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Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office

NY Mom's Poisoning Death Remains Mystery 6 Years Later Despite 'Hundreds Of Leads' NY Mom's Poisoning Death Remains Mystery 6 Years Later Despite 'Hundreds Of Leads'
NY Mom's Poisoning Death Remains Mystery 6 Years Later Despite 'Hundreds Of Leads' Six years have passed since Megan Dyer-Maclean was found dead along an old railroad bed in upstate New York and police are no closer to catching her killer. The Rensselaer County mother of two was 31 years old when a friend discovered her body in a wooded area behind her Johnsonville home, located off Route 67, in June 2018. An autopsy concluded that she was poisoned to death by strychnine, a highly toxic, odorless pesticide commonly used to kill rodents and birds. Since then, Rensselaer County Sheriff’s officials have followed up on hundreds of leads and interviews but no suspects have be…
Freight Train Derailment Shuts Down Capital Region Highway; 2 Cars Plunge Into River Freight Train Derailment Shuts Down Capital Region Highway; 2 Cars Plunge Into River
Freight Train Derailment Shuts Down Capital Region Highway; 2 Cars Plunge Into River Cleanup efforts are underway following a freight train derailment that shut down a major highway in the region. The Rensselaer County incident happened just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, near Route 67 in Valley Falls. County officials said a Norfolk Southern train was carrying a total of 94 cars when 10 of them derailed near the Hoosic River. Of the 10 cars that left the tracks, two went into the river. Nobody was injured and it’s not believed that any hazardous materials were involved, officials said. The train was carrying plastic pellets and vegetable oil. Emergency crews now on …
Drone Helps Nab Prolific Burglar Who Targeted 11 Capital Region Businesses, Police Say Drone Helps Nab Prolific Burglar Who Targeted 11 Capital Region Businesses, Police Say
Drone Helps Nab Prolific Burglar Who Targeted 11 Capital Region Businesses, Police Say A prolific burglar who targeted nearly a dozen businesses in the region was caught with the help of a drone, police said. Albany County resident Jesse Stockman, age 37, of Colonie, was arrested Friday, Jan. 12, in connection with several break-ins at businesses in Colonie. Colonie Police were called at around 10 p.m. for a report of a commercial burglary in progress near Troy-Schenectady and Old Loudon roads. The culprit fled before officers arrived. As police were investigating, they learned of two more break-ins at nearby businesses. Officers then deployed drones from the department’s U…
Capital Region Man Sexually Abuses Underage Victim, Police Say Capital Region Man Sexually Abuses Underage Victim, Police Say
Capital Region Man Sexually Abuses Underage Victim, Police Say A 35-year-old man from the region is accused of sexually abusing a minor. Rensselaer County resident Joshua Perry, of Troy, was arrested Thursday, Aug. 31, following a month-long investigation, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. A grand jury has since returned an indictment on multiple charges, sheriff’s officials announced Wednesday, Sept. 6. Perry is charged with the following: Three counts of first-degree rape (felony) Three counts of first-degree sexual abuse (felony) Investigators did not reveal the alleged victim’s age or gender or say how the two know each other.…
Forced Abortion: Capital Region Man Drugged Pregnant Woman, Causing Miscarriage, Police Say Forced Abortion: Capital Region Man Drugged Pregnant Woman, Causing Miscarriage, Police Say
Forced Abortion: Capital Region Man Drugged Pregnant Woman, Causing Miscarriage, Police Say A 39-year-old man from the region is facing charges after allegedly causing a pregnant woman to suffer a miscarriage. Rensselaer County resident Dia Beshara, of Schaghticoke, was arrested Monday, July 3, after an investigation that spanned more than a year, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. The woman told deputies that Beshara gave her the drug Mifepristone without her knowledge while she was pregnant. Mifepristone works by blocking a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue and is used by medical professionals to end pregnancies up to 10 weeks, according to the Food a…
Man Set Fire That Destroyed Garage, Damaged Apartment In Capital Region, Police Say Man Set Fire That Destroyed Garage, Damaged Apartment In Capital Region, Police Say
Man Set Fire That Destroyed Garage, Damaged Apartment In Capital Region, Police Say A 61-year-old man is accused of intentionally starting a fire that destroyed a garage and heavily damaged an apartment building in the region. Rensselaer County resident Paul Coleman, of the Town of Grafton, was arraigned on an arson charge in Rensselaer County Court on Friday, June 9. According to sheriff’s officials, Coleman set fire to the detached garage located next to his apartment building on State Route 2 in the Town of Grafton. The structure was deemed a total loss. Flames also spread to the adjacent apartment building, where eight residents were sleeping, deputies said. Everyone…
