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Father, Son Charged In Fire That Killed Two, Including Firefighter In Hudson Valley Father, Son Charged In Fire That Killed Two, Including Firefighter In Hudson Valley
Father, Son Charged In Fire That Killed Two, Including Firefighter In Hudson Valley Father and son rabbis pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a fire that killed an area firefighter and another person. The two men, Rabbi Aaron Sommer and Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer, both of Rockland County, were arraigned on multiple charges that included manslaughter and negligent homicide on Thursday, Oct. 28. The charges stem from their involvement in the fatal fire at the Evergreen Adult Home in Spring Valley on Tuesday, March 23. Prosecutors said their actions of using a propane-injected torch to clean the facility's ovens and kitchen set off the fire while conducting a pre-Passov…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
NY State Police Issue Alert For 22-Year-Old Wanted For Multiple Felonies NY State Police Issue Alert For 22-Year-Old Wanted For Multiple Felonies
NY State Police Issue Alert For 22-Year-Old Wanted For Multiple Felonies New York State Police are searching for a 22-year-old man who is wanted on multiple felony charges. Two warrants were issued for the arrest of Deven Hotaling, who is from the Columbia County village of Philmont, after he failed to appear for court dates, State Police reported on Monday, Oct. 4. Police said in May of 2020, Hotaling was arrested by authorities in Livingston for forcibly stealing more than $1,700 from a ride share driver. He was charged with third-degree robbery and fourth-degree grand larceny. In August of that year, he was arrested on a second-degree arson charge for settin…

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by Nicole Valinote
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21-Year-Old Admits To Killing His Father, Setting Home On Fire In Area 21-Year-Old Admits To Killing His Father, Setting Home On Fire In Area
21-Year-Old Admits To Killing His Father, Setting Home On Fire In Area A 21-year-old from the area has admitted to killing his father and setting his home on fire. Putnam County resident Louis Weber IV, of Philipstown, pleaded guilty this week to manslaughter and arson for killing his father, Louis Weber Jr., who was 72 years old at the time, in November 2019. Original story - 20-Year-Old Charged With Murdering His Father After Lengthy Investigation Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy said that on Nov. 4, 2019, first responders were dispatched to a Second Street home in Philipstown, where there was a home that went up in flames. After put…

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by Zak Failla
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Man Accused Of Committing Arson To Cover Up Burglary In Area Man Accused Of Committing Arson To Cover Up Burglary In Area
Man Accused Of Committing Arson To Cover Up Burglary In Area An alleged Bloods street gang member from the region was arrested for allegedly intentionally setting a fire in an attempt to cover up a burglary, authorities announced. Firefighters in Sullivan County were called to a reported structure fire at 1:40 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 2 on Fraser Road in the Town of Thompson, across from the Kiamesha Bowling Alley. According to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, firefighters were able to evacuate seven residents from the multi-family home, including an 11-month-old child, and a 59-year-old man who found himself trapped and suffered burns. The investi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Four Charged, Two Arrest Warrants Pending In Fatal Hudson Valley Fire, DA Says Four Charged, Two Arrest Warrants Pending In Fatal Hudson Valley Fire, DA Says
Four Charged, Two Arrest Warrants Pending In Fatal Hudson Valley Fire, DA Says Four people have been arrested, including two facing manslaughter charges, and two others face arrest warrants in connection with a fatal fire at a Rockland County home for elderly residents. The arrests were announced on Tuesday, June 29 by Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh during a press conference following a three-month investigation into the Tuesday, March 23, fire at Evergreen Court Home for Adults in Spring Valley. The fire, which caused the building to partially collapse, killed Spring Valley Volunteer Firefighter Jared Lloyd as he was rescuing residents and a 79-year-…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Woman Accused Of Setting Fire At Adult Living Facility In Area, Police Say Woman Accused Of Setting Fire At Adult Living Facility In Area, Police Say
Woman Accused Of Setting Fire At Adult Living Facility In Area, Police Say A Hudson Valley woman has been arrested for allegedly starting a fire in a senior living facility in order to harm another resident. Barbara Desilva of Spring Valley was arrested on Tuesday, April 6 after Spring Valley police responded to the Golden Acres Residential Facility, at 11 Prospect St., for a report that a resident had started a fire, said Spring Valley Police Det. Matthew Galli. According to Galli, an investigation found that Desilva intentionally set the fire in order to harm a man who lives at the facility. Desilva was charged with attempted murder and arson. She is being held…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Village In Area Investigating Suspicious Fires Village In Area Investigating Suspicious Fires
Village In Area Investigating Suspicious Fires A village in the area is investigating a series of suspicious fires. The fires have been started in the early morning or late at night in the Rockland County municipality.  The Suffern Police Department said on Thursday, April 1 said the fires have been set in the Boulevard area of the village of Suffern. "We are asking residents to contact the police desk if they see anything suspicious," the department said. The department is also asking residents to review any video footage they may have from Ring-type doorbells or surveillance cameras for any unknown people in the area. "Residen…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police: Man Tries To Burn Down House During Westchester Domestic Dispute Police: Man Tries To Burn Down House During Westchester Domestic Dispute
Police: Man Tries To Burn Down House During Westchester Domestic Dispute A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the arson of a home with the residents inside that caused damage to the residence in Northern Westchester.  Michael Trestka, of Cortlandt, was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 4 by the New York State Police with assistance from the Westchester County Police, said Trooper AJ Hicks. The fire took place around 10 a.m. when troopers responded to Redmill Road in the town of Cortlandt for a report of a domestic incident, said Hicks. An investigation determined that during the domestic incident Trestka became locked out of the residence …

