Subscribe
57°
Man Strangles Girlfriend, Crashes Into Police Car, Starts 4-Hour Armed Standoff In NY: DA
A Rockland County man accused of strangling his girlfriend, sparking a police chase, and barricading himself in a car with a shotgun during an armed standoff is now facing multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, prosecutors announced.
Marcos Seda, age 41, of West Haverstraw, was arraigned in Rockland County Court on charges of second-degree kidnapping, second-degree strangulation, second-degree assault, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced on Monday, Aug. 18.
The charg…
Taxi Driver Attacks Passenger: Suspect Was High, Had Suspended License In HV, DA Says
Prosecutors have released more details regarding a Rockland County taxi driver's kidnapping of a passenger who he allegedly attacked with a screwdriver during a harrowing late-night ride earlier this month.
Kevin Mazariego-Figueroa, 22, of Hillcrest, was indicted on a slew of felony charges stemming from the Monday, May 5 attack, including second-degree kidnapping and first-degree assault, the Rockland County District Attorney's Office announced on Monday, May 19.
According to prosecutors, Mazariego-Figueroa had picked up the victim, a 40-year-old woman, in his taxicab near…
'Dawson's Creek' Star Assaulted Ex With Cinderblock, Wooden Plank: Reports
Michael Pitt, who starred on "Boardwalk Empire," "Dawson's Creek" and "Funny Games" has been charged with sexual abuse in New York City, according to numerous records.
Pitt, a West Orange native, was arrested and arraigned at Kings Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Friday, May 2, charged with two counts of sexual abuse, assault injury with a blunt object and strangulation, Variety reported.
According to the New York Post, Pitt sexually assaulted an ex-girlfriend, striking her with a wooden plank. He later assaulted his ex-girlfriend with a cinderblock, the Post reported. The incidents occu…
NY Man Claims Woman He Killed Is Alive, Gets Max 40 Years For PA Motel Murder: AG
A New York native who claimed his victim was still alive has been sentenced to the maximum prison term for beating her to death in a Luzerne County motel room, authorities announced.
Joseph Alan Sarmiento, 40, of Quakertown, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in state prison on Thursday, May 1, for the third-degree murder of Helena Johnson, 38, of Massachusetts, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Sarmiento had been staying with Johnson at the Red Carpet Inn on North Church Street in Hazle Township in June 2021 when, investigators say, he fatally beat her and left her body in the bathtu…
Ex-BF Tried Stabbing Woman To Death During Kidnapping In Hudson Valley, Jury Finds
A Hudson Valley man was convicted of attempted murder after kidnapping, choking, and trying to stab his ex-girlfriend to death, jurors found.
Orlando Williams, 55, of Hudson, was also found guilty of kidnapping, strangulation, and related charges by a Columbia County jury on Wednesday, April 9, stemming from the horrific attack in March 2024.
Hudson Police found the victim “distressed” and covered in mud following the attack at her Hudson apartment at around 10:30 p.m. on March 14, 2024, as Daily Voice reported.
She told investigators that she was alone smoking a cigarette on her back deck…
Repeat Offender Assaults, Chokes Officer In Orange County, Police Say
An Orange County police department is speaking out against bail reform laws after one of its officers was assaulted by an alleged repeat offender with a lengthy history of arrests and mental health-related incidents, authorities said.
The attack occurred on Friday, March 14, 2025, when 52-year-old Jerry Watkins, who is currently homeless, allegedly choked and assaulted a uniformed City of Middletown Police Department officer during an encounter, the department announced on Monday, March 17.
Watkins, who has had 28 documented interactions with law enforcement since January …
Husband Who Choked Wife Unconscious, Abused Hudson Valley Children Gets 19 Years In Prison
A Hudson Valley man who subjected his wife and children to horrifying abuse—including beating his wife with household objects—will spend nearly two decades in prison.
Dominic Sorbara, 46, of Ellenville, was sentenced to 19 years behind bars in Ulster County Court on Friday, Feb. 14, after a judge found him guilty on a 20-count indictment that included assault, strangulation, and aggravated sexual abuse.
