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Police & Fire
Police Chief In Northern Westchester Calls It A Career Police Chief In Northern Westchester Calls It A Career
Police Chief In Northern Westchester Calls It A Career A police chief in Northern Westchester is calling it a career later this month. City of Peekskill Police Department Chief Don Halmy announced his plan to retire as of Saturday, Sept. 25, after more than 22 years with the department. Halmy was hired in 1999 and worked on patrol, including the overnight shift, earning the title of sergeant in 2009, lieutenant in 2017, and appointed chief of the Department in 2018.  He has accepted a position in the private sector at a school where he will draw on both his experience in public safety and his first career as an educator whe…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
20-Year-Old From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Fatally Stabbing Teen 20-Year-Old From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Fatally Stabbing Teen
20-Year-Old From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Fatally Stabbing Teen A man will spend decades in prison after fatally stabbing a teenager in Northern Westchester and proceeding to attack a fellow detainee while in jail. Jahliv Niles, age 20, of Peekskill, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Omarion McKenzie.  He was also sentenced to two years in prison with three years post-release supervision for attacking a fellow detainee at Westchester County Jail in Valhalla. In May, Niles pleaded guilty to felony counts of manslaughter and second-degree assault. …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Northern Westchester Man Dies In Head-On Crash, Police Say Northern Westchester Man Dies In Head-On Crash, Police Say
Northern Westchester Man Dies In Head-On Crash, Police Say A 29-year-old driver died in a head-on crash overnight in the area. It happened at 4:50 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 29 in Rockland County on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Stony Point. Investigators found that a northbound Honda Civic failed to negotiate a bend in the roadway, crossed the median into southbound traffic, and crashed into a 2020 Mercedes-Benz, according to New York State Police. Police said the driver of the Honda, Raul Ortunouzha, of Peekskill, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The investigation…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
Northern Westchester Man Arraigned For Fatal Wrong-Way Drunk Driving Crash Northern Westchester Man Arraigned For Fatal Wrong-Way Drunk Driving Crash
Northern Westchester Man Arraigned For Fatal Wrong-Way Drunk Driving Crash A Northern Westchester man is facing a host of charges for allegedly drinking, driving, and killing a woman in a head-on crash, the District Attorney announced. Yorktown resident Mark Cope was arraigned on Monday, Aug. 23 for a wrong-way, head-on collision he caused while allegedly intoxicated in December 2020 that resulted in the death of an Ossining mother. Original story - ID Released For Woman Killed In Wrong-Way Northern Westchester Crash Specifically, Cope, age 41, was charged with: Three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide; Manslaughter; Aggravated vehicular homicide; V…

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by Zak Failla
Weather
Henri: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Throughout Hudson Valley Henri: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Throughout Hudson Valley
Henri: How Much Rain Did You Get? A Look At Totals From Throughout Hudson Valley Fears of dangerous winds from Henri never materialized for most of this region after the storm weakened significantly before making landfall, which wound up being about 50 miles farther east than earlier projections. But the storm, though disorganized, did manage to cause dangerous flooding in many areas, with drenching downpours at times over the course of nearly 48 hours. A total of just over 8 inches of rainfall were recorded in New York City (in Central Park). Here's a rundown of totals early Monday evening, Aug. 23 in the Hudson Valley from reports by the National Weather Service and …

