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Criminal Justice System

Police & Fire
Man Sucker-Punches Officer, Breaks His Nose In Yonkers: Police Man Sucker-Punches Officer, Breaks His Nose In Yonkers: Police
Man Sucker-Punches Officer, Breaks His Nose In Yonkers: Police Officials in a Westchester County city are calling for bail reform following the quick release of a man who was arrested for sucker punching an officer in his face and breaking his nose, police said. Johnny McCray, age 39, was arrested on Wednesday night, Sept. 6 on assault charges after punching an officer in the face, according to Yonkers Police.  On the night of the incident, police responded to Yonkers Avenue in the area of Cypress Street on reports of a man lying down on the sidewalk. There, arriving officers found a man identified as McCray, who they confirmed was still breathing.  …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Westchester Fatal Shootings: Review Into Deaths Of DJ Henry, Kenneth Chamberlain Concludes Westchester Fatal Shootings: Review Into Deaths Of DJ Henry, Kenneth Chamberlain Concludes
Westchester Fatal Shootings: Review Into Deaths Of DJ Henry, Kenneth Chamberlain Concludes A review of two fatal police-involved shootings in Westchester, including the death of former Pace University football player Danroy "DJ" Henry Jr., has concluded with no new evidence found to convene juries for either incident, officials said.  The independent reviews of the two incidents, which included the shooting deaths of DJ Henry and Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr. in 2010 and 2011, respectively, were announced to be concluded by Westchester District Attorney Miriam Rocah on Wednesday, July 26.  According to Rocah's office, the reviews both found no new evidence to resubmit n…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Drug Convictions, Charges Should Be Vacated For 27 People Due To Errors, Westchester DA Says Drug Convictions, Charges Should Be Vacated For 27 People Due To Errors, Westchester DA Says
Drug Convictions, Charges Should Be Vacated For 27 People Due To Errors, Westchester DA Says This story has been corrected. Officials are seeking to reverse drug-related charges and convictions of 27 people after the Westchester District Attorney's Office found a number of inconsistencies and errors involved in their prosecution that were also related to a criminal investigation into a police department in the county.  A total of 27 individuals were either charged or convicted for allegedly selling drugs to a Westchester County Police/Department of Public Safety undercover officer during a 2017 narcotics operation conducted by the Mount Vernon Police Department, acco…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Don't Say 'Inmate': NY Law Changes Term For Those Housed In State Prisons Don't Say 'Inmate': NY Law Changes Term For Those Housed In State Prisons
Don't Say 'Inmate': NY Law Changes Term For Those Housed In State Prisons Convicted criminals who spend time in New York prisons will no longer be officially referred to as “inmates.” Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law Monday, Aug. 8, that replaces the word “inmate” in state law with “incarcerated individual.” The governor’s office said the language change is meant to reduce stigma against people involved in the criminal justice system and eliminate barriers to opportunities that they face. “Individuals impacted by the criminal justice system have long noted that terms such as felon, inmate, prisoner, and convict dehumanize individuals and perpetuate the idea th…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Capitol Rioter From NY Accidentally Admits To More Felonies While Representing Himself In Court Capitol Rioter From NY Accidentally Admits To More Felonies While Representing Himself In Court
Capitol Rioter From NY Accidentally Admits To More Felonies While Representing Himself In Court A rioter from New York who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol got himself in hotter water after representing himself in court and will now face fresh charges. Brandon Fellows, a 27-year-old former high school wrestling standout who attended Hudson Valley Community College, accidentally admitted to two more felonies. Original story - Ex-NY HS Wrestling Standout Who Smoked Pot In Senator's Office Says He Has No Regrets For Riot According to reports, Fellows admitted that he prepared for an evidentiary hearing, not a bond hearing as he appeared before the court “pr…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Details Emerge On Drive-By Shooting With Multiple Injuries In Westchester Details Emerge On Drive-By Shooting With Multiple Injuries In Westchester
Details Emerge On Drive-By Shooting With Multiple Injuries In Westchester Four people were injured, one critically, in a drive-by shooting in Westchester that police said could potentially be gang-related. Shots rang out at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 11 at the intersection of Elm Street and Oak Street in Yonkers, a police spokesperson said, after a passenger in a passing vehicle stuck his head out of a window and opened fire in an incident caught on video. Original story - Multiple Gunshot Victims Reported By Police In Yonkers Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said the incident appears to be related to gang activity and was not a random ac…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Cuomo Places Blame For NY Down-Ballot Democratic Losses On De Blasio Cuomo Places Blame For NY Down-Ballot Democratic Losses On De Blasio
Cuomo Places Blame For NY Down-Ballot Democratic Losses On De Blasio The war of words between Democratic rivals Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Gov. Bill de Blasio has escalated following some disappointing results for Democrats in this week’s elections. Cuomo blamed de Blasio for the state’s down-ballot difficulties in New York, arguing that the mayor’s job performance served as ammunition for the other side of the aisle in races on Long Island and upstate New York that went to Republicans. “The Democrats: there’ll be havoc like in New York City,” Cuomo said in an interview on WAMC Radio in Albany. “They ran de Blasio’s picture all over the state. They’…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Westchester DA Tony Scarpino Concedes To Primary Challenger Mimi Rocah Westchester DA Tony Scarpino Concedes To Primary Challenger Mimi Rocah
Westchester DA Tony Scarpino Concedes To Primary Challenger Mimi Rocah Westchester County will have a new District Attorney come November. Incumbent District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. conceded the Democratic Primary to former federal prosecutor and MSNBC analyst Mimi Rocah on Thursday, July 16. Scarpino’s concession comes more than three weeks after the primary on Tuesday, June 23, which was slowed by thousands of mail-in ballots that had to be counted due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “I am tremendously honored to be able to declare victory today in the Democratic Primary for Westchester District Attorney after three weeks with more than…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Results So Far Point To Victory In Westchester DA Race, Rocah Campaign Says Results So Far Point To Victory In Westchester DA Race, Rocah Campaign Says
Results So Far Point To Victory In Westchester DA Race, Rocah Campaign Says Ballots are still being counted, but the Westchester County District Attorney’s race could already be decided, according to challenger Mimi Rocah. Rocha’s camp is declaring victory, saying that her winning margin on Election Day “leaves little hope for incumbent (District Attorney) Tony Scarpino" in what was expected to be a tight race. “With tens of thousands of paper ballots yet to be counted and a week for additional ballots to arrive, the results are not expected to be finalized for several weeks,” she wrote in an email. "However, the strength of her winning margin on Election Day …

