A Few Clouds 67°
Police & Fire
Capital Region Man Who Raped, Killed 3-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Prison Capital Region Man Who Raped, Killed 3-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Prison
Capital Region Man Who Raped, Killed 3-Year-Old Girl Found Dead In Prison A Capital Region man who admitted to raping and killing a three-year-old girl has died in prison just a month after he began his 20 years to life sentence. Rensselaer County resident Robert Fisher, age 34, of Rensselaer, died around 1:150 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Elmira Correctional Facility in Chemung County, said Thomas Mailey of the State Department Of Corrections. Fisher pleaded guilty in July to raping and murdering Josefina “Josie” Cunningham of Rensselaer in July 2023.  A trusted family friend, Fisher, admitted to drugging, sexually assaulting, and killing the girl w…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
45-Year-Old Killed After Losing Control Of Car, Hitting Trees On Taconic Parkway, Police Say 45-Year-Old Killed After Losing Control Of Car, Hitting Trees On Taconic Parkway, Police Say
45-Year-Old Killed After Losing Control Of Car, Hitting Trees On Taconic Parkway, Police Say A Hudson Valley man was killed after allegedly losing control of his 2023 Toyota Camry and hitting several trees. The incident occurred in Dutchess County at 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, on the Taconic State Parkway in LaGrange. According to Trooper AJ Hicks of the New York State Police, an investigation determined Putnam County resident Vikrant K. Sharma, age 45, of Putnam Valley, was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed and left the roadway for unknown reasons before striking several trees.   Sharma was pronounced dead on the scene by responding paramedics, Hicks said…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Large Brush Fire Erupts In Region Near Country Club Large Brush Fire Erupts In Region Near Country Club
Large Brush Fire Erupts In Region Near Country Club Several fire and police departments are battling a large brush fire near a country club in the Hudson Valley.  The fire began in Putnam County on Thursday, Oct. 24 around 11:30 a.m. in the area of Golf Ridge Road and China Circle Court near the Sedgewood Club golf course in the town of Kent, the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services announced around 12:45 p.m.  Several departments are now operating at the scene of the fire. A Department of Environmental Protection helicopter is also circling the skies over the blaze providing images from the air, officials said.  M…

SHARE

by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Fatal Crash: Motorist Killed After Being Ejected From Vehicle In Hudson Valley Fatal Crash: Motorist Killed After Being Ejected From Vehicle In Hudson Valley
Fatal Crash: Motorist Killed After Being Ejected From Vehicle In Hudson Valley A person was killed in a two-vehicle crash in the Hudson Valley. It happened just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 in Ulster County in the town of Gardiner. A preliminary investigation by New York State Police revealed that a 2017 Ford operated by a 62-year-old Long Island resident Carle Place, was traveling east bound on State Route 44/55 and made a left turn onto State Route 299 traveling west.  He failed to yield the right of way to a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle that was traveling west causing the motorcycle to strike the vehicle, police said. The motorcycle driver, who wa…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Know Him? Man Wanted For Armed Gas Station Robbery In Region Know Him? Man Wanted For Armed Gas Station Robbery In Region
Know Him? Man Wanted For Armed Gas Station Robbery In Region Police are asking the public for help identifying a man who allegedly robbed a gas station  in the region at gunpoint. The incident occurred in Dutchess County at 11:25 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, at the Valero Gas Station on Violet Avenue in Hyde Park. According to Hyde Park Police Chief Robert Benson, an investigation found that a Black man entered the store, displayed what appeared to be a black gun, and demanded money. Benson said the man is 6 feet tall and wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, white socks, and black sneakers.  Detectives from the Town of Poughkeepsie Pol…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Person Killed After Being Struck By Vehicle On Roadway In Region Person Killed After Being Struck By Vehicle On Roadway In Region
Person Killed After Being Struck By Vehicle On Roadway In Region A man was hit and killed by a Jeep as he crossed a busy roadway in the region. The incident occurred in Dutchess County around 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, on Violet Avenue in Hyde Park. According to Hyde Park Police Chief Robert Benson, Lawrence Williams, age 76, of Hyde Park, was crossing Violet Avenue from the Sunoco Gas Station to his residence at the Hyde Park Assisted Living when he was struck by a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 41-year-old Hude Park woman. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Jeep was not injured, he added. During an investigation, witnesse…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Fatal Crash: 19-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Region Fatal Crash: 19-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Region