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Two Remain Critically Injured After Crash Involving Tour Bus From Hudson Valley Two Remain Critically Injured After Crash Involving Tour Bus From Hudson Valley
Two Remain Critically Injured After Crash Involving Tour Bus From Hudson Valley Two people remain in critical condition three days after a tour bus from the Hudson Valley headed for a trip to Niagara Falls crashed upstate. The crash took place Saturday afternoon, Aug. 14 on westbound I-90 near Exit 40 (Weedsport) in Cayuga County when it exited the roadway for an unknown reason and rolled over onto the grassy shoulder, according to New York State Police. All 57 occupants, including the driver, were transported for injuries ranging from minor to critical.   According to Trooper Tara McCormick, of the 57 injured, two remained critical as the investigation cont…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Former Firefighter From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Fatal Hit-Run Former Firefighter From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Fatal Hit-Run
Former Firefighter From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Fatal Hit-Run A former member of the New York City Fire Department will avoid time behind bars after fatally striking a pedestrian in Northern Westchester and fleeing the scene, the DA announced. Buchanan resident Eric Werner, a former member of the FDNY, was sentenced this week to five years of probation for leaving the scene of an accident involving a fatality after he struck another village resident before leaving the scene of the crash, which resulted in the victim’s death. Werner also attempted to hide his vehicle following the crash in an effort to hide his role in the hit-and-run. Westchester Cou…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Northern Westchester Teen Who Drowned Known For His Love Of Soccer Northern Westchester Teen Who Drowned Known For His Love Of Soccer
Northern Westchester Teen Who Drowned Known For His Love Of Soccer Family and friends are mourning the passing of a Northern Westchester teen who drowned in the Delaware River while camping with friends. Liony Polonia Santos, age 17, of Peekskill, who went missing in the waters on Sunday, July 4, was found by searchers on Wednesday, July 7, in Sullivan County.  The Peekskill School District honored the would-be senior of Peekskill High School: "Liony was a PHS athlete and a friend to many of our students, staff, and community members," the district said in a Facebook post. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family during this difficult tim…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Found Dead After Jumping From Bear Mountain Bridge, Police Say Man Found Dead After Jumping From Bear Mountain Bridge, Police Say
Man Found Dead After Jumping From Bear Mountain Bridge, Police Say Updated story: ID Released For Northern Westchester Man Found Dead After Jumping From Bear Mountain Bridge A man was found dead after jumping to his death from the Bear Mountain Bridge. The incident took place around 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 29, on the east side of the bridge, according to the New York State Police. State Police said the man's body was found by officers with the Westchester County Police Marine Unit. CPR was administered, but the man was pronounced dead once officers reached the docks in Peekskill.  Rescuers from multiple departments took part in the search…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Train Hits Car In With Four Inside In Northern Westchester, Causing Lengthy Metro-North Delays Train Hits Car In With Four Inside In Northern Westchester, Causing Lengthy Metro-North Delays
Train Hits Car In With Four Inside In Northern Westchester, Causing Lengthy Metro-North Delays This story has been updated. A Honda Civic with four people inside was hit by a train in the Hudson Valley, causing delays of more than an hour on Metro-North service in the area. The incident took place around 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, at the Hudson Avenue crossing in Peekskill, said Lt. Jack Galusha with the Peekskill Police.  The vehicle which was on the track was struck by the passing Amtrak train. No one was injured in the vehicle or on the train, Galusha said. "It's amazing no one was injured," he added. MTA officials said at 4:30 p.m. Metro-North is experiencing 70-minu…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Dog Dies During Northern Westchester House Fire Dog Dies During Northern Westchester House Fire
Dog Dies During Northern Westchester House Fire A family dog was killed in Northern Westchester when a basement fire broke out and rapidly spread through the rest of the home, officials said. Fire crews responded to the house fire at approximately 11:50 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, as smoke could be seen billowing from the residence in Peekskill, located on Westchester Avenue. According to the Peekskill Volunteer Fire Department, after searching the house for any possible victims and locating the cause of the smoke, a fire was discovered in the basement of the residence. Officials said the fire extended from the basement to the first flo…

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by Zak Failla
News
Roof Collapses At Popular Northern Westchester Cafe Roof Collapses At Popular Northern Westchester Cafe
Roof Collapses At Popular Northern Westchester Cafe The roof of a popular cafe in Northern Westchester collapsed in the middle of the day, officials announced. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, the roof at Kathleen's Tea Room on Main Street in Peekskill collapsed, though the building was evacuated before the incident. It is unclear what caused the roof to collapse. No injuries were reported.  The incident led to a temporary closure of Main Street while police and fire crews responded and launched an investigation. “By now, you may have heard of the unfortunate accident at the Tea Room today,” the owners posted on socia…

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by Zak Failla