HUDSON—City Police received a call about a physical dispute involving a 16-year-old female victim, November 18.
During an investigation the police saw the suspect, El-Jalon Thornton, 20, of Hudson in the area of Second and State streets. Officers told Mr. Thornton he was under arrest and he fled on foot towards the area of Schuyler Court. A foot pursuit ensued and officers later found him hiding in an apartment there. He was taken into custody and charged with third degree assault, second degree unlawful imprisonment, resisting arrest and harassment.
While in Hudson City Court the morning of November 19, Mr. Thornton was also charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of forcible touching, second degree sexual abuse and sexual misconduct. The charges are unrelated to the initial incident and come after a two-month investigation by detectives with assistance from the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office and the Child Advocacy Center assisted in the investigation.
The investigation revealed four separate victims ranging from 11 to 15 years old. Mr. Thornton was arraigned before Hudson City Court Judge John Connors and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
In a press release Hudson Police Chief Edward Moore said, “I credit our officers for being on alert, spotting a suspect, then engaging in the street Olympics. This subject victimized children and I am glad we removed him before he could do more harm. The DA’s office, CAC Center and HPD worked together to get the job done.”
Claverack
State Police from Livingston charged Brookwood Secure Facility resident Joshua Slingerland, 17, with third degree assault, a class A misdemeanor, November 19. Brookwood is a detention facility overseen by the state Office of Children and Family Services.
Resident Slingerland allegedly assaulted a Brookwood staff member by punching him several times in the face and head November 6. The teen was released back to the Brookwood facility with an appearance ticket returnable in Claverack Court at a later date.
*Robert Vandebogart, 17, also a Brookwood resident was charged with second degree promoting prison contraband, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, November 19.
The teen allegedly possessed a homemade weapon (shank) while he was confined to the detention facility October 26. This weapon was found and seized during a standard room inspection. He was released back to Brookwood with an appearance ticket returnable in Claverack Court at a later date.
*Jason Curry, 20, and Marquis Fleming, 17, both of Brookwood, were charged with second degree promoting prison contraband, class A misdemeanors by state Office of Children and Family Services, November 20. The facility residents both allegedly possessed cellular phones while they were confined to a detention facility, which are illegal. They were discovered during standard room inspections by Brookwood staff. Both residents were released back to the facility with appearance tickets returnable in Claverack Court at a later date.
Greenport
Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies, Greenport Police and Coroner Angelo Nero examined an area below the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Greenport, where one man jumped to his death, November 24. Amtrak trains were delayed for about an hour while the investigation was underway.
Fires
The Greenport Fire Department was called to a fire in the kitchen at Applebee’s restaurant on Fairview Avenue, November 14 at 10:19 a.m. Five employees were preparing to open the business when they saw flames under a deep fryer. The cook attempted to put it out with flour, the manager called 911 and evacuated the building, according to a press release from Greenport Fire Chief Gary Mazzacano.
The fire chief and Police Chief Kevin Marchetto arrived at 10:24 a.m. and put the fire out using fire extinguishers. Damage was contained to the deep fryer. The restaurant was closed by Town Building Inspector John Florio until cleanup and electrical and health department inspections were completed. Firefighters were back in service at 11:19 a.m.
*Greenport firefighters from all three companies were called to a grease fire at a 25 Columbia Turnpike residence, November 13 at 10:22 p.m. The occupant placed saucepan of oil on the stove to cook when a phone rang in other room. While talking on phone, the occupant noticed a fire on the stove, attempted to put it out and called 911. Greenport firefighters arrived to discover the fire had travelled into the upper wooden kitchen cabinets. They quickly put out the fire with a hoseline. Damage was contained to area around the stove and upper cabinets. No one was injured. Firefighters were back in service at 11:36 p.m.