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by Kathy Reakes
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One Killed, One Critical After Alleged Intentional House Fire Set In Westchester One Killed, One Critical After Alleged Intentional House Fire Set In Westchester
One Killed, One Critical After Alleged Intentional House Fire Set In Westchester This story has been updated. One person was killed and several others injured during a fire at a Southern Westchester home in which an accelerant may have been used to start the fire  The fire took place around 3:48 a.m., Monday, Nov. 2, at 144 Waverly Street, said Yonkers Police Detective Lieutenant Dean Politopoulos. When police and fire arrived on the scene, they located smoke and fire inside the first-floor apartment of the two-story structure, Politopoulos said. Firefighters brought the fire under control and cleared the building.  Several people were injure…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Westchester Man Charged With Stalking, Harassment, Arson Westchester Man Charged With Stalking, Harassment, Arson
Westchester Man Charged With Stalking, Harassment, Arson A Westchester man is facing a host of charges, including stalking, harassment, and arson, following several incidents where he terrorized his girlfriend over the summer. Mount Vernon resident Tony Clark has been charged in a 15-count indictment for stalking and harassing a former partner on four separate occasions, including incidents where he set fire to her home and endangered her child. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. said that between Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23, Clark allegedly flattened the tires of his victim’s car, threatened her with a knife,…

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by Zak Failla
News
Westchester Man Indicted For Setting Easter Sunday House Fire Westchester Man Indicted For Setting Easter Sunday House Fire
Westchester Man Indicted For Setting Easter Sunday House Fire A 43-year-old Westchester man has been indicted on an arson charge after allegedly burning down a home early on Easter Sunday. Mount Vernon resident Lamont Riddenhour has been indicted on an arson charge for setting a fire that destroyed a South Tenth Avenue home in Mount Vernon. The alleged arson happened at approximately 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 12. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr. said that Riddenhour was also charged with second-degree criminal mischief. It is alleged that Riddenhour had an ongoing dispute with a resident in the three-story South Tenth Avenue h…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Fired NYS Thruway Employee Charged With Attempting To Light State Vehicle On Fire Fired NYS Thruway Employee Charged With Attempting To Light State Vehicle On Fire
Fired NYS Thruway Employee Charged With Attempting To Light State Vehicle On Fire A former New York State Thruway employee from the Hudson Valley allegedly attempted to light a Thruway vehicle on fire after losing his job, police said. New York State Police troopers responded to a call of reported arson at the Canaan Toll Plaza on I-90 in Columbia County at approximately 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22. Police said that the investigation determined that Dutchess County resident Bradley Straley, a recently terminated NYS Thruway employee, attempted to light an occupied NYS Thruway vehicle on fire. Straley, of the Town of Washington, fled the scene before troopers arrived, a…

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by Zak Failla