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Law Enforcement

Thieves Strike Twice: 2 Cars Stolen In Poughkeepsie Within Minutes, Police Say Thieves Strike Twice: 2 Cars Stolen In Poughkeepsie Within Minutes, Police Say
Thieves Strike Twice: 2 Cars Stolen In Poughkeepsie Within Minutes, Police Say Authorities in Dutchess County are investigating after two vehicles were stolen within minutes of each other in the City of Poughkeepsie. The incidents happened early Friday, Jan. 31, when officers responded to 120 Hudson Ave. around 6:30 a.m. for a report of a stolen vehicle, police said. The victim told officers she had started her car to warm it up and returned a few minutes later to find it gone. As officers were investigating, they were alerted to a second stolen vehicle in the same area. Both incidents remain under investigation, and police are urging anyone with information to call…
ICE Looks For Person With Criminal Warrant In Hudson Valley Village ICE Looks For Person With Criminal Warrant In Hudson Valley Village
ICE Looks For Person With Criminal Warrant In Hudson Valley Village Federal immigration agents conducted an operation in Pleasantville on Thursday, Jan. 30, as part of efforts to locate an individual with a criminal warrant, officials announced.   According to a statement from the Village of Pleasantville, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notified the Pleasantville Police Department that agents would be operating in the village to apprehend a specific person.  However, local authorities clarified that Pleasantville police were not involved in the warrant service.  Agents were seen operating in the area of Wheeler Avenue in t…
Caught! Man’s Desperate Attempt To Hide Illegal Gun Fails In Hudson Valley Caught! Man’s Desperate Attempt To Hide Illegal Gun Fails In Hudson Valley
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…
Burglars Targeting Asian Americans, Stealing Cash, Jewelry In Dutchess, Police Warn Burglars Targeting Asian Americans, Stealing Cash, Jewelry In Dutchess, Police Warn
Burglars Targeting Asian Americans, Stealing Cash, Jewelry In Dutchess, Police Warn Authorities are warning residents in Dutchess, Westchester, and Putnam counties about a recent string of residential burglaries targeting Asian Americans and advising them to step up security measures.  In an announcement on Wednesday, Jan. 29, New York State Police said three burglaries have been reported within the past week, specifically targeting homes of Asian American residents.  In two of the incidents, burglars stole large amounts of cash and jewelry. Investigators believe these crimes follow a targeted pattern. State Police are advising all residents—particularly th…
Poughkeepsie Ringleader, Gun Maker From Dutchess Get Years In Jail In Drug, Firearm Bust Poughkeepsie Ringleader, Gun Maker From Dutchess Get Years In Jail In Drug, Firearm Bust
Poughkeepsie Ringleader, Gun Maker From Dutchess Get Years In Jail In 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 Trooper Shot Himself On NY Highway Before Blaming 'Dark-Skinned Man,' Police Say
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 Late-Night Gunfire In Hudson Valley Ends With Loaded Weapon Seized, Suspect Caught: Police
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…
Rumor Of Illegal ATV Racing On Frozen Lake Sparks Police Crackdown In Hudson Valley Rumor Of Illegal ATV Racing On Frozen Lake Sparks Police Crackdown In Hudson Valley
Rumor Of Illegal ATV Racing On Frozen Lake Sparks Police Crackdown In Hudson Valley Authorities in a Hudson Valley town are cracking down on illegal activities after receiving reports of a planned ATV and vehicle race on a frozen lake. The Carmel Police Department in Putnam County issued a stern advisory on Friday, Jan. 24, emphasizing that such events are unsanctioned, non-permitted, and prohibited under town regulations.  Police also noted that no frozen body of water in the town has been deemed safe for such use, adding to the potential dangers of the planned event. To prevent the unauthorized activity, the Carmel Police Department will deploy additional officers …
Threats to Son Uncover Hidden Weapons: Man Nabbed For Illegal Gun Possession In Hudson Valley Threats to Son Uncover Hidden Weapons: Man Nabbed For Illegal Gun Possession In Hudson Valley