Sorbara’s abuse reached a terrifying climax on May 23, 2023, when he brutally assaulted and choked his wife inside their home in Ellenville, where they lived with three of their children, pr…
CT Investigating Hanging Death Of NY Man While In Police Custody
State investigators are probing the in-custody death of a 36-year-old man who died while being held at the Stamford Police Department.
The Office of Inspector General, in collaboration with Stamford police, confirmed that Jamal Linton was found unresponsive in his cell on Sunday evening, Jan. 26, hours after being arrested on multiple charges, including second-degree assault and strangulation.
Linton, who was being held on a $75,000 bond, was discovered at approximately 5:42 p.m., appearing to have hanged himself, authorities said. Officers immediately performed first aid before…
Hudson Valley Couple Admits Killing Grandfather, Stealing His Belongings, DA Says
A Hudson Valley man and woman have pleaded guilty to murder and manslaughter in connection with the strangling death of the man's grandfather.
According to the Rockland County District Attorney's Office, the couple "brutally" killed the victim in 2023 at a house in New City sometime between Sunday, Jan. 29, and Monday, Jan. 30.
On Monday, Sept.16, Rockland County resident Constantinos Doonan, also known as "Dino," aged 32, of New City, pleaded guilty to the murder of his grandfather, Constantinos Mastakouris.
Additionally, Jo-Ann Haughey, age 26, also of New City, admitted to manslau…
Man Indicted For Violent Attack At Jail In Hudson Valley
A Rockland County man has been indicted for attempted murder stemming from a violent attack on a female corrections officer at the Rockland County Jail.
Israel Gourion, age 32, of Wesley Hills, was indicted on Tuesday, Feb. 23, on charges of attempted murder, assault, and strangulation, said Chief of the Rockland County Detectives Peter Walker.
Gourion was an inmate of the jail at the time of the attack. The case is being prosecuted by Supervising Assistant District Attorney Mike Dugandzic.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the victim, a Rockland County Sheriffs Corrections Officer, was engaged in pe…
Man Indicted For Strangling Death Of His Mother In Westchester, DA Says
A 26-year-old Westchester man has been indicted on a murder charge after admitting to strangling his mother unconscious earlier this year.
Daniel Flores Arteaga, of New Rochelle, has been indicted and charged with second-degree murder, a violent felony, for allegedly strangling his mother, who taken off life support in April after being attacked.
Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., said that at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, members of the New Rochelle Police Department responded to Sound Street, where there was a report of a son who had attacked …
Man Charged With Choking Victim During Domestic Dispute In Area, Police Say
A 24-year-old man was arrested for choking a person during a domestic dispute, causing the victim to pass out.
Ulster County resident Tyler Nickolich, of Saugerties, was arrested around 10:10 p.m., on Friday, Jan. 31, after Saugerties Police responded to a home for a report of a past domestic dispute, Saugerties Police Chief Joseph A. Sinagra said.
During an investigation, officers found that during a dispute, Nicholich had placed his hands around the victim’s neck and applied pressure to the point of causing the victim to pass out, the chief said.
Nickolich was taken into custod…
Teen Charged With Rape, Attempted Strangulation Of 19-Year-Old Girl, Police Say
A teen was arrested for allegedly raping and attempting to strangle a 19-year-old woman.
Devon Austin Payne, of Cragsmoor in Ulster County, was arrested by Town of Montgomery Police following an investigation into the Wednesday, Nov. 6, sexual assault, said Town of Montgomery Police Investigator Stephen Ragni.
Payne was charged with felony rape, felony strangulation, aggravated harassment, stalking, assault, and unlawful imprisonment, police said.
He was arraigned in the Town of Montgomery Court and remanded to the Orange County Jail.
Area Man Chokes, Assaults Woman During Domestic Dispute, Police Say
A Poughkeepsie man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting and choking a woman during a domestic dispute.
Charles Smiling, 45, was arrested on Friday, July 12, after Town of Lloyd Police responded to a domestic violence call, said Lt. James Janso.
Smiling is accused of entering a 29-year-old Highland woman’s apartment and assaulting her, causing serious facial injuries, Janso said.
He was charged with felony burglary, assault, and felony strangulation and is being held at the Ulster County Jail on $25,000 cash/$50,000 bond.
Smiling is due to appear in court on Tuesday, July …
