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Psychiatric Escapee Punched Doctor At Hudson Valley Hospital, Gets Attempted Murder Charge: DA
A psychiatric patient who violently attacked his psychiatrist and escaped from Garnet Health Medical Center in Orange County has now been indicted for attempted murder, prosecutors announced.
Christopher Morgan, 40, of Monroe, was arraigned on Tuesday, March 18, in Orange County Court on charges stemming from the brutal assault at the behavioral health unit of the hospital in Wallkill earlier this month, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced on Wednesday, March 19.
Morgan was initially charged with felony robbery after authorities captured him in Port Jervis on Friday, Mar…
3 Caught Drunk Driving In Putnam County Over St. Patrick’s Day Weekend: Sheriff
Deputies arrested three drivers for DWI in Putnam County over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday weekend, authorities said.
The arrests took place in Southeast between Sunday, March 16, and Monday, March 17, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Wednesday, March 19.
Felony DWI Arrest
The first arrest happened on Saturday, March 16, around 1 a.m., when a deputy on Route 22 spotted a vehicle swerving out of its lane and running a red light. The driver, identified as Dutchess County man Jacob T. Westcott, 24, of Dover Plains, was found to be intoxicated and failed field sobriety tes…
Repeat Offender Assaults, Chokes Officer In Hudson Valley, 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 …
Abducted CT Toddler Found In Mexico 24 Years Later
A decades-old New Haven cold case has ended in an emotional reunion, thanks to a relentless detective, modern DNA testing, and a long trail of digital breadcrumbs.
Andrea Reyes, who was abducted at the age of 2, has been found alive in Mexico, more than 24 years after she was taken by her mother, Rosa Tenorio, New Haven Police announced on Wednesday, March 5.
Despite an active felony arrest warrant for Tenorio, she successfully evaded law enforcement for decades, allegedly taking her daughter across the border and raising her in Puebla, a city of over a million people.
Her father, wh…
4-Year-Old Child Rescued After Kidnapping, Chase On I-84, I-684 In Putnam, Westchester: Police
This story has been updated.
A four-year-old child with autism was safely rescued after being abducted in a rapidly unfolding kidnapping situation that spanned Westchester, Dutchess, and Putnam counties, authorities announced.
The incident began on Saturday, Feb. 22, when Putnam County 911 received a report of a vehicle stolen out of LaGrange. Authorities learned that the suspect, 26-year-old Jahyra Allen of Brooklyn, had allegedly taken the car from a family member and abducted her 4-year-old child, whom she does not have legal custody of, according to New York State Police.
Authori…
Child Porn: Woman, 32, Accused Of Transmitting Videos, Pics From Southeast Home, Police Say
A 32-year-old woman faces child porn charges after allegedly transmitting explicit videos and pictures over the internet from her Putnam County home, authorities said.
Southeast resident Danielle Sawicki, age 32, was arrested following a search of her residence on Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, March 4.
According to the Sheriff's Office, in July 2024, investigators received a cyber tip from the New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force related to explicit materials being transmitted from a Putnam County home.
On…
Slain Officer’s Final Wish Revealed As Funeral Plans Announced After Hospital Shooting
West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte will be laid to rest this week after he was killed in the line of duty during a mass shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County on Saturday, Feb, 22. His family, fellow officers, and an outpouring of community support are ensuring his legacy of service and sacrifice is never forgotten.
Funeral Service Details
Duarte’s funeral will take place on Friday, Feb. 28, at 1:00 p.m. at Living Word Community Church, 2530 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion, PA.
Due to high attendance expectations, seating arrangements are as follows:
Seating inside the c…
Hudson Valley Undersheriff, Fire Chief Dies Unexpectedly: 'Dedicated His Life To Public'
Colleagues are mourning the sudden death of Greene County Undersheriff Michael Overbaugh.
The longtime public servant, 62, died unexpectedly at home Wednesday morning, Feb. 12, the sheriff’s office confirmed Friday, Feb. 14. A cause of death was not given.
“It is with great heartache and sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved Undersheriff, Michael Overbaugh,” the agency said on Facebook.
A US Navy veteran, Overbaugh brought a wealth of experience and dedication to his many roles. Before joining the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, he served as a lieutenant with the …
Caught! Man’s Desperate Attempt To Hide Illegal Gun Fails In Hudson Valley
A man has admitted to gun charges after police found him hiding a firearm in his Orange County home, officials announced.
Newburgh resident Ernie Prospere, age 50, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court on Monday, Jan. 27, to second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon and faces six years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, when he returns to court on Thursday, April 3, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Officials said Prospere was identified in a 911 call reporting a person with a gun in the City of…
Ringleader, Gun Maker From Hudson Valley Get Years In Jail In Massive Drug, Firearm Bust
A Poughkeepsie man who ran a major drug and firearms trafficking operation in Dutchess County will serve more than a decade behind bars, while his top weapons supplier—who built ghost guns in his home—was sentenced to even more time, authorities announced.
New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed on Wednesday, Jan. 29, that Muayad Qader, 35, of Poughkeepsie, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felonies for his role in a sprawling narcotics and illegal firearms network. His main supplier, Jason Knapp, a Dutchess County resident who built untrace…
Trooper Shot Himself On NY Highway Before Blaming 'Dark-Skinned Man,' Police Say
A former New York State Police trooper who claimed that a driver shot him, triggering a region-wide manhunt, made the whole thing up, prosecutors alleged.
Thomas Mascia, 27, of West Hempstead, surrendered to police Monday morning, Jan. 27, before being arraigned on a count of making a false report and related charges in Nassau County District Court.
Mascia initially told colleagues that he was walking toward what he assumed was a disabled vehicle when he heard several shots fired by a “dark-skinned man” on the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead shortly before midnight on Oct. 30, 2024…
Late-Night Gunfire In Hudson Valley Ends With Loaded Weapon Seized, Suspect Caught: Police
Shots fired in the middle of the night in the Hudson Valley led to the arrest of a man now facing multiple weapons charges, police said.
The incident happened in Orange County on Sunday, Jan. 19, at around 2:46 a.m., when City of Newburgh Police officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire in the area of 35 Cerone Pl., the department announced on Friday, Jan. 24.
Police arrived at the scene and spotted a man in the area of the activation. As additional officers arrived, the man, identified as 50-year-old Samuel Ponder of Newburgh, allegedly threw a heavy object int…