Threats to Son Uncover Hidden Weapons: Man Nabbed For Illegal Gun Possession In Hudson Valley An argument and threatening text messages sent to his son led to the discovery of illegal firearms and the eventual conviction of a Hudson Valley man, officials announced. Orange County resident Justin Babik of Goshen, age 47, was convicted on Tuesday, Jan. 21, after a jury trial in Orange County Court on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced. According to the DA's Office, on May 8, 2024, Babik allegedly argued with his son and sent him threatening text…
Former Cop Convicted Of Killing NY Native Husband In What He Called 'Freak Accident' Former Cop Convicted Of Killing NY Native Husband In What He Called 'Freak Accident'
Former Cop Convicted Of Killing NY Native Husband In What He Called 'Freak Accident' A 38-year-old former Tenafly police officer has been convicted of aggravated manslaughter in the fatal shooting of his husband, a retired NYPD officer in 2023 in Sussex County, authorities said. On Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Joseph Grieco and his husband, John Kelly had returned to their Vernon home from a night out with friends, Sussex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said. Griceo had consumed alcohol at the Vernon VFW earlier that night and continued to drink while at home with Kelly and friends, Murray said. Early the next day, Grieco retrieved his handgun and began to handle it, despite mu…
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal
Dialing It Back: NY Students Would Be Barred From Using Phones During School Day Under Proposal Students could soon go from scrolling to schooling. A bold initiative unveiled by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Jan. 22, would restrict smartphone use in all K-12 schools during the entire school day, including lunch time. The proposal, introduced as part of the governor’s 2026 Executive Budget, aims to prioritize student learning and mental health, Hochul’s office said. “From parents and teachers, to social justice and law enforcement leaders, New Yorkers agree that our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling,” Hochul said. Under the…
Local Family Loses $40K After Responding To Fake Email In Hudson Valley Local Family Loses $40K After Responding To Fake Email In Hudson Valley
Local Family Loses $40K After Responding To Fake Email In Hudson Valley Authorities are warning residents to stay vigilant following an email scam that cost a Hudson Valley family $40,000.  According to an announcement from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the incident began on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, when the victim received a fraudulent email that appeared to be from PayPal. The email claimed that an account had been opened in the victim’s name with a $400 charge.  The victim called the number provided in the email and unknowingly engaged with a scammer posing as PayPal support. The scammer convinced the victim to grant …
Trump Pardons Former Beacon Man Convicted In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack Trump Pardons Former Beacon Man Convicted In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack
Trump Pardons Former Beacon Man Convicted In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack Days after taking office, President Donald Trump has pardoned or commuted the sentence of more than a thousand people who participated in the deadly riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including a 35-year-old Hudson Valley man who had been convicted of felony charges.  The conviction of White Plains resident William Pepe, formerly of the Dutchess County city of Beacon, was overturned by an executive order signed by Trump on Monday, Jan. 20. Pepe had previously been found guilty of charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6 breach in October 2024. According to federa…
ICE Enforcement Allowed At Schools, Churches Under New Trump Policy ICE Enforcement Allowed At Schools, Churches Under New Trump Policy
ICE Enforcement Allowed At Schools, Churches Under New Trump Policy Federal immigration authorities now have the ability to arrest individuals in and around  schools and churches — areas previously considered sensitive.  This new policy change involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, announced on the second day of the new Trump Administration on Tuesday, Jan/ 21 by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman and represents a significant shift from long-standing guidelines. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest," Huffman said in a statement. "The Trump Administration …
Trump Swearing-In Ceremony, Inaugural Address Moved Indoors Trump Swearing-In Ceremony, Inaugural Address Moved Indoors
