GREENPORT—Police from two agencies are investigating the death of area resident.
Greenport Police Officer Steven Rose was dispatched by Columbia County 911 to the area of Joslen Boulevard and Green Acres Road for a report of a suspicious subject walking in the roadway, obstructing traffic, October 29 at 9:10 p.m.
When Officer Rose arrived, he encountered Ronald Wood, 54, of Greenport in the road and acting highly agitated. As the officer approached Mr. Wood, he became irrational and combative. Officer Rose called for assistance and Troopers Jason Manchuck and Michael Singleton from the Livingston barracks arrived. While attempting to restrain Mr. Wood, he suddenly became unresponsive and police immediately started CPR. The Greenport Rescue Squad took Mr. Wood to Columbia Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:10 p.m.
An autopsy was performed on Mr. Wood by Dr. Jeffery Hubbard at St. Peters Hospital in Albany, October 30. The cause of death remains undetermined pending toxicology results. State Police are continuing the investigation with the assistance of Greenport Police, the Columbia County District Attorney and the Columbia County Coroners’ Office.
Canaan
Columbia County 911 dispatched Canaan firefighters and the Chatham Rescue Squad, October 22 at 7:55 a.m. for a reported one-car rollover accident on Route 295 just east of Barnegat Road, Canaan. The car was travelling west when it went off the road, across the front lawn of 1485 Route 295 and flipped over landing upside down in a dry creek bed. There were two people in the vehicle. One was a small child who was in a car seat and appeared uninjured. Both were taken to Albany Medical Center by the rescue squad. State Police investigated. Firefighters were back in service at 8:49 a.m.
*A traffic stop on the Berkshire Spur section of the Thruway for a traffic infraction resulted in the arrests of two people on drug charges and the arrest of a third person as a fugitive from justice, September 23 at 8:06 p.m.
State Police stopped the vehicle driven by Tyler C. Renton, 23, of Richmond, MA, for a traffic infraction. He was subsequently found to allegedly be in possession of a small quantity of heroin and hypodermic needles. He was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, possession of hypodermic instrument and a traffic infraction. He was arraigned in Canaan Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail pending further court action.
A passenger in the vehicle, Yamilex S. Rivera, 18, of Pittsfield, MA, to be possession of more than 100 grams of cocaine. She was charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was arraigned in Canaan Court and sent to jail in lieu of $10,000 bail pending further court action.
Another passenger in the vehicle, Efrain Gonalez, 36, New York City, identified himself as someone else. He was arraigned in Canaan Court on a criminal impersonation charge and as a fugitive from justice pending extradition on a drug charge in Fort Lee, NJ. He was sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail pending further court action.
*Stephan S. Moulder, 17, of the Berkshire Farm Center for Youth was charged with third degree for criminal mischief, a class E felony, and third degree falsely reporting an incident, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police from New Lebanon, October 9.
Stephan allegedly damaged property at Berkshire Farm Center and set off the fire alarm. He was arraigned in Canaan Court and released to the Berkshire Farm Center pending a future court appearance.
Copake
Michele S. Vincent, 36, of Copake was charged with second degree menacing, second degree unlawful imprisonment and criminal obstruction of breathing, all class A misdemeanors, by Deputies Ian Boehme and Jason Garvey, September 14 at 11:21 p.m. Mr. Vincent allegedly threatened a woman with a knife and prevented her from leaving a location. He was arraigned in Copake Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Greenport
Brian C. Hohman, 49, of Canaan was charged with first degree unlawfully dealing with a child (a class A misdemeanor) by Deputy Scott Leggett, September 26 at 11:31 a.m. He allegedly purchased alcohol for persons under the age of 21.
Mr. Hohman was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Greenport Court.
Hudson
Nicole A. Potter, 26, of Hudson was charged with false personation by Hudson Police Officer Brent Rowe at the police station, September 18 at 7:28 p.m.
Ms. Potter allegedly gave police officers a false name, date of birth and address when they attempted to interview her at the Hudson Area Association Library. She was issued a ticket to appear in Hudson City Court.
*Angela S. Heath, 39, of Philmont was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and a violation of Hudson City Code for loitering in automobiles prohibited by Hudson Police Officer Kevin Sweet at 101 Partition Street, September 20 at 3:41 a.m.
Police found Ms. Heath allegedly sleeping in her vehicle on Partition Street. She allegedly had with a glass crack pipe in her left hand and a piece of crack cocaine in her right hand. She was arraigned in City Court and jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bail bond.
*Ryan Wade, 19, of Hudson was charged with second degree assault (with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon) and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon (intent to use) by Hudson Police Officer Randy Clarke at 20 Glenwood Boulevard, September 20 at 5:20 p.m.
Mr. Wade allegedly threw a screwdriver at female during an altercation, causing serious physical injury. He was arraigned in City Court and released on his own recognizance to return at a later date.
*Jabbar Singletary Tucker, 22, of the Bronx was charged with two counts of first degree offering a false instrument for filing and two counts of second degree identity theft by Hudson Police Officer Dean Rowe at the police station, September 25 at 11:09 a.m.
Mr. Singletary-Tucker was arrested on four signed complaints issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. He was arraigned in City Court and jailed in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or bond.
*Anthony Ormsby, 27, of Hudson was charged with second degree harassment (physical/repeated) and criminal obstruction of breathing/blood circulation by Hudson Police Officer Patrick Meister at the police station, September 25 at 12:29 p.m.
Mr. Ormsby was charged on a Hudson City Court warrant related to a September 23 altercation during which he allegedly he struck the victim in the face with his fist and obstructed her breathing. He was arraigned in Hudson City Court before Judge John Connor and released on his own recognizance to return at a later date.
