Retired Croton Architect Fined $500

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The retired Croton architect found guilty of misdemeanor knowingly or recklessly releasing hazardous waste was fined $500 on March 13, according to Westchester County District Attorney spokesperson Lucian Chalfen.

Paul Ingvoldstad, 69, of Old Post Road in Croton, was originally indicted on one felony count of endangering the public health, before he was eventually convicted of the misdemeanor crime.

According to the district attorney, Ingvoldstad originally placed six one-gallon containers of ammonium hydroxide, along with some drafting printers, on the curb outside his house after cleaning on July 7, 2010. Ingvoldstad called the Croton DPW to schedule a bulk pickup of the items, where the drafting printers were picked up but the ammonium hydroxide was left.

The containers sat at the curb for over a week, where additional household garbage was piled. The Croton DPW then picked up the containers with normal household garbage pickup. When the truck was cycled, a Croton DPW employee was directly exposed to a burst of ammonium hydroxide fumes, according to the Westchester County DA’s office.

Croton-on-Hudson Police began an investigation and were assisted by investigators from the district attorney’s office. The misdemeanor on which Ingvoldstad was convicted could have carried up to one year in jail, or minimally probation. The original charge on which he was indicted, felony endangering the public health, carried up to seven years in state prison.

 

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