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by Zak Failla
News
10 High School Students Graduate While In Westchester County Custody 10 High School Students Graduate While In Westchester County Custody
10 High School Students Graduate While In Westchester County Custody County custody didn’t hold back the 10 students who received their high school diplomas at a commencement ceremony at Westchester County Department of Correction on Friday, July 12. The ceremony was held at the jail’s Albert Memorial Chapel and attended by family, mentors and other invited guests. Each of the students donned their bright blue caps and gowns while ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ played. Evangelist Vicki Mills and Sprain Brook Academy principal Dr. Michelle Darby started the ceremony with an invocation and opening remarks. Darby, holding back tears, made note of the close bonds forme…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
New York State Police Will No Longer Release Most Mugshots New York State Police Will No Longer Release Most Mugshots
New York State Police Will No Longer Release Most Mugshots New Yorkers will soon have a more difficult time getting a look at the faces of alleged crimes. Due to a new state measure as part of the latest budget approval process pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York State Police announced on Wednesday that troopers and investigators will no longer release mugshots, nor will they be provided through the state Freedom of Information Law. New York State Police trooper James O’Callaghan, a spokesman for the department in western New York, issued a statement on Wednesday, April 10 confirming the change.  “Effective immediately, NYSP will NOT includ…

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by Zak Failla