*Fire broke out in the Love Apple Farm store, 1421 Route 9H, Ghent, November 20 at 7:31 p.m. West Ghent firefighters initially responded with the Greenport Rescue Squad. Mutual aid was called in from Stottville, Ghent and Stockport. Fire officials requested New York State Electric & Gas to the scene. The Columbia County Fire Coordinators Office and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene. The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control are investigating.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*James H. Baker, 43, of Germantown was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, October 14 at 8 p.m. Mr. Baker was determined to be intoxicated following an investigation into an accident that occurred on County Route 31, Livingston. He was arraigned in Livingston Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.
*Austin Campion-Hover, 18, of Stockport and Stephen James, 18, of Valatie were each charged with unlawful possession of marijuana by State Police from New Lebanon, October 15. Troopers pulled Mr. Campion-Hover over after they saw him make an unsafe turn fail to keep right on Route 203 in Valatie. While interviewing Mr. Campion-Hover, troopers discovered that he and his passenger, Mr. James, were in possession of marijuana. Mr. Campion-Hover was additionally charged with unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage by someone under the age of 21. Both men were issued tickets returnable in Kinderhook Town Court.
*Sarah L. Salatino, 55, of Essex, VT, was charged with driving while intoxicated by State Police from Livingston, October 16 at 7:45 p.m. Ms. Salatino was found to be intoxicated following a vehicle and traffic stop on State Route 66, Ghent after police saw her fail to keep right.
Troopers administered field sobriety tests which indicated impairment. Ms. Salatino provided a breath sample yielding a .13% blood alcohol content. She was issued tickets ordering her to appear in Ghent Court.
*Allen E. Higgins, Jr., 46, of Hudson was charged with having an inadequate/no muffler, making an improper turn/fail to signal, failure to stop at stop sign, speed not reasonable and prudent, driving while intoxicated (operating a motor vehicle with a .08% blood alcohol level and driving while intoxicated (first offense) by Hudson Police Officer Nicolas Pierro at 749 Columbia Street, Hudson, October 15 at 2:01 a.m. Mr. Higgins was pulled over for several traffic violations and subsequently found to be intoxicated. He was issued tickets to return to Hudson City Court.
* Sarah L. Hampton, 24, of Hudson was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument by Hudson Police Officer Nicholas Hodges at 10 Aitken Avenue, Hudson, October 16 at 8:43 p.m. Ms. Hampton was allegedly found to be in possession of three hypodermic needles and a small quantity of heroin during a dispute. She was released with appearance tickets returnable in Hudson City Court.
*Earl J. Lyons, 24, of Ghent was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony, and consuming an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle by State Police from New Lebanon during a traffic stop on County Route 9, Ghent, October 20. Mr. Lyons was a passenger in a vehicle which was stopped for an inadequate exhaust. During an investigation, troopers found Mr. Lyons in possession of cocaine. He was issued tickets and slated to appear in Ghent Court at a later date.
*Shawn W. Palmer, 36 of New Lebanon was charged with driving while intoxicated by State Police from New Lebanon, October 20. Troopers pulled over Mr. Palmer on State Route 22, in New Lebanon for speeding and driving across hazardous markings. While interviewing Mr. Palmer, they found him to be intoxicated. He provided a breath sample with a .17% blood alcohol content. He was issued traffic tickets returnable in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
*Juan J. Cruz, 27, of Nassau was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle, under Leandra’s Law, a class E felony, operating a motor vehicle without a license and not having child passengers in proper child restraints by State Police from New Lebanon, October 24 at 9:59 p.m. Troopers pulled Mr. Cruz over in Canaan after he failed to dim his headlamps to oncoming traffic. He provided a breath sample which yielded a blood alcohol content of .12%. He was arraigned in Canaan Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail.
*Manish R. Shah, 47, of New York City was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle, under Leandra’s Law, a class E felony, by State Police from New Lebanon, October 25 at 12:45 a.m. Mr. Shah was found to be intoxicated when troopers came upon a one-car accident on County Route 5, New Lebanon. He apparently lost control of the vehicle while driving north. He provided a positive breath sample which yielded a blood alcohol content of .08%. He was issued tickets to appear in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