Stranded Driver In Capital Region Flees From Troopers, Strikes Cop Cars: Police Stranded Driver In Capital Region Flees From Troopers, Strikes Cop Cars: Police
Stranded Driver In Capital Region Flees From Troopers, Strikes Cop Cars: Police They say no good deed goes unpunished, and that was apparently the case when New York State Police troopers stopped to help a stranded driver in the region. Troopers in Rensselaer County stopped at around 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, to assist a disabled vehicle in the Town of Brunswick, on State Route 2. According to troopers, at some point during their interaction the driver, 52-year-old Michael Messier, of Troy, became uncooperative and ignored their commands. Messier then fled in his car, striking police vehicles in the process, troopers said. No troopers were injured in the ordeal. …
Man Steals Emergency Vehicle From Capital Region Fire House, Police Say Man Steals Emergency Vehicle From Capital Region Fire House, Police Say
Man Steals Emergency Vehicle From Capital Region Fire House, Police Say A man is facing charges after allegedly stealing a fire utility vehicle from a fire department in the region. The 2019 Chevrolet truck was stolen at around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, from the Eagle Mills Fire Department in Troy, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect reportedly arrived on a bicycle and placed the bike into the truck before driving it out of the parking lot, heading westbound on Brunswick Road. In an update on Wednesday morning, May 17, sheriff’s officials said the stolen vehicle was found in the Town of Colonie. It was not immediately clear if …
Training Exercise Leads To Body Of Missing Man In Capital Region River Training Exercise Leads To Body Of Missing Man In Capital Region River
Training Exercise Leads To Body Of Missing Man In Capital Region River Months after a man from the region was reported missing, his body has been recovered from a local river. Rensselaer County resident David Fearnley, age 45, was found dead in the Hoosic River in the town of Schaghticoke on Thursday, May 11, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. The discovery was made at around 8 p.m. while members of the Schaghticoke Fire Department were conducting a water training exercise. Earlier Report: Missing Man's Car Found On Side Of Road In Region, Police Say Investigators confirmed the body is that of Fearnley, who was reported missing out of …
Sex Offenders Being Targeted By Phone Scammers, Police In Capital Region Say Sex Offenders Being Targeted By Phone Scammers, Police In Capital Region Say
Sex Offenders Being Targeted By Phone Scammers, Police In Capital Region Say Authorities in the region are warning of phone scammers who are targeting a new class of victims: registered sex offenders. In a statement issued Friday, May 5, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office said it was aware of a phone scam in which perpetrators claim to be affiliated with local law enforcement agencies. The caller then tells the victim that they are “non-compliant” for not submitting DNA, and must buy gift cards for specific dollar amounts and send them the card information as a “fine” to avoid being arrested. “The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone…
Dating App Nightmare: Man Rapes, Assaults Woman From Capital Region, Police Say Dating App Nightmare: Man Rapes, Assaults Woman From Capital Region, Police Say
Dating App Nightmare: Man Rapes, Assaults Woman From Capital Region, Police Say A 24-year-old man is facing multiple violent felonies for allegedly raping and physically assaulting a woman after the two met online, authorities said. Saratoga County resident Andrew Cosme, of Clifton Park, was arrested following an investigation by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office and a grand jury indictment. Investigators said the victim called police on Jan. 29 saying she had been violently raped and physically assaulted by a man she had met on a dating app. Cosme was taken into custody after a week-long investigation. He was ordered held at the Rensselaer County jail on $40,000…
Inmate Beat, Choked Corrections Officer Unconscious At Capital Region Jail, Police Say Inmate Beat, Choked Corrections Officer Unconscious At Capital Region Jail, Police Say
Inmate Beat, Choked Corrections Officer Unconscious At Capital Region Jail, Police Say A jail inmate in the region is facing attempted murder charges stemming from a brutal, unprovoked attack on a corrections officer, authorities said. The incident happened Wednesday evening, Jan. 4, at the Rensselaer County jail in Troy, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators said Matthew Fluty, of Troy, “maliciously” attacked the unsuspecting officer after taking his two-way radio to prevent him from calling for help. The officer was overpowered, beaten, and choked to the point of unconsciousness. Fluty then reportedly left the officer lying helpless on the jail’s upper-level flo…
Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Multiple Sexual Assaults At Hotel In Capital Region, Report Says Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Multiple Sexual Assaults At Hotel In Capital Region, Report Says
Man Accused Of Kidnapping, Multiple Sexual Assaults At Hotel In Capital Region, Report Says A 38-year-old man is accused of kidnapping a woman and committing multiple sexual assaults at a hotel in the region, WRGB reports.  Rensselaer County resident Travis Anderson, of Rotterdam, is facing a host of charges, including 18 counts of first-degree rape, 19 counts of criminal sexual act, and kidnapping, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested at home Monday, Dec. 12, following a month-long investigation, police said. Court records obtained by WRGB show that Anderson is accused of kidnapping a woman in the Town of Pittstown in September 2022 before co…
Missing Man's Car Found On Side Of Capital Region Road, Police Say Missing Man's Car Found On Side Of Capital Region Road, Police Say
Missing Man's Car Found On Side Of Capital Region Road, Police Say Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man from the region whose car was found abandoned on the side of the road. Rensselaer County resident David Fearnley, age 45, was last seen Wednesday, Nov. 23, in Pittstown on Tamarac Road, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle he was last seen driving was later found near Valley Falls and Stover roads in Pittstown, just off the roadway, police said. Sheriff’s officials said subsequent land, air, and water searches, including the use of K-9 dogs, have all been fruitless. Fearnley is described as a wh…
Police Issue Alert For Missing Man From Capital Region Police Issue Alert For Missing Man From Capital Region
Police Issue Alert For Missing Man From Capital Region Police are asking for help locating a man from the region who has been missing for over a week. Rensselaer County resident David Fearnley, age 45, of Pittstown, was last seen at around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, in Pittstown on Tamarac Road, according to the sheriff’s office. The vehicle he was last seen driving was later located near Valley Falls and Stover roads, just off the roadway, police said. Fearnley is described as a white man standing 6-feet tall and weighing 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans, and white Nike sneakers. Anyone with information …
Missing 13-Year-Old From Capital Region Found Safe, Police Say Missing 13-Year-Old From Capital Region Found Safe, Police Say
Missing 13-Year-Old From Capital Region Found Safe, Police Say This story has been updated. A 13-year-old girl who was reported missing in the region has been located, authorities announced. Rensselaer County resident Francis Jett, of Troy, had last been seen Thursday, Nov. 17, leaving Knickerbocker Middle School in Lansingburgh, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office said. On Tuesday, Nov. 22, police said Jett had been found safe and returned home. “We would like to thank you all for your help and the post shares,” the Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. “A special thank you to Troy Police Department for their assistance with this case.” *UPD…
Stranger Held Dying Pedestrian's Hand After He Was Struck By Car In Capital District Stranger Held Dying Pedestrian's Hand After He Was Struck By Car In Capital District
Stranger Held Dying Pedestrian's Hand After He Was Struck By Car In Capital District A pedestrian who lay dying after being struck by a car in the region was not alone as he took his last breath, thanks to the generosity of a stranger. Emergency crews in Rensselaer County were called just after 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, with reports that a male pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle in the town of Brunswick, near Highway 2 and Blue Factory Road. By the time sheriff’s deputies arrived, the man had already died, the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office said.  Police did not release his name or age. Crews found the vehicle that struck him a short distance away, off the ro…
Capital Region Man Charged In Fatal Crash In Rensselaer County Capital Region Man Charged In Fatal Crash In Rensselaer County
Capital Region Man Charged In Fatal Crash In Rensselaer County A Capital District man is accused of causing a DWI crash that left a man dead. Rensselaer County resident Dylan Densmore, age 26, of Poestenkill, was arrested Thursday, April 21, following the wreck on Highway 355 in Poestenkill, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency crews arrived at the scene around 10:40 p.m. and found Densmore outside of his GMC pickup truck, along with a second man who was trapped inside his Honda Civic, police said. Both vehicles had suffered extensive damage. Medics rendered first aid to the driver of the Civic, but he later died at Samarita…