July 2007

Fatal Collision - Tracy Baxter @ 1:13 pm EST
A Middletown man died early Tuesday morning when his car rammed into a stopped vehicle on Route 211 in the city of Middletown. State Police say 58 year old Mehmet Ahmetovic was driving a car that hit another car that was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Route 211 and Carpenter Avenue. Ahmetovic was pronounced dead on arrival at the Horton campus of Orange Regional Medical Center.

Middletown Chase - Tracy Baxter @ 12:18 pm EST
Tuesday morning was an eventful morning for Kenneth Rios but unfortunately for the 22 year old Middletown man most of the events were bad. It all began when a city police officer saw him talking on his cell phone while driving. He sped off when the officer approached. Police say he drove through a number of red lights during a chase that ended on East Main street near Dunning road when his car flipped over. Rios wasn't badly hurt. Police say he was wanted on 3 active arrest warrants and they say at the time of the chase his girlfriend was giving birth to his child.

Mayoral Burglary - Tracy Baxter @ 12:03 pm EST
The Mayor of Middletown now has some first-hand knowledge of the city's crime problem. City police are looking for the person or persons who broke into the home of Mayor Marlinda Duncanson sometime Monday afternoon. Police say the burglars forced open a screen on a window and left the Horton Avenue house with a few undisclosed items. Police say there could be a connection to a recent series of break-ins at other homes in that part of the city.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Connection? - Tracy Baxter @ 11:02 am EST
Police in the city of Poughkeepsie are investigating to determine if there's a possible connection between the murder of Iris Rogers June 21st and the murder of Terry Wendover, the 45 year old city resident found dead early Sunday morning in the Rite Aid parking lot on Main Street. Police have not commented on the cause of death pending the release of autopsy results. Iris Rogers was murdered in a wooded area, a few blocks from where Wendover's body was found. Wendover's death was the third homicide in Poughkeepsie this year.

Victim Identified - Tracy Baxter @ 10:59 am EST
A New Jersey woman has been identified as the victim of a fatal car crash in Ulster County Sunday afternoon. State Police say it happened on Yeagerville Road in the Town of Wawarsing near Napanoch. Police say a car driven by 41 year old Susan Siek of Kinnelon New Jersey went out of control and slammed into a tree. Siek was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friday, July 27, 2007

West Nile Virus - Tracy Baxter @ 12:40 pm EST
The West Nile virus is back in the news now that a mosquito pool has tested positive in a sample collected earlier this month in the Town of Poughkeepsie. West Nile is a mosquito-carried infection that can cause encephalitis. There have been no human cases reported in our region this summer. Since 1999 there have been 316 human West Nile virus cases and 33 deaths.

Radio Upgrade - Tracy Baxter @ 12:37 pm EST
Dutchess County Executive Bill Steinhaus wants the County Legislature to OK more than a million dollars worth of improvements to the county's 9-1-1 system. The money would be used to buy a simulcast radio dispatch system that would strengthen places with weak radio reception that emergency responders and police have had to deal with. The new system would include an upgrade at Dutchess county's 7 tower transmitter sites.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Officer Recovering - Tracy Baxter @ 12:54 pm EST
There was relief Wednesday at Middletown Police Headquarters. Chief Matthew Byrne says the word from Orange Regional Medical Center is that Officer Christopher Dolan is expected to make a full recovery after getting shot twice while responding to a domestic dispute at a residence on Wawayanda Avenue late Tuesday afternoon. Officer Dolan had gone to the same house earlier this month on another domestic call. This time 34 year old Raymond Zayas shot through the wall of the house, hitting Officer Dolan in the forearm and pelvis. Zayas, who was on felony probation, later walked out of the house with his one year old son and surrendered. He will be brought back to Middletown Monday morning to face an attempted murder charge.

Cigarette Caper - Tracy Baxter @ 12:50 pm EST
State Police say the couple worked as a team. They went into Rite-Aid stores in the Town of Wallkill and Chester...the woman would ask a clerk at the Photo Center for pictures that didn't exist and while the employees were distracted the man would go behind the counter and steal cartons of cigarettes. The investigation led police to 32 year old Konstantinos Karayianis and 23 year old Leone Beel, both Middletown residents. Charges include felony grand larceny. Police say more than 3 thousand dollars worth of cigarettes were stolen.

Goshen Car-Pedestrian - Tracy Baxter @ 12:47 pm EST
A man from White Plains remains in stable condition after being hit by a school mini-bus Tuesday afternoon on Main street in Goshen. 66 year old Paul Davis was dragged about 20 feet after getting hit by the Washingtonville District bus at Village Square. Davis' wife Susan suffered some minor cuts and bruises. Goshen Police Chief James Watt says the investigation continues but no criminal charges will be filed against the bus driver.

Dirt Bike Crash - Tracy Baxter @ 12:43 pm EST
In Ulster County, a Town of Marlboro woman was seriously hurt in a dirt bike accident late Tuesday afternoon. Town police say 51 year old Gail Vanamburgh lost control of the bike on Marchese Drive. It went over a retaining wall and crashed into a staircase. Vanamburgh was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center where she is being treated for head injuries. Police say she was not wearing a helmet.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Grand Re-opening - Tracy Baxter @ 2:03 pm EST
It was back in May of 2005 when a sink-hole was discovered at the Swinging Bridge Reservoir dam in Sullivan county...and in a safety move...the reservoir water level was dropped significantly. That meant decreased property values for nearby homeowners and lost revenue for businesses around Swinging Bridge. There was good news announced Thursday. The lake will be re-opened for public recreational use this Saturday, 55 days ahead of schedule and Swinging Bridge Lake Marina will host an opening celebration Saturday from 11 to 1....complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and ice cream. Officials are praising Alliance Energy which acquired the dam and reservoir earlier this year and brought the repair project in....ahead of schedule.

