A Colarusso & Son, Inc. is hiring

Fare dispute leads to stabbing, arrest

0
Share

HUDSON—City Police charged Bruce Pigford, 23, of Greenport with second degree assault and third degree criminal possession of a weapon, both class D felonies, May 16.

On the evening of May 14, a cab stopped to pick up Mr. Pigford on Green Street, just west of the Fairview Avenue intersection. Before the journey even started, Hudson Police Chief L. Edward Moore said by phone, an argument erupted over whether Mr. Pigford would pay the fare.

As the dispute escalated, the cabbie felt threatened and exited the taxi with Mr. Pigford close behind him. Mr. Pigford allegedly produced a knife and slashed the cab driver across the arm. The cabbie called police and Mr. Pigford fled the scene on foot.

After tracking down leads, police received information that Mr. Pigford was staying at a residence at the Hudson Terrace Apartments, 15 North Front Street. They found him there and took him into custody without incident. The weapon was not recovered.

Mr. Pigford was arraigned by Hudson City Court Judge Jack Connor and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. He was scheduled to return to city court at a later date. “Good work by our detectives and our uniform patrol. Information was developed then acted upon quickly,” the chief said in a press release.

Kinderhook

State Police from Livingston charged Christopher R. Urtz, 37, of Niverville with possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, a class E felony, May 16.

Troopers were called to Mr. Urtz’s home after a family member found what appeared to be a photograph of a nude young girl on his cell phone.

Mr. Urtz was arrested by the Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation following an analysis of his cellular phone by the State Police Computer Crimes Unit. It was discovered he had several images on his cell phone of young girls that were sexual in nature.

Mr. Urtz was arraigned in Greenport Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail.

Chatham

A Rensselaer County man faces numerous charges including possessing a stolen vehicle following a pursuit and search.

Shaun J. Saviano, 26, of Schodack was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony; third degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a class A misdemeanor; seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor, and possession of a hypodermic instrument, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police from New Lebanon, May 11 at 9:39 p.m.

At 8:05 p.m., troopers saw Mr. Saviano driving a 2004 GMC pickup truck on Hanky Mull Road, New Lebanon at a high rate of speed. Troopers recognized Mr. Saviano as the operator of the truck and knew he did not have New York State driving privileges.

Troopers attempted to stop Mr. Saviano but he sped up and tried to lose the troopers by pulling into a driveway on Highland Road in Chatham and fleeing on foot. Troopers found a passenger in the truck, who told them that Mr. Saviano ran into the woods.

An organized search was conducted with canine units and State Police aviation. Mr. Saviano was discovered a short time later in the Village of Nassau and was taken into custody. An investigation revealed that he was operating a truck reported stolen from South Dakota, bearing Minnesota license plates. He was also found to be in possession of heroin, hypodermic needles and marijuana.

Mr. Saviano was arraigned in Chatham Town Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date.

Stockport

Nicholus P. McMann, 30, of Claverack was charged with second degree menacing and fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, both class A misdemeanors, by Deputies Joshua Oakes and Jerald Rowell, May 4 at 1:20 p.m.

Mr. McMann is accused of threatening to cut a male victim with a weapon. He was arraigned in Stockport Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $500 bail. He is scheduled to return to court at a later date.

Hillsdale

Trevor H. Finkle, 25, of Hillsdale was charged with third degree criminal mischief, a class E felony, fourth degree criminal mischief and second degree unlawful imprisonment, both class A misdemeanors, and second degree harassment, a violation, by Deputy Peter Merante, May 7 at 12:55 p.m.

Mr. Finkle is accused of smashing a laptop computer and preventing the victim from calling police at a private residence in Hillsdale. He was arraigned in Hillsdale Court and posted $1,000 bail. He is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date.

Philmont

Jason Shook, 43, of Philmont was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor, by Deputies Cindy Madison and Ted Blank, May 7 at 4:42 p.m. Shook was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Philmont Court May 22.

Drugs/alcohol

The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:

*Stephen V. Lewis, 31, of New Rochelle was charged with driving while intoxicated, a class U misdemeanor, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, by Deputy Louis Bray, April 27 at 7:50 p.m. Mr. Lewis was driving on the Taconic State Parkway in Austerlitz when he was stopped for several traffic infractions. Field sobriety tests were administered, which he failed. He is accused of being in possession of quantities of concentrated cannabis and marijuana. A breathalyzer test yielded a blood alcohol content of .11%. He was issued appearance tickets returnable in Austerlitz Court at a later date.

