clerk said that a masked person entered the store, displayed a handgun and demanded money. In addition to the cash, the perpetrator stole a substantial amount of New York State Lottery scratch-off tickets, cigarettes and beer.
A subsequent investigation conducted by State Police and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office led to the arrest of Mr. Couitt, who, policed say, admitted to committing a previous armed robbery at the Xtra Mart last month during which cash was forcibly stolen.
Mr. Couitt was arraigned on the two violent felonies in Kinderhook Town Court by Justice David Dellehunt, who sent him to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $500 cash bail to reappear at a later date.
*Andrew Brown, 16, of Rochester, a resident of the Kinderhoff Group Home, was charged with second degree menacing, second degree criminal mischief and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon by Kinderhook Trooper J. Wait, April 10.
Andrew allegedly got into a dispute with staff at the group home, threatened a staff member with a frying pan and then went outside and broke the windows out of the staff member’s vehicle with the pan.
He was arraigned in Kinderhook Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Flammable drill
Columbia County volunteer firefighters enrolled in a Firefighter II class took their training to the Columbia County Fairgrounds in Chatham, June 11. There they participated in the flammable liquid/gases burn evolution section of their training. Firefighters were instructed how to deal with propane fires. Volunteers took turns approaching the burning gas under the direction of instructors Melissa Eigenbrodt, Wayne Gearing, David Shultis and Michael Stelling. Larabee Fuel of New Lebanon had representatives on the scene to lend their expertise. The company also donated all the propane that was used. Fire Coordinators John Howe, George Keeler and Tab Eigenbrodt assisted. Fire apparatus from Chatham, Stuyvesant and Spencertown supplied water and Chatham Fire Police were on hand to help keep the scene safe.
Stockport
David L. Branch, 32, of Brooklyn was charged on an arrest warrant for second degree burglary, a class C felony by Deputies Marcus Hickey and Scott Leggett, May 30 at 2:50 p.m.
Mr. Branch turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office in connection with a March 20 incident at a residence on Route 9. Mr. Branch was allegedly illegally in the residence and assaulted a woman acquaintance. In addition to the burglary charge, Mr. Branch was also charged with third degree assault and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, both class A misdemeanors. He allegedly possessed a knife at the time of the crime but did not use it on the victim. Assisting at the scene at the time of the incident were Sheriff’s Office deputies, investigators and Stockport Police Officer Jerry Rowell. Mr. Branch was arraigned in Stockport Court before Justice Harold Horner and was sent to the county jail without bail and directed to return to town court at a later date.
Canaan
Elijah Pablo, 17, of Port Jefferson Station, a resident of the Berkshire Farm Center, was charged with third degree burglary, fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property, second degree assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct by New Lebanon Troopers J. La Plante and F. Cox, April 11.
Pablo allegedly broke into, and stole items from Queechy Lake residences. After allegedly being found with stolen property on his person, he resisted arrest by fighting with troopers, injuring one officer. He was arraigned in Greenport Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Philmont
Michael J. Irwin, 26, of Philmont was charged with unlawfully fleeing a police officer, speeding and reckless driving by Livingston State Police, April 14.
Mr. Irwin was allegedly speeding and accelerated when he saw troopers turn around to pursue him. He was subsequently located, taken into custody and taken to the Livingston barracks for processing. He was issued tickets returnable in Claverack Court.
Ghent
Ryan Puckett, 23, of Kinderhook was charged with unlawfully dealing with a child, a class A misdemeanor by Deputy Joshua Oakes, April 14 at 1 p.m. Mr. Puckett allegedly provided an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 at a Ghent residence. He was released with an appearance ticket to answer the charge in Ghent Court.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Michael Marchese, 60, of New Paltz was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and failure to maintain his lane by State Police at Livingston during a traffic stop on State Route 9, Clermont, March 25 at 10:09 p.m.
When troopers interviewed Mr. Marchese time they detected an odor of alcohol and administered field sobriety tests, which Mr. Marchese could not perform. He submitted to a breath test resulting in a .18% blood alcohol content. He was issued tickets returnable in Clermont Court.