Trump Swearing-In Ceremony, Inaugural Address Moved Indoors For the first time in 40 years, a presidential inauguration will be held indoors. Extremely cold temperatures forecast for Monday, Jan. 20 in Washington, DC have resulted in the change. President-elect Donald Trump announced the move in a social media post at noon Friday, Jan. 17, saying, "There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.  "It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours…
Poughkeepsie Quadruple Shooting Investigation Leads To 2 More Arrests: Police Poughkeepsie Quadruple Shooting Investigation Leads To 2 More Arrests: Police
Poughkeepsie Quadruple Shooting Investigation Leads To 2 More Arrests: Police The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department has announced additional arrests in the ongoing investigation into a Friday, July 5, 2024, quadruple shooting on Main Street.  According to Det. Lt. Sean McCarthy, after an extensive investigation led by the Detective Division’s Neighborhood Recovery Unit, two individuals now face multiple charges related to the violent attack. The investigation initially resulted in the arrest of Jaimez Freeman on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, who was charged with one count of attempted murder. However, on Thursday, Jan. 16, police charged Glendale Wright, 18, and S…
Rockland Sheriff’s Office Launches Blue Envelope Program For Drivers With Autism Rockland Sheriff’s Office Launches Blue Envelope Program For Drivers With Autism
Rockland Sheriff’s Office Launches Blue Envelope Program For Drivers With Autism The Rockland County Sheriff’s Office is introducing the Blue Envelope Program, a safety initiative to improve interactions between law enforcement and autistic drivers. Sheriff Louis Falco III announced the program by emphasizing the unique challenges faced by drivers with autism during routine traffic stops.  “There are many adult drivers living with autism whose physical movements or verbal responses may be beyond their control during a traffic stop,” said Falco. “Unfortunately, this has sometimes led to misunderstandings and escalations during interactions with law enforcement.” Fa…
Juvenile Arrested For Setting Fires At Hudson Valley High School Juvenile Arrested For Setting Fires At Hudson Valley High School
Juvenile Arrested For Setting Fires At Hudson Valley High School According to authorities, a juvenile has been charged with starting two fires at a Hudson Valley high school. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and Town of Montgomery Police Chief John Hank said the juvenile, whose name is not released due to his age, allegedly started the fires on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Valley Central High School in Montgomery. According to court documents, the fires were set in two separate second-floor bathrooms around 12:30 p.m. while over 1,300 students were in the building.  One student was in a restroom stall when one of the fires ignited. The fir…
Suspicious Object At Ulster County School Found To Be Burnt Flashlight: Police Suspicious Object At Ulster County School Found To Be Burnt Flashlight: Police
Suspicious Object At Ulster County School Found To Be Burnt Flashlight: Police A suspicious object discovered in the parking lot of an Ulster County elementary school prompted an early dismissal and a thorough investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies. The incident occurred at Kerhonkson Elementary School around 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.  According to Ulster County Sheriff's Office Capt. Joseph Sciutto, the school resource officer, was notified by staff about the object and markings on the pavement. The deputy secured the area and requested assistance from an explosive detection K9. A comprehensive search of the school and its property revealed no haza…
Mail Thief Nabbed After Making High-Speed Escape In Hudson Valley Mail Thief Nabbed After Making High-Speed Escape In Hudson Valley
Mail Thief Nabbed After Making High-Speed Escape In Hudson Valley An 18-year-old man was nabbed by police for allegedly stealing mail that contained personal financial information out of residential mailboxes with two accomplices. Lt. Daniel Schoales of the Stony Point Police said Mahamadou Sissoko, of the Bronx, was charged on Thursday, Jan. 8, for the crimes committed on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Tompkins Cove. According to Schoales, Sissoko and the two accomplices were seen stealing mail. Police arrived as the trio attempted to flee in a vehicle driven by Sissoko. The vehicle was later found off the roadway, down an embankment, and fully engulfed in f…
