December 2006

Another Jumper - Tracy Baxter @ 10:56 am EST
The year is ending on a tragic note in the Kingston area as for the second time in two days a person committed suicide by jumping off the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Thursday night a 43 year old woman from the Dutchess county hamlet of Staatsburg took her own life. Wednesday night, Father John Kiwus...a Catholic priest...jumped to his death off the span. Police say he battled clinical depression throughout his life. It was not known if the woman had left a suicide note.

Fugitive - Tracy Baxter @ 10:52 am EST
State Police in Sullivan County wanted to talk to him about a recent burglary in Youngsville but when officers approached, James Dailey ran onto Route 52 in the Town of Callicoon ...creating a safety hazard and obstructing traffic. When police took him into custody they discovered the 33 year old Youngsville resident was a fugitive from the state of Pennsylvania where he was wanted for a parole violation from an armed robbery conviction. Dailey is being held in Sullivan County Jail pending his return to Pennsylvania.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Home Invasion - Tracy Baxter @ 11:42 am EST
State Police are looking for 4 men who broke into a house on Route 44/55 in Gardiner Wednesday night. Investigators say the homeowner....39 year old Saleh El Jamal...arrived at his home and was approached by the men who were wearing masks. He was bound along with his wife...18 month old daughter and 7 year old nephew. The men then ransacked the house and took cash, jewelry and electronics. El Jamal later freed himself and called 9-1-1. Police say El Jamal owns a number of gas stations in the Hudson Valley and is well known in the Gardiner area.

"Push In" Robbery - Tracy Baxter @ 11:38 am EST
Police in Monticello say it was a "push in" robbery and they say they've arrested two of the three suspects who took part in it. It happened early Wednesday morning when, police say, three people forced their way through the door of a residence on Wood Avenue. The 40 year old man inside was roughed up and several hundred dollars was taken at gunpoint. 21 year old Natasha Goncalves and 39 year old Pernell Moore...both of Monticello...were charged with first degree robbery, first degree burglary and criminal use of a firearm. The third suspect is still at large. Police say Moore was also charged with being a fugitive from justice. He had violated his parole after shooting a man in South Carolina in 2004.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

No Charges - Tracy Baxter @ 2:23 pm EST
No criminal charges will be filed against two Town of Lumberland constables for their actions that led to the death of a town resident earlier this month. A Sullivan County grand jury concluded that Officers John Cuomo and Vincent Czubak acted in self-defense in the fatal shooting of Lester Devens and that their conduct was justifiable. Devens came at the constables with a ten inch knife after they'd responded to a domestic violence call at Devens' Van Tuyl Road home. Five shots were fired after pepper spray failed to stop Devens from charging them with the knife. An autopsy determined that Devens was intoxicated at the time of the incident and had traces of cocaine in his blood.

Robbery Arrests - Tracy Baxter @ 1:27 pm EST
State Police in Ulster county have arrested the men...they believe...were responsible for the armed robbery of a motel in Kerhonkson early Tuesday morning. 21 year old Spencer Lane and 22 year old Richard Milligan...both of Kerhonkson...were charged with felony robbery. Investigators say the masked men took an undisclosed amount of money from the Continental Motel on Route 44/55 after pulling a revolver and forcing their way into the motel office. A third man...20 year old Walter Price of Spring Glen...was charged with criminal facilitation for helping Lane and Milligan during the course of the robbery. So far, police have recovered a stolen cell phone.

House Destroyed - Tracy Baxter @ 1:24 pm EST
A two-story house under renovation was destroyed by fire Tuesday in the Town of Callicoon and investigators say it's not suspicious. Sullivan County firefighters had no chance to save the unoccupied house on Warner Road in North Branch. A passerby spotted the flames and when firemen arrived, the second floor had collapsed into the first floor. Firemen were on the scene for more than five hours.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Investigation - Tracy Baxter @ 12:46 pm EST
Police will attempt to determine if any criminal charges should be filed...following the discovery of a human fetus at a sewage treatment facility in the Ulster County Town of Lloyd. The 14-week-old fetus was found by facility workers while they were doing routine maintenance. Police said a D-N-A sample was to be taken to try to identify the mother.

