February 2008

Rape Arrest - Tracy Baxter @ 3:06 pm EST
State Police in Ulster County got help from the Probation Department in Erie County New York in tracking down a man from Buffalo wanted in connection with a sexual assault in our area. 31 year old Webster Wiggins of Buffalo will be in Town of Wawarsing Court Saturday morning where he'll face a charge of First Degree Rape. State Police investigators say Wiggins sexually assaulted a 21 year old woman in the Town of Wawarsing. He's being held on 25 thousand dollars bail.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Homicide Charge - Tracy Baxter @ 12:17 pm EST
Criminal charges have been filed against a man from the state of Florida who caused an accident that took the life of a young girl last month in the town of New Windsor. Town police say 43 year old Francis Circosta was drunk when his vehicle collided with another car at Route 300 and Old Temple Hill Road. Circosta has been charged with criminally negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated. His vehicle hit a car driven by Cassandra Brown of New Windsor. The crash killed her daughter, 8 year old Bryanna Holland. Police say additional charges are expected to be filed.

Third Brother Charged - Tracy Baxter @ 12:14 pm EST
City of Newburgh police have made a third arrest in connection with a fatal shooting in the city during the early morning hours of New Year's Day. Police have arrested 26 year old Supreme Devine Williams of Clark Street in Newburgh. He's charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder. Williams is the third brother from the same family to be arrested for the fatal shooting of Elisha Stubbs outside a bar. John Andre Williams and James Williams were charged with murder earlier this month.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Driver Charged - Tracy Baxter @ 10:27 am EST
The driver of an all-terrain-vehicle had a run-in with a police car....literally. It happened Tuesday morning in the town of Saugerties when an Ulster County Sheriff's deputy spotted a person on an A-T-V on Buffalo Road. When the officer tried to stop it, the driver sped off...hitting the side of the police car. The A-T-V was finally stopped on Teetsel Road when the vehicle hit the police car again, this time in the front bumper. The driver, 18 year old Michael Hughes of Saugerties, wasn't hurt but he faces 7 charges including leaving the scene of an accident, reckless operation of an A-T-V and operating an A-T-V on a public highway.

Accountant Pleads - Tracy Baxter @ 10:22 am EST
A former account manager for an Ulster County company could get up to 15 years in prison when she's sentenced April 7th for stealing more than a half million dollars from her employer. 27 year old Amie Nigro of Saugerties pleaded guilty to grand larceny for stealing 650 thousand dollars from Simulaids of Saugerties. Nigro admitted to stealing the money over a 5 year period to pay off personal debts. Ulster County District Attorney Holly Carnright wants the sentence to include payment of the stolen money.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Stolen Gun - Tracy Baxter @ 1:21 pm EST
The gun was a lot older than he was. Newburgh city police say when they approached a young man on Monument Street who was concealing something in his pocket, he threw the object on the ground and ran. Officers caught up with 19 year old Eduardo Rivera and then returned to retrieve the object. It turned out to be a loaded Derringer handgun. A computer check revealed that the gun had been reported stolen in Tarrytown New York on March 25th 1973. Rivera was charged with the felonies of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Football League Thefts - Tracy Baxter @ 11:28 am EST
The former treasurer of the Warwick Youth Football League has been charged with grand larceny for allegedly stealing 33 thousand dollars from the organization. 42 year old Michael Sura of Chester was arrested Saturday. Sura was replaced as treasurer in December and the new treasurer noticed discrepancies that led to an investigation including an audit of the league's books. According to State Police, Sura admitted to the thefts beginning in February of 2006. He reportedly told police that he had come upon financial hard times after his electrical business failed and that he took the money to cover personal bills and liens.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Officer Stabbed - Tracy Baxter @ 12:02 pm EST
A Newburgh City Police officer is recovering at home from a stab wound and other injuries he suffered while trying to stop a gang-related attack on a man by about a dozen people early Saturday morning. Officer Richard Hammer was beaten and stabbed in the thigh while trying to break up the attack on Mill Street. Responding officers were able to track down 17 year old Edson Godinez and 20 year old Emmanuel Flores. Godinez was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and Flores was charged with felony cocaine possession. The victim of the original attack is currently recovering from stab wounds at Westchester Medical Center. Police say the incident is connected with an on-going problem involving rival street gangs.

