KINDERHOOK—State Police from the Kinderhook barracks arrested Jeffrey L. VanAlstyne, 58, of Kinderhook for second degree assault, a class D felony, and fourth degree criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, March 21.
At 1:52 a.m., Columbia County 911 dispatched troopers to investigate a 911 hang-up call in which a woman was heard screaming for help in the background. With no location given to 911 dispatchers by the caller, troopers repeatedly attempted to re-contact the caller to render police assistance.
An investigation led police to McCagg Road, where the female victim was discovered with several visible injuries. Troopers determined that Mr. VanAlstyne and the victim had engaged in a verbal dispute that turned physical. The victim attempted to contact 911 several times but Mr. VanAlstyne terminated her phone calls for help.
He was placed in custody and the Valatie Rescue Squad took the victim to Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Mr. VanAlstyne was arraigned before Kinderhook Town Justice David Dellehunt and released on his own recognizance.
Troopers later went to the hospital to follow-up with the victim. When they got there, they learned that she had been taken to Albany Medical Center due to the severity of her injuries, which included several broken bones.
Troopers again took Mr. VanAlstyne into custody and he was arraigned on an upgraded assault charge as a result of the victim’s medical evaluation. Justice Dellehunt sent Mr. VanAlstyne to the Columbia County Jail without bail. He is due to appear in Kinderhook Town Court at a later date and time. State Police were assisted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
Canaan
State Police initiated a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Trailblazer westbound on I-90 for a speeding violation, March 13 at 3:47 p.m. The driver, later identified as, Marlin M. Lawrence, 45, of Hartford, CT, led troopers on a brief vehicle pursuit ending off I-90 on State Route 22 at State Route 203, where his vehicle ran off the roadway and got struck in a ditch.
Mr. Lawrence then fled on foot, attempted to dispose of narcotics, and was apprehended by troopers a short distance from the vehicle, police said.
His passenger, Rogers L. Crawford, 46, of Manchester, CT, was taken into custody at the scene. The men were found to allegedly possess 5.2 ounces of cocaine, 2 grams of MDMA, (a psychoactive drug primarily used for its euphoric effects and commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly), and 2 grams of marijuana.
Both men were taken into custody. Additionally, police determined Mr. Lawrence was wanted on an active Connecticut arrest warrant for parole absconding. As a result he was subsequently charged with: second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A felony; fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony; second degree reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor; third degree unlawful fleeing, a class A misdemeanor; second degree obstruction of governmental administration, a class A misdemeanor; unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation; reckless driving and numerous vehicle and traffic violations.
He was arraigned in Canaan Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail.
Mr. Crawford was subsequently charged with: fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.
He was arraigned in Canaan Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
New Lebanon
The Chatham Rescue Squad took the driver of a Town of New Lebanon-owned plow truck to Albany Medical Center following a roll-over accident at 76 West Hill Road, March 14 at 3:23 p.m. Lebanon Valley firefighters were also called to the scene, but apparatus was held in quarters due to access to vehicle.
New Lebanon State Trooper Timothy Sayles was dispatched to the rollover collision, March 14.
The accident occurred at the height of the blizzard, during white-out conditions, Trooper Sayles told The Columbia Paper this week.
Todd Hover, 56, of Stephentown was traveling southbound on West Hill Road, when he lost control of the plow truck he was operating, which struck a tree and then overturned. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Firefighters were back in service at 3:42 p.m.
Kinderhook
One driver was hurt in a two-vehicle head-on collision at 3540 Route 203, March 15 at 4:04 p.m.
Gary B. McDonald, 62, of Valatie was driving a 2007 Ford eastbound on Route 203, when he made a left turn into his driveway and crossed into westbound lane in front of Jeffrey R. Trossbach, 53, of Niverville, who was driving a 2004 Dodge, westbound on Route 203.
The Valatie Rescue Squad took Mr. McDonald to the Albany Medical Center for reported “body pains.”
Mr. Trossbach was not hurt and there were no passengers in either vehicle. The accident was handled by Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Jordan Brahm and no tickets were issued.
Niverville firefighters were back in service at 4:58 p.m.
A Columbia County deputy fire coordinator assisted on the scene.
Stuyvesant
The Valatie Rescue Squad took a driver to the Albany Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered in a crash at 1801 Route 9, March 18 at 12:27 p.m.
State Police report that the driver, David Moseley, no age or address given, was hurt after his vehicle went off the road and struck a tree.
Mr. Moseley remains hospitalized in stable condition. State Police say alcohol was a contributing factor to the crash and when Mr. Moseley is discharged from the hospital, he will be charged with driving while intoxicated.
In addition to the rescue squad, Stuyvesant Falls firefighters were called to the scene. They were back in service at 1:40 p.m.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com
Van Deusen remembered. A memorial service for James Van Deusen, a life-member, past chief and current fire commissioner of the A.B. Shaw Fire Company, was held at the Claverack firehouse March 26. Along with friends and family, one firefighter observed thousands of firefighters from around Columbia County and the surrounding counties of Berkshire, Rensselaer, Greene and Dutchess file through the line to offer condolences to the loved ones of the former Columbia County Fire Coordinator, Columbia County Fire Chiefs’ Association member, New York State Fire Coordinators Association treasurer and former Claverack Town councilman. Mr. Van Deusen died March 15. His obituary for appears in this issue. Photo by R.E. Lindmark
Sheriff Bartlett elected NYSSA treasurer
ALBANY—New York State Sheriffs’ Association members elected Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett treasurer of the association at the 83rd annual Winter Training Conference at the Desmond Hotel in late January.
Sheriff Bartlett works with the newly-elected association president, Cattaraugus County Sheriff Tim Whitcomb, and sheriffs around the state, to further the efforts of the Sheriffs’ Association to enhance public safety through professional training and accreditation programs, public safety programs, and advocacy.
The State Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation, formed in 1934, for the purpose of assisting sheriffs in the efficient and effective delivery of services to the public. It is made up of all the elected and appointed sheriffs in the state.