*Aaron Shoemaker, 28, was charged with criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument and Gary Despart, 25, was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument by Troopers Bryan Cloutier and Nicholas Lombardi, March 26. Troopers went to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in New Lebanon and found the two Averill Park men in the vehicle. Mr. Shoemaker allegedly had a hypodermic needle and Mr. Despart allegedly had two hypodermic needles and a glass pipe with crack cocaine residue. Both men were ticketed to appear in New Lebanon Court. Mr. Shoemaker was also found to be wanted by the Ghent Court for criminal impersonation. He was turned over to Livingston State Police, arraigned and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail.
*Lindsey Brackett, 28, of Hudson was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana by Trooper M. Radewitz, March 29.
Ms. Brackett was stopped on Union Street, Hudson for failure to stop for a stop sign and was found to be driving while impaired by drugs and to have less than 25 grams of marijuana. She was released on tickets returnable in Hudson City Court.
*Jose Marte-Martinez, 21, of White Plains was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana, second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia and driving while ability impaired by drugs, March 30. State Police at Livingston stopped Mr. Marte-Martinez on the Taconic State Parkway in Taghkanic for vehicle and traffic law violations and found that he had more than 25 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and was driving while impaired. He was released on tickets returnable in Taghkanic Court.
*Mark E. Anderson, 43, of Copake was charged with failure to keep right and aggravated driving while intoxicated by Livingston State Police, March 31 at 10:30 p.m. After pulling Mr. Anderson over, troopers administered sobriety tests which he could not perform. A breath test resulted in a .27% blood alcohol content. He was arraigned in Copake Court and was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or bond to reappear at a later date.
*Serge Devatedski, 57, of Hudson was charged with driving while intoxicated, a class e-felony, and unsafe lane change by Deputies Kris Bauhoff and Brendan Filli following a crash on County Route 31, Livingston, April 1 at 8:45 a.m. Mr. Devatedski was driving a 2000 Mazda eastbound, when he crossed the westbound lane, struck a tree and came to rest in a ditch. Northern Dutchess Paramedics took Mr. Devatedski to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was arraigned in Livingston Court before Justice Robert Q. Moore and was released after he posted $1,000 cash bail. He was ordered to return to court at a later date.
*Devante Collins, 16, an inmate at Brookwood Secure Detention Facility, Claverack for Youth was charged with second degree promoting prison contraband by State Police at Livingston, April 2. Police charged the teen after a staff member found marijuana belonging to him. He was released back to Brookwood with an appearance ticket returnable in Claverack Town Court.
*Natalie Helm, 30, of Philmont was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs by State Police at Livingston, April 4. Ms. Helm was stopped for vehicle and traffic law violations on State Route 9H, Claverack and was found to be under the influence of alcohol, Xanax and hydrocodone. She was released on tickets returnable in Claverack Court.
*Jason Frantz, 36, of Stuyvesant was charged with felony driving while intoxicated by Trooper T. Jackson, April 6. State Police at Kinderhook were called to the Frantz residence for a dispute. Mr. Frantz had fled the scene prior to troopers’ arrival, but they later caught up with him driving on Gypsy Rock Road, Stuyvesant and found him to be intoxicated. He was arraigned in Kinderhook Village Court and was sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
*Kyle Flagler, 28, of Kinderhook was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle by Kinderhook Trooper T. Jackson, April 7. Mr. Flagler was charged after he was found to be driving a car with no insurance and had a suspended license. He was also found in possession of oxycodone and alprazolam pills for which he did not have a prescription. He was released with appearance tickets returnable in Kinderhook Town Court.
*Clifford Moore, Jr., 26, of Catskill was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled by Livingston State Police, April 10. Mr. Moore was stopped on Joslen Boulevard, Greenport for vehicle and traffic law violations and was found to be in possession of Xanax for which he did not have a prescription. Mr. Moore was released with an appearance ticket returnable in Greenport Court.
*Richard Morrarty, 48, of Craryville was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol and failure to keep right by Deputies Jason Garvey and Louis Bray, April 13 at 6:06 p.m. He was charged following a property damage automobile crash at the intersection of State Routes 22 and 23 in Hillsdale. He was slated to answer the charges in Hillsdale Court.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