Fatal Crash: 19-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In Region A teenager was killed in a single-vehicle crash in the region. It happened around 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 in Dutchess County in the town of Wappinger. New York State Police said an initial investigation determined Tyler N. Virgo, age 19, of Poughkeepsie, was operating a 2007 Honda CBR600RR eastbound at a high rate of speed passing multiple vehicles illegally and lost control of the motorcycle for unknown reasons.  The motorcycle collided with the guardrail on the north shoulder of Old Hopewell Road just east of Cedar Hill Road and Virgo was ejected from the vehicle, said police. Em…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
New Update: 2 Killed In Crash Causing Lengthy Road Closure In Region New Update: 2 Killed In Crash Causing Lengthy Road Closure In Region
New Update: 2 Killed In Crash Causing Lengthy Road Closure In Region State Police have released the identities of two people from the region killed when their car hit the back of a tractor-trailer, closing the roadway for hours. Related: Traffic Alert: Route 17 Closed Due To Fatal Crash In Mamakating The incident occurred in Sullivan County at 11:55 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, on Route 17 West in Mamakating. According to Trooper Steven Nevel, a preliminary investigation revealed that a 2015 Dodge was traveling westbound on Route 17 near Exit 12 when it struck a 2010 Peterbilt tractor-trailer in the rear traveling in the same direction.  The driver…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region 12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region A 12-year-old student in the region was charged with making a terroristic threat at a junior/senior high school. The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Fallsburg. According to Fallsburg Police Chief Brendan Pavese, the juvenile allegedly made the threats on Snapchat and included a picture of the Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School auditorium.  The threats, which mentioned shootings, came to the attention of police and school authorities via parents and students, both the police and school said. After receiving the information, the police department worked a…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
6 Cows On Run After Tractor-Trailer Hauling Cattle Crashes In Region 6 Cows On Run After Tractor-Trailer Hauling Cattle Crashes In Region
6 Cows On Run After Tractor-Trailer Hauling Cattle Crashes In Region Six cows are on the loose tafter a trailer hauling cattle crashed, dumping 15 cows onto a busy highway.  The incident occurred in Orange County at 6:15 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20, at the intersection of I-84 and Route 6 in Deerpark. According to Trooper Steven Nevel of the New York State Police, a preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Kenworth carrying cows of various breeds was traveling west when the driver stated that his brakes failed.  Nevel said the vehicle exited I-84 and made a left turn onto Route 6 when it struck a guide rail and overturned, coming to rest on its si…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Prisoner Charged With Violating Protective Order While Behind Bars In Region Prisoner Charged With Violating Protective Order While Behind Bars In Region
Prisoner Charged With Violating Protective Order While Behind Bars In Region A man behind bars in the region has been charged again for allegedly violating a protective order. The incident occurred in Dutchess County on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center in Poughkeepsie. According to Dutchess County Sheriff's Office Capt. John Watterson, Brandon Mima, age 21, of Beacon, is accused of violating an order of protection by contacting a protected party via telephone and video.  Watterson said he was charged with an aggravated family offense and two counts of criminal contempt. He remains at the center and is schedu…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Teen Nabbed For Making Threat Of Mass Harm Against Hudson Valley High School, Police Say Teen Nabbed For Making Threat Of Mass Harm Against Hudson Valley High School, Police Say
Teen Nabbed For Making Threat Of Mass Harm Against Hudson Valley High School, Police Say An 18-year-old Hudson Valley student has been charged with allegedly making several threats against Rhinebeck High School. The incident occurred in Dutchess County on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the school on N. Park Drive. According To New York State Police Trooper AJ Hicks, an investigation determined the threats were not credible, but a search of the building was conducted out of an abundance of caution.   No evidence of any safety threat was found. Further investigation led to the arrest of an 18-year-old student, Hicks said. The 18-year-old was issued an appearance ticket for ma…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes