Accused bank grifter, Marcia Campbell

Call it the case of the bad teller.

According to Clarkstown Police, a New City-branch Key Bank associate, Marcia Campbell, 49, of Spring Valley, engaged in a scheme of systematic grift from the account of one her own customers.

Over all, police say Campbell stole $30,000 from the account, which they said was chosen randomly.  She was arrested back on December 18, but police only announced the charges to the public today.

Campbell  was charged with grand larceny in the third degree, a felony. Her case is ongoing in the Rockland County Court.

NEW CITY – Josiah Williams, 17 of New Windsor, NY, pled guilty to one count of first degree manslaughter on April 11 for the 2013 killing of a Ramapo man in Hillcrest.

Williams was arrested on August 26, 2013 in Orange County more than two months after he stabbed Ricarrdo Barrett at a children’s birthday party on East Hickory Street on June 9. He was initially charged with murder, but the District Attorney’s office dropped charges down to manslaughter.

Following his arrest, he admitted to being part of an altercation between members of his family and third parties. Barrett stepped into the conflict and was attacked by Williams, who fatally stabbed him in the heart.

When he was arrested, Williams was 16 years old and charged as a youthful offender. Williams faces 3 ½ to 10 years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed for a minor.

FROM RAMAPO PD

On April 17, 2014, at 4:33 a.m., the Ramapo PD received a call about damage to a car in a Hillcrest area parking lot.  Shortly thereafter, we received a report of a car accident involving an overturned car on the New York Country Club golf course near the corner of Hempstead Road and Brick Church Road.  Officers who responded to both incidents learned that the two were related.  Ramapo officers located three males walking on Hempstead Road in the Village of New Hempstead.  A witness identified them as being involved in the initial incident.  One of the males, later determined to be the driver of the overturned vehicle, was transported by ambulance and admitted to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment of a head and eye injury sustained in the motor vehicle accident.  As a result of the initial investigation by Ramapo police officers and detectives, the following charges were lodged against these suspects:

Eduardo Rodriguez, 20 years old, from Queens, New York, was charged with (PL 120.14) Menacing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor.  He was arraigned before Judge Schoenberger and remanded to the Rockland County Jail. He is due back in Ramapo justice court on May 6, 2014.

Nilson Mazariegos, 24 years old, from Spring Valley, New York, was charged with (PL 120.14) Menacing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor.  He was also charged with (VTL 1192.3) Driving While Intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor.  Mazariegos was the operator of the 1999 Toyota Camry that fled the scene and overturned on the golf course.  Mr. Mazariegos is due in Ramapo justice court for arraignment on these charges at 2:00pm on May 13, 2014.

The menacing incident allegedly occurred outside of El Tucanazo Restaurant and Bar, 308B North Main Street, where the suspects and victim had a verbal altercation.

The accident is being investigated by the Ramapo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit.  The Toyota Camry is believed to have been involved in two additional accidents while fleeing the scene of the menacing.  The accident investigation in ongoing at this time, as is the investigation into damage inflicted upon the victim’s vehicle.  When the investigation is complete, additional charges may be filed against one or more of the suspects involved.

If any member of the public witnessed any of these incidents, or had any further information pertaining to our investigation, they are asked to contact the Ramapo Police Department Investigations Unit.

FROM CPD

On Saturday April 19, 2014 at approximately 11:40 a.m., the Clarkstown Police Department responded to Highview Ave in Nanuet on a report of a single motor vehicle accident.  A vehicle had struck a utility pole in the area of Highview Elementary School. The driver, Patrick Judge, 50, of Nanuet was interviewed and appeared to be intoxicated but was not injured.  He was unable to perform field sobriety tests. Judge was placed under arrest and transported to Nyack Hospital ER, where he submitted to a blood test to determine his blood alcohol content. Judge was issued an appearance ticket to return to Clarkstown Justice Court on 4/30/2014 to answer the charges of driving while intoxicated (misdemeanor) and possession of an open alcohol container in a motor vehicle(traffic infraction).

Hernandez

Mendoza

State Police in Middletown announce the arrest of two California men for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree.

On April 16, 2014 at approximately 1:31 p.m., Troopers stopped a 2009 Kenworth tractor-trailer on Interstate 84 Eastbound at Exit 3 in New Hampton.  A State Police drug-detecting K-9 alerted on the cab of the truck.  As a result, 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds) of heroin were found inside the cab of the tractor.

