ANCRAM—A 16-year-old Ancramdale boy was killed when the pickup truck he was driving collided with a tree, July 20 at 7:25 p.m.
Columbia County 911 dispatched sheriff’s deputies to a one-vehicle accident in the area of 164 Over Mountain Road, just south of Renger Road.
Deputies found that a 1996 GMC Sonoma pickup truck, operated by the teenager had been traveling west on Over Mountain Road when, for unknown reasons, the truck failed to negotiate a curve, went off the north side of the dirt road and struck a large tree with the driver’s side of the vehicle, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett.
The 16-year-old, Patrick Sheridan, died at the scene.
There were no other occupants in the truck and the accident is still under investigation by deputies and investigators. Columbia County Coroner James Bertram also responded to the accident and is assisting with the investigation.
Patrick worked at the Farmer’s Wife in Ancramdale and would have been a senior this fall at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains.
A message on the Pine Plains Central School District’s website says, “We are saddened to share that we have lost a member of our school community this past weekend via a car accident. Patrick Sheridan was a kind, gentle giant of a boy. We will remember his smile and kind demeanor as well as his willingness to help anyone in need.”
Counselors are available to talk with any students, during school hours Monday through Friday. The message concludes, “Our warmest thoughts and wishes are with the family and his friends.”
The Ancram Fire Company collected $2,100 during a boot drop Saturday, July 21 and will donate all the money to the Sheridan family. In addition, the fire company is starting “a fund to help with any costs the family may incur from the funeral and trying to put their lives back together,” according to a townwide email message from Ancram Fire Chief David Boice. “We will be calling it the Patrick Fund and anyone who would like to donate can either see me personally or send any donations to Ancram Fire Company, P.O. Box 114, Ancram 12502.”
Checks should be made payable to the Ancram Fire Company with “The Patrick Fund” noted on the memo line.
Over Mountain Road was closed for about two hours following the accident.
Northern Dutchess Paramedics and Ancram Fire Company assisted at the scene.
Investigating for the Sheriff’s Office were Captain John DeRocha, Investigator William Dunspaugh, First Sergeant Louis Bray, Sergeant Eli Fieser and Deputy Zachary Sohotra.
Firefighters were still on the scene at 9:26 p.m., according to County 911.
Claverack
State Police from the Livingston barracks investigated a serious motor vehicle crash near 790 State Route 23, July 18 at 3:57 p.m.
Troopers were dispatched to a personal injury crash involving a motorcycle on State Route 23 west of Donnelly Road. An initial investigation suggests the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control when attempting to avoid colliding with another vehicle.
The motorcycle operator, Thomas P. Golden, 34, of Copake was thrown off the motorcycle and suffered serious injuries. He was alone on the cycle. Mr. Golden was airlifted to Albany Medical Center by LifeNet helicopter.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The State Police were assisted by the Columbia Sheriff’s Office, Churchtown and Claverack firefighters and Greenport Rescue. Claverack firefighters set up a helicopter landing zone at their firehouse. Firefighters were back in service at 5:46 p.m.
Mr. Golden’s condition Wednesday, July 25 was listed as critical but stable..
Hudson
Hudson City Police seized a weapon, drugs and cash and arrested two teenagers following a traffic stop on North Fourth Street, July 13 at 9:58 p.m.
Austin M. Szepessy, 19, of Livingston was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor and Brianna Young, 19, of Palenville was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class A misdemeanor.
Hudson City School Resource Officer (SRO) Jake Hoffman saw a vehicle traveling north without head- or tail-lights. Officer Hoffman stopped the vehicle and noticed a strong odor of marijuana emanating from inside as he approached. The front seat passenger, Mr. Szepessy admitted he had marijuana in the center console of the vehicle. He was found to allegedly possess 53.4 grams of marijuana along with a black shopping bag containing more than $15,000 dollars, all in one hundred dollar bills. The 18-year-old driver of the vehicle, not identified by police, possessed an additional $2,339 belonging to Mr. Szepessy. Ms. Young, a third passenger in the vehicle, was found to allegedly possess a taser/flashlight. Police seized the drugs, more than $17,000, a small digital scale, and the taser.
The driver of the vehicle was released on the scene and issued a traffic ticket for no headlamps.
Mr. Szepessy and Ms. Young were processed and issued appearance tickets returnable in Hudson City Court at a later date.
*Hudson Police charged a teenager, under 16 years of age, of Ancram with third degree burglary, a class C felony; third degree criminal mischief, a class E felony, and fourth degree criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor.
July 11 at 1:48 a.m., police received a call from a witness stating that a male wearing a mask just broke into a shop at 513 Warren Street.
The witness said he heard glass break, then looked outside and saw a male exiting the shop through the smashed glass door without a shirt on. The caller said the suspect began yelling and ran away up the street. While investigating the call, Sergeant Dean Rowe saw a shirtless subject running across Warren Street. Police were able to track down and find the subject, who was identified and found to be a juvenile. It was also discovered during the investigation, that the teenager had broken the front window of the Columbia County Department of Motor Vehicle building. HPD detectives were called in to assist.
The teen was taken to HPD and turned over to his mother. He was issued tickets to appear at Columbia County Probation.
Stockport
A search warrant “targeting an upper level heroin dealer” was executed and four local individuals were arrested, Tuesday, July 10 at 10:30 p.m., according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett.
On that date, members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia-Greene Shared Response Team, State Police, Stockport Police Department, and New York State Parole executed a search warrant at 2870 Atlantic Avenue. The warrant was signed by Columbia County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols.
During the search, 150 bags of heroin were found in the residence and seized. The heroin has an approximate street value of $2,300. In addition, a quantity of crack cocaine was also seized.
As a result of this investigation, these four people were taken into custody:
*Thomas Confer, Jr., 35, of 2870 Atlantic Avenue, Stockport was charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, intent to sell, a class B felony; one count of fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, and one count of fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony. He was arraigned before Justice Michael Brandon in Claverack Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Stockport Court at a later date.
*Meagan Svida, 33, 2870 Atlantic Avenue, Stockport was charged with one count of fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony, and one count of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. Ms. Svida was arraigned in Claverack Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. She will appear in Stockport Court at a later date.
*Charley Cintron, 39, of 2870 Atlantic Avenue was charged on an outstanding Columbia County Family Court warrant. He was arraigned in Claverack Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $35,500 bail. He will appear in Columbia County Family Court at a later date.
*Roger Delease, Jr., 39, of 1360 State Route 82, Ancram was charged with first degree loitering, a class B misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Stockport Court at a later date.
This investigation was initiated after the receipt of several complaints from the community about illegal activity at the location. The arrests are the result of a more than two-month-long investigation conducted by members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, State Parole and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
“This investigation was a huge success largely due to the cooperation of all the agencies involved. As always we continue to aggressively target anyone spreading this poison throughout our community. Anyone with any information can contact our tips line at 518-822-8477, which is completely confidential,” Sheriff Bartlett said in the release.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com