HUDSON—Ernest Hartfield, 38, of Hudson, who faced a long list of charges in connection with leading police on a car chase, crashing into a house and failure to show up in court was taken into custody by Hudson Police, December 16 at 10:30 a.m.
With the assistance of Catskill Police, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and State Police, Mr. Hartfield was located at a Catskill address.
On November 20, Mr. Hartfield was issued appearance tickets and uniformed traffic tickets for multiple vehicle and traffic infractions along with unlawfully fleeing a police officer and driving while ability impaired by drugs. He was directed to appear in Hudson City Court December 3, but failed to show up.
He was arraigned before Columbia County Judge Richard Koweek on the initial charges along with the following additional charges: third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, B felony, and fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, D felony.
Mr. Hartfield was sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail.
“As predicted, Mr. Hartfield was located and arrested. His decision to prematurely leave the hospital in order to avoid being charged only postponed the inevitable. Instead of being brought before the bar of justice three weeks ago, he answers today,” Hudson Police Chief Edward Moore said in a press release.
In a related arrest, Kevin Novak, 59, of Hudson was charged with second degree hindering prosecution by Hudson Police Officer Nicolas Pierro at 415 Fairview Avenue, November 23 at 8:23 p.m.
Mr. Novak was taken into custody on an active Hudson City Court arrest warrant. He allegedly assisted Mr. Hartfield with getting out of the Columbia Memorial Hospital Emergency Room while patrol officers were waiting to take that subject into custody on Penal Law class C felony charges. He was released after paying station house bail.
*Matthew R. Mulvaney, 30, of Hudson was charged with second degree menacing (weapon) and third degree criminal possession of a weapon (previous conviction) by Hudson Police Officer Jacob Hoffman, III, at 89 Green Street, November 18 at 1:42 p.m.
Mr. Mulvaney allegedly produced a pocket knife and threatened someone with it. He was held for arraignment.
*Bruce J. Pigford, 22, of Hudson was charged on a warrant for fifth degree criminal possession of stolen property by Hudson Police Officer Jacob Hoffman, III, at the police station, November 20 at 9:18 a.m.
Mr. Pigford was allegedly in possession of a large number of stolen clothing items.
He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance to return to City Court at a later date.
Livingston
The driver of the 2012 Nissan van who was killed in the December 5 accident on State Route 9G has been identified as Matthew Sabatino, Jr., 47, of Eastchester, Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. said in a December 12 press release.
A December 6 autopsy performed by Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard at the Albany Medical Center revealed that Mr. Sabatino died from multiple traumatic injuries suffered as a result of the accident. There was no evidence found during the autopsy to indicate that he suffered a medical problem just prior to the accident. A final finding is pending toxicology results.
The operator of the 2012 Ford pickup truck was Michael Labello, 26, of Niskayuna, who along with his three passengers were all transported to hospitals, were treated and released the same day.
The investigation is continuing into why Mr. Sabatino crossed over into the opposite lane and struck the other vehicle. The accident occurred on State Route 9G, near the intersection of Oak Hill Road, December 5 at about 9:27 a.m.
The van was headed north on State Route 9G when for unknown reasons it traveled into the southbound lane and struck an oncoming pickup truck.
The operator of the pickup attempted to avoid the collision but was unable to.
*Brad R. Hapeman, 40, of Hudson was charged with criminal impersonation, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanors and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, by State Police from Livingston, November 30 at 12:20 p.m.
Troopers stopped a vehicle with a suspended registration, November 29. Troopers interviewed the operator and his passenger, Mr. Hapeman. Their investigation revealed that Mr. Hapeman had identified himself by a false name to avoid arrest on an outstanding warrant from Ulster.
Mr. Hapeman was subsequently taken into custody at a job site November 30. He was arraigned in Livingston Court, sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail and was slated to reappear in court at a later date.
Taghkanic
Thomas J. Powell, Jr., 37, of Craryville was charged with felony second degree assault and second degree menacing by State Police from Livingston, November 30.
Mr. Powell allegedly used a knife to assault a woman during a physical altercation, according to an investigation by troopers.
He was arraigned in Taghkanic Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. An Order of Protection was issued. The victim was treated at a local hospital and released.
Claverack
Scott A. Fenoff, 40, of Livingston was charged with illegal hunting, illegal discharge of a firearm and illegal possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors under Environmental Conservation Law, by State Police from Livingston, November 24 at 6:55 p.m.
Troopers were contacted at 5:20 p.m. to investigate a report that Mr. Fenoff shot a deer from inside his vehicle. Environmental Conservation officers were contacted and assisted with the arrest. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Claverack Court at a later date.