The operator, ENRIQUE BECERRA-MENDOZA, age 38, and passenger JOAQUIN HERNANDEZ, age 35, both of Fresno, California, were taken into custody and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree.

Mendoza and Hernandez were arraigned in Town of Wawayanda court.  They were committed to Orange County Jail without bail.

The State Police were assisted in the investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Offiice.

Clarkstown, NY- On April 12, 2014, State Police in Tarrytown were patrolling I-87 in the Town of Clarkstown, Rockland County, when they pulled over a green Geo Metro for a moving violation.

Alicia M. Jones

Troopers interviewed the driver, Alicia M. Jones, 27, of Catskill, NY, and discovered she had 14 suspensions on her license.  The passenger, identified as Harkeim A. Dafares , 38, also from Catskill, provided Troopers with a false name.

During the investigation, Troopers positively identified Dafares and discovered he was wanted by the Kingston City Police Department for Unauthorized Use of a Motor vehicle and the Ulster Town Police Department for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation.  He is also wanted in the state of Georgia for a probation violation.

Jones and Dafares were arrested and transported to SP Tarrytown for processing.

Jones, currently on probation for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 2^nd in Green County, was charged with Aggravated

Harkeim A. Dafares

Unlicensed Operation in the 1^st degree, a class E felony.  She is due back in the Town of Clarkstown Court on April 30, 2014.

Defares was charged with False Personation, a class B misdemeanor and turned over to the Kingston City Police Department.

William Rapfogel and David Cohen admit to decades of theft from NYC charity

PRESS RELEASE FROM AG’S OFFICE

NEW YORK – New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on Friday announced the guilty pleas of William Rapfogel, former executive director and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council), and David Cohen, also a former executive director of the council. Rapfogel and Cohen both face prison time after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges for stealing, together with other co-conspirators, approximately $9 million from the taxpayer-funded nonprofit organization in a 20-year grand larceny and kickback scheme.

Cohen admitted illegally receiving approximately $650,000 in cash kickbacks and payments for personal expenses. Rapfogel admitted that between January 1993 and August 2013, while working with Cohen, Joseph Ross of the insurance company Century Coverage Corporation and others, he stole in excess of $1 million from Met Council.

“These defendants abused positions of trust to steal millions of dollars from a taxpayer-funded charitable organization — one that is dedicated to serving New York City’s poor,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “Those who rip off taxpayers and charitable organizations will be prosecuted. While New York has the greatest nonprofit sector in the country, this case reminds us that we must vigilantly protect it. I want to thank Comptroller DiNapoli for his continued partnership in our mission to root out public corruption and ensure that taxpayer money is protected. I also thank the Met Council board of directors for bringing this activity to light and cooperating with our investigation.”

State Comptroller DiNapoli said, “This was a troubling and sad case of personal gain at the expense of important community services. I commend Attorney General Schneiderman and his staff for their diligence in prosecuting this matter and recovering millions of dollars in stolen funds. We will continue to work with the Attorney General through our Joint Task Force to root out public corruption.”

Rapfogel, 59, pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Larry Stephen in New York County Supreme Court to Grand Larceny in the First Degree (a class B felony), Money Laundering in the Second Degree (a class C felony), Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree (a class D felony) and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (a class E felony).

In exchange for his guilty plea, Rapfogel will be sentenced to 3 1/3 to 10 years in prison and will pay $3 million in restitution. If he fails to pay the restitution by his sentencing date, July 16, he will be sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison.

Cohen, 70, pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Michael Obus in New York County Supreme Court to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. In exchange for his guilty plea, Cohen will be sentenced up to 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison and agreed to pay $650,000 in restitution by his sentencing date, set for July 9.

According to the Attorney General’s felony complaints and admissions made by the defendants as part of their guilty pleas, from 1993 to 2013, Rapfogel served as head of Met Council, a New York State not-for-profit organization that provides the poor and elderly in the metropolitan New York City area with social, economic, housing, food and emergency financial assistance as well as anti-family violence programs. Met Council receives funding through New York State and New York City grants, legislative member items and contracts. Prior to Rapfogel, Cohen was Met Council’s executive director and, after Rapfogel took over in 1993, he served as a consultant to the nonprofit.

Rapfogel and Cohen admitted engaging in an elaborate kickback scheme to steal money from Met Council. The scheme began in 1992 when Cohen devised a scheme with Joseph Ross of Century Coverage Corporation in which the company would submit inflated invoices for insurance coverage to the nonprofit. Met Council paid the inflated premiums, and then Ross paid cash kickbacks to Cohen and Herb Friedman, Met Council’s chief financial officer. Ross previously pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree and other charges for his role in the conspiracy and is awaiting sentence.