High-Speed Pursuit In Hudson Valley Leaves Officer Injured, Suspect in Custody: Police High-Speed Pursuit In Hudson Valley Leaves Officer Injured, Suspect in Custody: Police
High-Speed Pursuit In Hudson Valley Leaves Officer Injured, Suspect in Custody: Police A high-speed vehicle pursuit in Orange County ended with the arrest of Alejandro Garcia and minor injuries to a police officer.  The incident began on Thursday, Jan. 9, around 11:35 a.m. on Carpenter Avenue in the Town of Wallkill, when Middletown Police Officers Jason Berman and Nicholas Langford attempted a vehicle stop as part of a narcotics investigation. According to Lt. Jeffry Thoelen of the Middletown Police, Garcia, age 34, of Middletown, was the subject of a search warrant and charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, suddenly fled the scene, driving over Officer L…
Anesthesiologist Who Drugged, Sexually Assaulted Victim In Hudson Valley Gets Years In Prison Anesthesiologist Who Drugged, Sexually Assaulted Victim In Hudson Valley Gets Years In Prison
Anesthesiologist Who Drugged, Sexually Assaulted Victim In Hudson Valley Gets Years In Prison A former Putnam County anesthesiologist will spend years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing and assaulting a victim, officials announced.  Paul Giacopelli, a Southeast resident and former chief anesthesiologist at Putnam County Hospital, was sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to four years in state prison, according to the Putnam County District Attorney's Office.  Giacopelli's sentencing follows his guilty plea on Aug. 21, 2024, to charges stemming from an incident in which he used a chemical substance to render his victim unconscious before sexually abusing her. Th…
Illegal Firearm, Cocaine Seized From Poughkeepsie Drug Dealer In Going Investigation: DA Illegal Firearm, Cocaine Seized From Poughkeepsie Drug Dealer In Going Investigation: DA
Illegal Firearm, Cocaine Seized From Poughkeepsie Drug Dealer In Going Investigation: DA A Poughkeepsie man wanted in connection with a significant drug bust in East Fishkill has been arrested following a community tip, authorities announced. Michael S. Birney, 32, was taken into custody on Sunday, Jan. 5, after Drug Task Force Agents located him near Hooker Avenue and South Hamilton Street. Birney was arrested without incident, according to the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office. Birney's arrest comes nearly a month after those of Stephen Bai and Angela Martinez, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Birney had been under investigation by the Drug Task Force, wh…
Hudson Valley Woman Fleeing Traffic Stop Nabbed By Deputies, Police Say Hudson Valley Woman Fleeing Traffic Stop Nabbed By Deputies, Police Say
Hudson Valley Woman Fleeing Traffic Stop Nabbed By Deputies, Police Say A 55-year-old Hudson Valley woman is facing multiple misdemeanor charges after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop and leading deputies on a pursuit through Ulster County. Dawn Snyder, of Accord, was charged with multiple misdemeanor infractions, including unlawful fleeing of a police officer and resisting arrest on Sunday, Jan. 5, on Main Street in Stone Ridge. According to Lt. Collin Reynolds of the Ulster County Sheriff's Office, Snyder was driving the vehicle with a suspended registration due to a lapse in insurance coverage. While deputies were conducting their investigation, Snyder alle…
One Dead, Another Injured In Violent Altercation At Hudson Valley Auto Parts Store One Dead, Another Injured In Violent Altercation At Hudson Valley Auto Parts Store
One Dead, Another Injured In Violent Altercation At Hudson Valley Auto Parts Store A violent altercation at an Orange County auto parts store left one man dead from a gunshot and another injured from stab wounds, police said. The incident occurred on Monday, Jan. 6, at the AutoZone store at 536 Broadway in Newburgh. According to Mike Neppl, spokesman for the city of Newburgh Police, officers responding to a call for a stabbing discovered two men injured at the store. One man had sustained stab wounds, while the other was shot at least once. Officers immediately rendered medical aid to both individuals. The man with stab wounds was transported to Montefiore St. Luke’s Hos…
'Combative' Person Trespasses On Middle School Campus In Hudson Valley: Police 'Combative' Person Trespasses On Middle School Campus In Hudson Valley: Police