*Donald Hanson, III, 44, of Valatie was charged with driving while intoxicated (previous conviction), a class E felony, and first degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a class E felony, by State Police from Kinderhook, May 3 at 9:55 p.m. Mr. Hanson was found to be intoxicated after troopers stopped the vehicle he was operating for speeding in Chatham. An investigation revealed that Mr. Hanson was driving with revoked driving privileges due to a previous driving while intoxicated charge. He provided police with a breath sample that yielded a blood alcohol content of .09%. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Chatham Court at a later date.

*John Hopkins, 42, of Ghent was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, May 8 at 3:55 p.m.

Columbia County 911 broadcasted an erratic vehicle complaint and troopers found the vehicle a short time later on Stottville Road, Claverack. As troopers interviewed Mr. Hopkins, they determined he was intoxicated. He provided a breath sample that yielded a blood alcohol content of .31%, almost four times the legal limit. He was issued tickets and ordered to appear in Livingston Court at a later date.

*Jesse Taylor, III, 37, of Catskill was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, May 10 at 8:55 p.m. Troopers stopped Mr. Taylor on State Route 9G /Route 23, Greenport for an equipment violation and found him to be in intoxicated. He provided a breath sample that yielded a blood alcohol content of .19%, more than twice the legal limit. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Greenport Court at a later date.

*William H. Dicke, 34, of Rhinebeck was charged with driving while intoxicated (previous conviction within 10 years) and aggravated driving while intoxicated, both class E felonies, by Deputies Kris Bauhoff and Thomas Bagnall, May 11 at 2:23 a.m. Mr. Dicke was stop on State Route 9, Greenport. He was administered field sobriety tests, which he failed. A breathalyzer test yielded a blood alcohol content of .22%. He was arraigned in Greenport Court and posted $1,000 bail. He will return to court June 2.

*Ezra L. Walz, 32, of Elizaville was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, May 11 at 7:35 p.m. Troopers stopped Mr. Walz in Greenport after a license plate reader indicated that the vehicle he was driving had a suspended registration due to an insurance lapse. An investigation revealed that he was in possession of cocaine. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Greenport Court, June 2.

*Louis A. Kolonics, 49, of Lebanon Springs was charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors, by State Police from Livingston, May 12 at 9:25 p.m. Troopers stopped the vehicle Mr. Kolonics’ was operating for an equipment violation on State Route 217, Claverack. While interviewing him, troopers determined he was impaired. He was subsequently found to be in possession of cocaine.

A State Police Drug Recognition Expert confirmed that Mr. Kolonics was impaired. He was issued tickets ordering him to appear in Claverack Court at a later date.

Fires

*Ghent firefighters and Chatham Rescue were called to 104 Snyder Road, Ghent for a structure fire, May 7 at 2:07 p.m. Automatic mutual aid was summoned from the Chatham and Greenport fire companies with their Firefighter Assistance and Survival Team (FAST). State Police and the Sheriff’s Office assisted on the scene.

The Fire Coordinators Office was on scene and Environmental Conservation Police were requested to the scene. Fire Command reported a 20 X 20-foot building burned and about six baby lambs died in the fire. Firefighters were back in service at 4:18 p.m.

*Stottville firefighters and Greenport Rescue were called to 6609 Route 9, Stockport for a structure fire in a two-car garage, May 9 at 10:49 p.m. Stockport firefighters provided mutual aid. The Columbia County Cause and Origin Team and National Grid were requested to the scene. Columbia County Fire Coordinators, the Sheriff’s Office and Greenport Police assisted on scene. Firefighters were back in service at 2:35 a.m. Stottville firefighters and Greenport Rescue were summoned for a rekindle of this fire, May 10 at 4:04 a.m. They were back in service at 4:34 a.m.

 

Arson charges translated

A 41-year-old citizen of Nepal pleaded guilty to arson charges in Columbia County Court the afternoon of May 19. Hari Bohara, who speaks little English, had the charges read to him and his interpreter via a special video conference call to New York City. Mr. Bohara appeared in court with his attorney Public Defender Robert Linville. Mr. Bohara was working as the night clerk at the Route 66 Food Mart in Greenport April 27 when he allegedly poured gasoline inside the store and set it afire. Mr. Bohara is in the U.S. under asylum requests. He has an immigration hearing scheduled. His family lives in Nepal. He faces up to three years in prison and deportation.

 

Related Posts