Kinderhook
William A. Wolven, 35, of Niverville was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, class A misdemeanor, by Deputy Travis VanAlstyne, November 29 at 12:35 p.m.
Mr. Wolven was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Kinderhook Town Court at a later date.
Chatham
Skylar M. Dick, Angela Stelling, Ariana K. Justiniano, Danny Graziano, Scott K. Ford and Cole A. Kadlec, all from the Chatham area, were charged with trespass by State Police from Kinderhook, November 30 at 9:10 p.m. Troopers were conducting a check of Crellin Park, when they saw a vehicle parked in the rear of park. The vehicle’s occupants were interviewed and it was determined that they were trespassing after hours. Additionally, Ms. Dick was found to be in possession of marijuana. All of the subjects were issued appearance tickets returnable in Chatham Town Court at a later date.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug-and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Donald R. Rogacki, 48, of Stephentown was charged with operating a motor vehicle without insurance, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation, registration suspended, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to keep right on a two-lane road and driving while ability impaired by Hudson Police Officer William Wrigley at 148 Joslen Boulevard, Hudson, November 21 at 5:27 a.m. He was released with traffic tickets to appear in Hudson City Court at a later date.
*Alexander W. Johnk, 27, of Hudson was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, November 22 at 10:42 p.m. Troopers pulled Mr. Johnk over after seeing him fail to maintain his lane of travel in Livingston. He was discovered to be intoxicated. Mr. Johnk provided a breath sample with a .18% blood alcohol content, more than two times the legal limit. He was issued traffic tickets ordering him to appear in Livingston Court at a later date.
*Donald H. Starks, Jr., 29, of Chatham was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, by State Police from New Lebanon, November 22 at 9:19 p.m. Troopers pulled Mr. Starks over after they saw him fail to stop at a Rail Road crossing. He was discovered to be intoxicated and provided a breath sample with a .10% blood alcohol content. He was issued traffic tickets ordering him to appear in Chatham Village Court at a later date.
*Kenneth Hurst, 46, of Greenport was charged with driving while intoxicated and having a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, both misdemeanors, by Deputies Jeffrey Hofstetter and Kris Bauhoff, November 28 at 3:01 a.m. Mr. Hurst was pulled over in Greenport. Deputies administered field sobriety tests, which he failed. A breathalyzer test yielded a .10% blood alcohol content. He was issued tickets returnable in Greenport Court at a later date.
*Michael Westfall, 29, of Ghent was charged with driving while intoxicated, unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations by State Police from New Lebanon, November 28. Troopers stopped Mr. Westfall was on Woodbridge Avenue in the Village of Chatham for multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. He refused to take a breath test and was arraigned before Chatham Village Justice Daniel Bracket and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to Village Court at a later date.
*Hannah Newberry, 24, of Hudson was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, driving while intoxicated (first offense), for stopping, standing or parking on the highway (violation, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle on the highway and aggravated driving while intoxicated (having a .18% blood alcohol content or higher, first offense) by Hudson Police Officer Nicolas Pierro at 214 Warren Street, Hudson, November 28 at 1:24 a.m.
Ms. Newberry was parked on the highway pavement, when she was found to be intoxicated. Her blood alcohol content was .21%. She was released with tickets to appear in Hudson City Court at a later date.
*Novdeep S. Sandhu, 24, of West Hempstead was pulled over by State Police from New Lebanon after they saw him fail to dim his headlamps to oncoming traffic, December 1 at 12:58 a.m.
Mr. Sandhu and his passenger, Stephany Pimentel, 24, of Corona were subsequently both charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
They were issued tickets ordering them to appear in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
*Shaun Dus, 30, of Nassau was charged with misdemeanor second degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, State Police from New Lebanon, December 1 at 6:07 p.m. Mr. Dus was pulled over for operating a vehicle with an invalid New York State Inspection and was subsequently found to possess marijuana. He was issued tickets and arraigned in New Lebanon Court where he was released on his own recognizance to reappear at a later date.
*Dwayne D. Roden, 50, of East Chatham was charged with driving while intoxicated (previous conviction in the past 10 years), and first degree aggravated unlicensed operation, both class E felonies, by State Police from New Lebanon, December 3 at 3:06 p.m. Mr. Roden was discovered to be intoxicated after troopers received a Columbia County 911 call reporting a vehicle off the road, called in by a passerby. Department of Motor Vehicle records revealed that Mr. Roden was driving with a revoked New York State driver’s license due to an alcohol-related violation. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden @columbiapaper.com.