'Combative' Person Trespasses On Middle School Campus In Hudson Valley: Police A person was arrested for trespassing on the grounds of a Putnam County middle school after refusing to leave and becoming combative, authorities said.  The incident happened on Monday, Jan. 6, around 9:20 a.m., at Mahopac Middle School, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The individual was observed by the school’s Resource Officer (SRO) on the campus and was approached for questioning. The man refused to provide a legitimate reason for being on the property and declined to leave, officials said.  As the SRO attempted to gather more information, the individual becam…
Man Sentenced To 45 Years To Life For Brazen Orange County Double Shooting Man Sentenced To 45 Years To Life For Brazen Orange County Double Shooting
Man Sentenced To 45 Years To Life For Brazen Orange County Double Shooting A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for shooting and killing a man and paralyzing another. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Romaine McRae, of Brooklyn, was sentenced on Monday, Jan. 6, in connection with the April 2023 incident. As argued in court at the trial, McRae and co-defendant Dwayne Hines perpetrated a brazen double shooting and execution that occurred on Lander Street in the City of Newburgh at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023.  Two men at the location were shot, leaving one man…
Armed 5-Hour Standoff Ends With Arrest Of Dutchess County Man: Police Armed 5-Hour Standoff Ends With Arrest Of Dutchess County Man: Police
Armed 5-Hour Standoff Ends With Arrest Of Dutchess County Man: Police A five-hour standoff in Dutchess County ended with the arrest of a 36-year-old man wanted on a warrant for reckless endangerment, police said. Capt. John Watterson of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office said Richard P. Danko, age 36, of Dover Plains, was charged following a complaint and an hours-long standoff at his residence on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1 in Dover Plains. According to Watterson, deputies responded to 16 Old State Route 22 at around 6:10 a.m. after receiving a report of a person being threatened with a shotgun. When they arrived, Danko was identified as a suspect but refused t…
42-Year-Old Army Veteran ID'd As New Orleans Terror Attack Driver 42-Year-Old Army Veteran ID'd As New Orleans Terror Attack Driver
42-Year-Old Army Veteran ID'd As New Orleans Terror Attack Driver This story has been updated. An Army veteran has been identified as the man authorities say rammed a pickup truck into a crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans early on New Year's Day morning, leaving 15 people dead and injuring approximately 35 others. Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, age 42, who was killed in a shootout with police officers after the incident at around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 on Bourbon Street, was a US citizen born in Texas, where he lived at the time of the incident, the FBI said. The Ford truck, rented through an auto sharing company, displayed an ISIS flag on the tr…
Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month
Stowaway Found On Delta Flight For Second Time In Month For the second time in a month a stowaway was caught on a Delta Air Lines flight, sparking concerns. The flight, from Seattle to Honolulu, was preparing for takeoff when crew members discovered the unticketed passenger onboard, leading to the plane returning to the gate on Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Delta Airlines said that safety protocols were followed, resulting in the passenger’s removal and subsequent detention by law enforcement. The identity of the person has not been released. “As there are no matters more important than safety and security, Delta people followed…
Poughkeepsie Man Armed With Fake Gun Shot By Police Faces Felony Charges: Cops Poughkeepsie Man Armed With Fake Gun Shot By Police Faces Felony Charges: Cops
Poughkeepsie Man Armed With Fake Gun Shot By Police Faces Felony Charges: Cops A masked man armed with what appeared to be a handgun was shot by City of Poughkeepsie police after pointing the weapon at them during a confrontation, police report. The incident occurred, occurred around 10:15 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 22, when officers responded to a 911 call reporting a masked man with a gun outside an apartment at Fallkill Commons, located at 17 Rose St. According to Det. Lt. Sean McCarthy, the caller, later identified as Kevin Fitzpatrick, age 41, of Poughkeepsie, matched the description of the armed individual.  Upon arrival, officers confronted Fitzpatrick, who point…