New Leader - Tracy Baxter @ 1:19 pm EST
Catskill Regional Medical Center has a new leader. The hospital's Board of Directors announced Thursday that Steven Ruwoldt has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. He most recently served as President of Lutheran Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic Hospital. Part of Ruwoldt's mission will be to lead Catskill Regional to financial stability. The hospital has become affiliated with the Greater Hudson Valley Health System and beginning next week doctors with Crystal Run Healthcare will begin returning to Catskill. They were pulled out in a dispute with past administration.

Stabbing Arrests - Tracy Baxter @ 11:29 am EST
A Town of Newburgh teenager is recovering from stab wounds to his leg and stomach at Westchester Medical Center after getting into a fight Wednesday night over graffiti markings. Town police say 15 year old Anthony Babcock and several other teenagers got into a fight over covering up each other's graffiti in and around the area of Algonquin Park and Cronomer Hill Park. Babcock was stabbed with a folding knife. 16 year old Steven D'Ariano was charged with assault and possession of a weapon. 16 year old John McGrath was arrested for criminal mischief. Town of Newburgh Police Lieutenant Michael Clancy says while the teens use graffiti symbols to identify themselves, they don't consider the incident to be gang-related.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Grand Larceny - Tracy Baxter @ 1:00 pm EST
The newly-hired manager of the Horizons Of Wurtsboro adult home is facing felony charges following a State Police investigation into thefts from an unlocked residence and three locked vehicles. 48 year old Patrick Murray of Wurtsboro was charged with burglary and grand larceny. Investigators say Murray stole a purse from a house and broke into three cars at St. Joseph's Church in the village. Police say credit cards, travelers checks and identification papers were taken. Murray was being held without bail and police say more charges are expected to be filed.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Attempted Murder Charge - Tracy Baxter @ 2:58 pm EST
A New Paltz man is being held on an attempted murder charge....after police say...he tried to shoot an auto mechanic who had been working on his car in Highland. Town of Lloyd police say 68 year old Roger Malcolm pointed a rifle at the garage owner...pulled the trigger...but the weapon misfired. Malcolm was upset over a 23 hundred dollar bill for a car repair. The owner, 55 year old John Felleman, was able to wrestle Malcolm to the ground before he could reload. Malcolm is being held on 25 thousand dollars bail pending a court appearance Thursday.

New Hearing? - Tracy Baxter @ 2:52 pm EST
Attornies for the man accused of killing two superior officers in Iraq....including local teacher Lou Allen...want a new hearing for their client. Staff Sargeant Alberto Martinez faces two counts of premeditated murder for the deaths of First Lieutenant Allen and Captain Phillip Esposito. Martinez is accused of detonating grenades and a mine in their room. He was facing disciplinary action. His attornies say his first lawyer wasn't experienced and didn't represent him well. They want a military judge to throw out the previous findings and order a new hearing. The trial is scheduled to begin next month.

Arrested Again - Tracy Baxter @ 2:49 pm EST
On the surface it sounds like a routine arrest for City of Newburgh police. A mechanic at a gas station on Broadway reported the theft of 85 dollars by a man who ran off this morning. Police would later pick up 32 year old Julio Morant of Newburgh and charge him with felony burglary and petty larceny. He is no stranger to police. This was the 7th time this year Morant was arrested in Newburgh. Past charges include drug possession, possession of stolen property and violating court orders of protection.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Disaster Declaration - Tracy Baxter @ 1:55 pm EST
For the flood-ravaged people in the Delaware County Town of Colchester near Roscoe, it's a big step in the right direction. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a disaster declaration for Delaware County in response to the June 19th flash flooding that caused millions of dollars in damage and claimed four lives. The declaration entitles the state and local governments and some non-profit organizations to apply for federal aid for emergency work, repairs, and measures to reduce the future risk. Senator Hillary Clinton has joined Governor Spitzer in urging the Bush Administration to expand the declaration to also provide federal assistance to individuals.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Motorcycle Double Fatal - Tracy Baxter @ 12:01 pm EST
Two people died Sunday night when a motorcycle collided with a car on Route 97 near Wilson road at the Hawks Nest in the Town of Deerpark. State Police say it happened when the motorcycle drifted into the on-coming lane. Both the motorcycle operator and his passenger were killed. They were identified as 55 year old Joseph Burke and 49 year old Cheryl Burke, both of Wiona Lakes Pennsylvania. The couple in the car...residents of Honesdale Pennsylvania...were not seriously hurt. State Police are investigating to determine if any additional factors led to the crash.

Tappan Zee Fatal - Tracy Baxter @ 11:57 am EST
A New Windsor man has been identified as the truck driver who died in a fiery collision on the Tappan Zee Bridge Sunday night. The bridge was closed for about 9 hours after the rig driven by 42 year old Ricardo Riveros of New Windsor was hit by a car. The tractor-trailer went out of control, hit a concrete divider, overturned and burst into flames. Two other cars then hit the rig. Riveros was dead at the scene. No one else was seriously injured. State Police say Riveros' tractor trailer was carrying meat and produce which had been loaded at a warehouse in Chester. He was headed to Long Island.