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Police & Fire
School Shooting Threat On Social Media Prompts Police Response In Hudson Valley School Shooting Threat On Social Media Prompts Police Response In Hudson Valley
School Shooting Threat On Social Media Prompts Police Response In Hudson Valley Several Hudson Valley schools were put in lockout after authorities were alerted of a school shooting threat that was posted on social media and shared by students, police said. The police response resulted from an incident in Putnam County on Thursday, March 14 around 7:45 a.m., when the school resource officer assigned to Brewster High School learned of a threatening message regarding a possible shooting that was posted on social media, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said on Monday, March 18. Sheriff's deputies immediately responded to the school and enforced a lockout at all Bre…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Where Is Bilal? Disappearance Of Area Man Still Mystery 2 Years Later Where Is Bilal? Disappearance Of Area Man Still Mystery 2 Years Later
Where Is Bilal? Disappearance Of Area Man Still Mystery 2 Years Later Police are renewing calls for tips two years after a man from the region went missing. Saratoga County resident Bilal Ashfaq, age 21, of Halfmoon, was last seen at around 4 p.m. on March 16, 2022, on Terminal Road near the Mohawk River. Relatives told New York State Police that Ashfaq went for a walk and never returned home. Ashfaq is described as an Indian male, approximately 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.  He was wearing a light green hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and red sneakers at the time of his disappearance. Police said he is a vulnerable adult and…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
2 Teens Injured In Hudson Valley Playground Shootings, Police Say 2 Teens Injured In Hudson Valley Playground Shootings, Police Say
2 Teens Injured In Hudson Valley Playground Shootings, Police Say Two Hudson Valley teens are recovering after shooting themselves while allegedly playing with guns at a playground. The incident occurred in Orange County on Saturday evening at the Mullins Apartment complex on Walsh Road in Newburgh. According to Mike Neppl, spokesman for the city of Newburgh, two teens, ages 16 and 17 were playing with guns and shot themselves witnesses told police. A detective investigating the scene of the shootings.  Rockland Video Productions The duo received non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh, Neppl said. …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Contractor Accused Of Scamming Thousands From Couple In Region Contractor Accused Of Scamming Thousands From Couple In Region
Contractor Accused Of Scamming Thousands From Couple In Region A contractor from the region was charged with larceny for allegedly scamming a couple out of thousands for a roofing job he never performed. Sullivan County resident David Gizinski, age 37, of Liberty and the owner of Gizinski Construction, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 16 for the incident in November 2023. According to Undersheriff Eric Chaboty of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Gizinski received $13,656.38 from a Grahamsville couple as a 50 percent down payment for a roofing job.  The victims could not contact Gizinski after he took their money and never started the work, Chabo…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Convict Charged In Larceny Spree In Region Convict Charged In Larceny Spree In Region
Convict Charged In Larceny Spree In Region A Hudson Valley man, in prison for another crime, has been charged with a larceny spree in the region. Dutchess County resident William Pascal, age 49, of Poughkeepsie, was arrested on Thursday, March 7 in Ulster County in Lloyd.  Pascal is accused of going on a larceny spree from June and July 2023 stealing over $1,000 worth of merchandise from the Lowes Store in Highland and on two other separate occasions stealing $300 and $125 worth of merchandise from the Hannaford Store in Highland, said Lloyd Police Chief James Janso. Pascal, who has been arrested 51 ti…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
2 Ferrets Found Abandoned In Crate In Hudson Valley Parking Lot: Suspect At Large 2 Ferrets Found Abandoned In Crate In Hudson Valley Parking Lot: Suspect At Large
2 Ferrets Found Abandoned In Crate In Hudson Valley Parking Lot: Suspect At Large Authorities are searching for whoever was responsible for abandoning two ferrets found inside a crate at a Hudson Valley Park and Ride parking lot, police said.  The two ferrets were discovered inside a plastic crate in Putnam County on Wednesday morning, March 13 at the Park and Ride parking lot on Route 311 in Patterson, according to the Putnam County SPCA.  The ferrets were found by a good samaritan who called New York State Police after coming across the crate in the grassy area of the parking lot.  The two animals were later taken to a local small animal expert who will…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Dating App Setup: Trio Charged In Second Ambush Robbery In Region Dating App Setup: Trio Charged In Second Ambush Robbery In Region