Jet Blue Arrives - Tracy Baxter @ 12:44 pm EST
A long-awaited day has arrived at Stewart Airport. Business and political leaders gathered Tuesday afternoon to welcome the first Jet Blue Airways flight to Stewart. Jet Blue is beginning service between Stewart and two Florida destinations...Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. They plan to add flights to West Palm Beach beginning January 5th.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Neversink Burglary - Tracy Baxter @ 10:42 am EST
State Police in Sullivan county say they broke into the Town of Neversink home and got inside after shooting out the rear windows with a pellet gun. Stolen in the burglary....about 7 thousand dollars and 10 thousand dollars worth of jewelry. An investigation led police to a pair of 19 year olds from the Town of Bethel. Kristopher Marsh and John VonHegel were charged with the burglary. Police say much of the cash and all of the jewelry has been recovered.

Couple Charged - Tracy Baxter @ 10:31 am EST
State Police in Ulster county say a Saugerties couple is responsible for a series of burglaries and thefts at homes in Ulster, Greene and Dutchess counties. 19 year old Danielle Gambino and 25 year old Erik Jensen were charged with burglary and possession of stolen property. State Police say a search of their Manor Lane apartment turned up an assortment of stolen items including power tools, electronics, jewelry and household furnishings.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Shooting Investigation - Tracy Baxter @ 2:48 pm EST
A preliminary investigation has concluded that two Town of Lumberland constables acted properly during an incident Saturday night that resulted in the fatal shooting of a town resident. A 9-1-1 call for a domestic dispute brought constables John Cuomo and Vincent Czubak to the home of 42 year old Lester Devens on Van Tuyl Road. When the constables went inside...Devens...who was described as intoxicated...went at them with a ten-inch knife. He was pepper-sprayed but continued to advance. Five shots were fired by the constables with two mortally wounding Devens. A Sullivan County grand jury will ultimately review the case once lab test results are in. The District Attorney's office said Devens had a prior criminal history that revolved around the abuse of alcohol and that officers had been at the house before...for domestic violence incidents.

Apparent Homicide - Tracy Baxter @ 10:22 am EST
State Police and Village of Ellenville police are continueing to investigate what has been labeled, an apparent homicide. The body of 48 year old Ruth Ann Schwander was discovered Sunday afternoon inside her residence at 17 Maple Avenue. Police had not revealed the probable cause of death but they were asking anyone with information that could help with the investigation to call Ellenville Police at 647-4422.

Grand Larceny Charge - Tracy Baxter @ 10:19 am EST
He's accused of passing himself off as a contractor and skipping town with a homeowner's down payment. State Police have charged a former Grahamsville resident, 40 year old Michael Truppi, with a felony grand larceny count. He is being held without bail for a court appearance Tuesday. State Police say he took a 25 hundred dollar down payment from a homeowner last August for a renovation project. Truppi then left the state after he got the money. Police tracked him down in Allentown Pennsylvania where he was arrested as a fugitive from justice.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Lawyers Arrested - Tracy Baxter @ 12:58 pm EST
Two Orange County attornies are...themselves...in trouble with the law. It happened Thursday night in the village of Warwick. According to the Orange County District Attorney's office, attornies John Herbin and Christopher Kleister attended an attorney's party and had illegally parked their cars on private property in a marked tow-away zone. Their cars were towed and impounded. The D-A's office says Herbin and Kleister then went to Specht's Towing lot and allegedly broke the locked fence, got in their cars and drove off. They were later stopped by Town of Chester police and their cars were re-impounded. Herbin and Kleister were both released after being charged with theft of services, criminal tampering and criminal trespass.