*Ernest Jawon Hartfield, 38, of Hudson was charged with third degree assault (with intent to cause physical injury) by Hudson Police Officer Nicholas Hodges at 533 Prospect Street, September 25 at 6:13 p.m.
Mr. Hartfield was charged following a dispute during which he allegedly punched a female victim several times about the face causing a laceration, swelling and bruising. He also allegedly bit the victim’s finger causing a puncture wound. He was arraigned in Hudson City Court before Judge Mark Portin and cash bail or bond was set at $1,000.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Issamar Martinez, 48, of New York City was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol by State Police from Livingston, September 18. Troopers were dispatched by Columbia County 911 for a report of a personal injury auto accident in Chatham, June 15. The driver, Ms. Martinez, was taken to the hospital for treatment of an injury she sustained in the accident. An investigation revealed that she had been drinking earlier in the day. While at the hospital, she consented to a blood test which revealed a blood alcohol content of .07%. She was issued a ticket ordering her to appear in Chatham Town Court at a later date.
*Danika Delucia, 23, of Valatie and Steven M. Farmer, 19, of Albany were each charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, by State Police from Kinderhook, September 18. The vehicle, operated by Mr. Farmer, was pulled over by troopers after it was observed traveling at a high rate of speed. Both Mr. Farmer and Ms. Delucia were found to be in possession of marijuana. Further investigation revealed that Ms. Delucia had an active warrant for her arrest from Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. She was turned over to Saratoga County authorities. They were both issued tickets ordering them to appear in Kinderhook Town Court at a later date.
*Thai V. Thach, 41, of Hudson was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, by State Police from Kinderhook, September 19. Troopers were assigned by Columbia County 911 to investigate a one-car rollover auto accident on State Route 9J, Stuyvesant. Mr. Thach was discovered to be the operator of the vehicle involved. While interviewing Mr. Thach, troopers noticed an odor of alcohol on his breath. Field sobriety tests revealed positive signs of impairment. He provided a positive breath sample which yielded a blood alcohol content of .10%. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Stuyvesant Court at a later date.
*Helena M. Hamm, 46, of Hudson was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and failure to keep right on a two-lane road by Hudson Police Officer William Wrigley at 99 South Third Street, Hudson, September 21 at 2:40 a.m. Ms. Hamm was stopped for failure to keep right and was found to allegedly be in possession of a glass crack pipe and a small amount of crack-cocaine. She was released with tickets to return to Hudson City Court at a later date.
*Meghan S. Herchenroder, 26, of Hudson was charged with second degree criminal impersonation (intentionally impersonating another person), criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument by Hudson Police Officer William Wrigley at 300 Long Alley, September 21 at 1:56 p.m. Ms. Herchenroder allegedly claimed to be her sister Mandy Jean Hamm when questioned by police. She was subsequently found to allegedly possess heroin and a hypodermic instrument. She was arraigned before Hudson City Court Judge John Connor and jailed in lieu of $1,000 cash bail or $3,000 bond.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
Hudson firefighter convicted of larceny
CLAVERACK—Firefighter and former vice president of the C.H. Evans Hook and Ladder Company Joseph Morrison, Jr., 31, was convicted of third degree grand larceny, a class D felony, after pleading guilty in Columbia County Court before Judge Jonathan Nichols, October 29.
He was represented by defense attorney Barry Sack.
Indicted May 23, Mr. Morrison, who works for the City of Hudson Department of Public Works, stole between $33,000 and $48,000 from the Hudson Fire Department, Hudson Police Lieutenant Lynne Finn said at the time of his arrest, which came after a seven-month investigation between March and October 2012. Hudson Police worked in conjunction with the State Comptroller’s Office and with the assistance of the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office and the Hudson Fire Department. –Diane Valden
Juries find two home invaders guilty
CLAVERACK—A jury in the trial of Miguel Alcarez found him guilty of first degree burglary and first degree robbery, Friday, October 11, according to a press release from District Attorney Paul Czajka.
Bobby Smith, another defendant involved in the same crime was found guilty of second degree burglary and third degree robbery during a jury trial, Thursday, October 24.
State Police, with assistance from Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies, arrested Mr. Alcarez and Mr. Smith along with Jeremy Cobbins, Joseph Speed and Frederick Williams after a high speed chase from the home in Stuyvesant Falls they had just burglarized.
Chief Assistant District Attorney David Costanzo prosecuted Mr. Alcarez and Chief Assistant Public Defender Michael Howard defended him before Columbia County Judge Richard M. Koweek.
Mr. Costanzo also prosecuted Mr. Smith before Judge Koweek.
In addition, Friday, October 18, Mr. Speed and Mr. Cobbins were convicted by guilty plea before Judge Koweek of first degree burglary and first degree robbery.
Judge Koweek has scheduled sentencing for Mr. Smith, Mr. Alcarez, Mr. Speed and Mr. Cobbins for January 8, 2014, and the trial of Mr. Williams for December 2.
“Defendants face sentences of up to 25 years for Burglary First and 15 years for Burglary Second,” the DA said in the release.
He commended the work of his chief assistant district attorney, noting, “This successful investigation and prosecution is yet another example of the emerging and unprecedented cooperation among Columbia County law enforcement agencies from which the public can only benefit.”
Deputies arrived on the scene as the burglary/robbery was in progress. All five defendants fled the scene in a SUV and led State Police on a high speed chase. Troopers arrested defendants after their car crashed into a pond, seizing all but one after a foot chase. A State Police canine partner assisted. –Diane Valden