Dating App Setup: Trio Charged In Second Ambush Robbery In Region Three defendants accused of luring a man through a dating app and then robbing him are now accused of targeting a second victim in the region. Both robberies occurred Sunday, Feb. 18, in Albany and Rensselaer counties, according to investigators. Troy Police said the first incident happened at around 7 p.m., near Congress and Cypress streets when a man met up with a woman he’d been messaging on a dating app. Earlier Report: Trio Uses Dating App To Lure Robbery Victim In Troy, Police Say The victim told police that the woman suggested they meet up in an alley. When he arrived, two …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Know Him? Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Sex Abuse Know Him? Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Sex Abuse
Know Him? Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Sex Abuse New York State Police are asking for information regarding a Hudson Valley man who has been charged with alleged sexual abuse following an investigation. Rockland County resident Elpidio Aguilar-Flores, age 51, of West Haverstraw, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 29. Aguilar-Flores was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in place of a $150,000 cash bail of $400,000 secured bond.  The New York State Police were assisted in the investigation by the Town of Haverstraw Police Department. State Police are continuing the investigation and are asking anyone with information regarding Aguila…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police To Increase Patrols, Sobriety Checks In NY For St. Patrick's Day Weekend: Hochul Police To Increase Patrols, Sobriety Checks In NY For St. Patrick's Day Weekend: Hochul
Police To Increase Patrols, Sobriety Checks In NY For St. Patrick's Day Weekend: Hochul Ahead of celebrations for St. Patrick's Day weekend, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that authorities will be cracking down on drunk and drug-impaired driving. As part of the effort to catch those who choose to drive while impaired, New York State Police and local law enforcement agencies will increase patrols and sobriety checkpoints across the state beginning on Friday, March 15, and continuing into Sunday, March 17, Hochul announced. In addition, law enforcement agencies will also be targeting distracted drivers using cell phones, as well as checking retail establishments to mak…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Trio At Large After Targeted Shooting At Apartment Complex In Hudson Valley Trio At Large After Targeted Shooting At Apartment Complex In Hudson Valley
Trio At Large After Targeted Shooting At Apartment Complex In Hudson Valley Police are searching for three suspects who allegedly attempted to force their way into an apartment in the region and then shot one person, seriously wounding the victim. The incident took place in Ulster County around 10:20 p.m., Friday, March 8 in Ellenville at 122 Canal St. According to Ellenville Police Chief Philip Mattracion, responding officers found one man who had been shot and was bleeding uncontrollably. Officers performed first aid and the man was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center in Vahalla. An investigation revealed that three suspects armed with guns attempted to forc…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
ID Released Of Man Killed After Speeding, Hitting Parked Truck On I-684 ID Released Of Man Killed After Speeding, Hitting Parked Truck On I-684
ID Released Of Man Killed After Speeding, Hitting Parked Truck On I-684 A 59-year-old man was killed after his vehicle left a highway in Westchester and crashed into a parked truck, police said.  Bronx resident Kevin Smith was killed in an incident on Saturday, March 2 that happened on Interstate 684 in Harrison just before 3 p.m., Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police said on Wednesday, March 13. According to Hicks, an investigation into the crash determined that a 2024 Lucid Air sedan had been speeding when it left the northbound highway near mile marker 0.4 and hit a parked 2019 Freightliner truck with a trailer.  Smith was declared dead a…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Dutchess County Duo Nabbed For Stealing Checks Worth $130K From Post Office Boxes, Police Say Dutchess County Duo Nabbed For Stealing Checks Worth $130K From Post Office Boxes, Police Say
Dutchess County Duo Nabbed For Stealing Checks Worth $130K From Post Office Boxes, Police Say Two men from the region have been charged with possession of stolen property and robbery for allegedly stealing more than 100 checks worth $130,000 from post office boxes. Dutchess County residents Jaiyah Shabelch, age 25, and Raheem Angus, age 25, both of Poughkeepsie, were arrested on Monday, March 11 following an investigation into the thefts. According to the Town of Poughkeepsie Police, officers were conducting surveillance of a free-standing US postal box on Raymond Avenue after several complaints of stolen checks. While watching, two people accessed the mailbox and ran away when off…

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by Kathy Reakes