Donald Parker - Tracy Baxter @ 11:57 am EST
Funeral Services will be held Thursday for long-time Orange County Coroner Donald Parker who died Saturday following a long battle with cardiopulmonary disease and emphysema. He was 69 years old. Parker was owner of the Gray-Parker Funeral Home in Port Jervis. He was a county coroner from 1977 to 2003, serving as chief coroner beginning in 1981. Parker was well known in Port Jervis for his service to a number of organizations including the Rotary and Elks Clubs and the Salvation Army. Funeral services will be held at 10AM Thursday at Drew United Methodist Church in Port Jervis.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Cabbie Shot - Tracy Baxter @ 11:01 am EST
The search is on for the man who shot and robbed a cab driver in the city of Newburgh late Wednesday afternoon. It happened in the area of Monument Street and Overlook Place. According to police, a man got into the back seat of the cab, shot the cabbie in the back, then pistol-whipped him. He ran off with 150 dollars. The cab driver, who police did not identify, was taken to Westchester Medical Center. Police say information they've received from the hospital is that he is expected to survive. Investigators were hoping someone will come forward with useful information.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Practical Joke - Tracy Baxter @ 12:15 pm EST
It was a practical joke but the victim and the Ulster County Sheriff's Department failed to see the humor and now the man who played the joke is facing a criminal charge. Deputies say it happened early Sunday morning when a patron at Shooter's Bar in Port Ewen went outside to warm up his car. When he came back inside another bar patron...who he didn't know...went outside, got in the man's running car and drove it about 150 yards down the street. The victim called police and after the car was finally located, police caught up with 18 year old William Smith of Esopus. He was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Catskill Plan - Tracy Baxter @ 12:41 pm EST
Could it bring the former Concord Hotel back to the glory days? Private developers have announced plans for a 700 million dollar gaming facility as part of an "entertainment city" that would be built on the site of the former Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake. Empire Resorts says it has an agreement with Concord Associates to relocate the Monticello Gaming and Raceway which would include video slot machines with harness racing as part of the project at the Concord. It would include a gaming area, convention center, hotel, golf resort, retail stores, restaurants and other entertainment venues. Empire Resorts is planning to begin construction later this year with a 2010 opening.

Fatal Crashes - Tracy Baxter @ 12:34 pm EST
Two Sullivan county women have died from injuries suffered in two unrelated car crashes. State Police say 44 year old Michelle Perlmutter of Monticello died Sunday night in the Town of Thompson when her car went out of control on Route 42 and hit a tree. Police say she was not wearing a seat belt. Early Monday morning in the Town of Rockland, a woman died after her car veered off DeBruce Road and hit a concrete bridge structure. The victim was identified as 53 year old Dorothy Sebena of Livingston Manor. Investigators say snow and ice were factors in both of the fatal crashes.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Partial Verdict - Tracy Baxter @ 12:54 pm EST
Sullivan County Chief Assistant District Attorney James Farrell says the D-A's office will re-try Daniel MacLean of Liberty beginning next month. This, after a Sullivan County Court jury failed to reach a verdict on the sexual abuse charges he faced. The jury did find MacLean not guilty of the more serious charges of criminal sexual act. MacLean, a former executive with the Liberty Little League, was accused of sexually abusing a 15 year old mentally impaired girl at his home last June. The prosecution had claimed D-N-A evidence at the scene linked MacLean to the crime. He could have faced up to 25 years in prison if he'd been convicted of criminal sexual act.

Soccer Fund Thefts - Tracy Baxter @ 12:40 pm EST
The president of an area soccer club has been charged with felony grand larceny for allegedly stealing 131 thousand dollars from the organization. State Police arrested 47 year old James Mohre of Washingtonville. He was sent to Orange County Jail on 500 dollars bail after being arraigned on the charge. According to investigators, Mohre stole the money over a 3 year period while serving as President and Purchasing Agent for the Washingtonville Soccer Club. State Police say the money Mohre stole has been collected by the club through fundraisers, tournaments, registration fees and other soccer activities. The thefts allegedly occurred from April of 2004 to January of 2008.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Flu Death - Tracy Baxter @ 11:58 am EST
The death of a 7 year old in Orange County as the result of contracting the flu has State Health officials urging parents to get their kids flu shots. The Health Department received reports of the Orange County flu death as well as the death of a 7 month old in Monroe County. Both tested positive for influenza. Health officials recommend that all children, especially those between 6 months and 5 years old, be vaccinated for the flu. Immunity develops about two weeks after vaccination, providing protection for the rest of the flu season which could last into May.