About six months after Rapfogel took over as executive director in 1993, he joined the conspiracy and received kickbacks, either in envelopes of cash or through payments of personal expenses by Ross. Initially, Ross paid Rapfogel and Cohen each $20,000 to $30,000 per year, but the inflated amount on the insurance policies increased over time, with Rafogel ultimately receiving approximately $30,000 per month. Cohen admitted to receiving approximately $650,000 in cash kickbacks and payments for personal expenses.

Rapfogel obtained the largest share of the kickbacks. As part of his plea, he admitted that from approximately January 1993 to August 2013, while working with Cohen, Friedman, and Ross, he stole over $1 million from Met Council as part of the kickback scheme. In August 2013, investigators from the Attorney General’s Office recovered more than $400,000 in cash that was hidden in Rapfogel’s homes. As restitution for his crimes, Rapfogel agreed to repay over $3 million to Met Council.

As part of the scheme, Rapfogel and Cohen also directed Ross to make political donations to various candidates for elected office from Century or from straw donors, using money obtained from the inflated payments for the insurance policies. These campaign contributions were made to politicians whom Rapfogel and Cohen believed could help Met Council.

These convictions are a result of an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with New York State Comptroller DiNapoli, as part of the Joint Task Force on Public Integrity.

The joint investigation by the Attorney General’s and Comptroller’s offices continues.

Attorney General Schneiderman and Comptroller DiNapoli would like to thank the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Department of Financial Services and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their assistance with the investigation.

Gerard Matheson is the lead investigator assigned to the case. Supervising Investigator Michael Ward of the Investigations Bureau is also working on the case. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator Dominick Zarella. Also assisting in the investigation are Chief Auditor Edward Keegan, Auditor Matthew Krogan, Assistant Attorney General Milton Yu and Investigative Analyst II Paul Strocko of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau, Legal Support Analyst KerryAnn Rodriguez and Supervising Analyst Brian Selfon of the Public Integrity Bureau, and Policy Analyst Liam Arbetman of the Charities Bureau.

This case is being prosecuted by Gary T. Fishman, Chief of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau, with Assistant Attorney General Jihee Suh of the Public Integrity Bureau. The Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Division is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.

DA’S REPORT

37-year-old Vikas Jagota

Vikas Jagota (DOB 08/16/76) of 28 Butternut Drive, New City, New York was sentenced to seven years in state prison following a jury trial that found him guilty of second degree assault, a class “D” felony, once count of “abortion” in the second degree, a class “E” felony, one count each of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal mischief in the fourth degree, both class “A” misdemeanors, and three counts of assault in the third degree, a class “A” misdemeanor.

On May 22, 2012, following the sentencing of the defendant’s brother in Rockland County Court in a case involving forced labor and physical abuse by his brother against his recently imported wife, the defendant became enraged and assaulted his own wife in their home at 28 Butternut Drive, New City.

Jagota repeatedly slapped the victim in the face and forced her wrist through a glass cabinet. As the brutal assault continued, the defendant prevented the victim from calling police by slamming his fist onto her head, causing her to drop the telephone and collapse. Jagota continued to kick the victim as she lay on the floor.

Additionally, the defendant repeatedly slapped the couple’s young child in the face during this violent altercation.

On September 22, 2012, Jagota punched his pregnant wife in the abdomen and the following day she miscarried.

On December 31 2012, the defendant again assaulted his wife. She again attempted to call 911, but was stopped by her mother-in-law. The victim later told an acquaintance about the repeated abuse, who contacted Ramapo Police.

Vikas Jagota’s mother and sister had been found guilty of  forced labor and his brother guilty of abuse in a prior case involving the family, in which the wife of Jagota’s brother Vishal was imported from India and exploited.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Doty.

Nelson L. Sierra, 36, of West Haverstraw and Santos E. Alvarado, 37, of West Palm Beach Florida, were arrested on Friday arrested on drug and other charges following a routine traffic stop.

Nelson Sierra

On Route 9W in Nyack, 4:26 p.m. Friday afternoon an Orangetown Police Officer stopped a 2003 Honda Accord driven by Sierra for a traffic violation. After an investigation, the officer found above subject to be in possession of a plastic bag containing 30 glassine envelopes of heroin, a marijuana cigarette and an open knife.

The heroin weighed approximately 9 grams. Subject was taken to OPD Headquarters in Orangeburg and was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 3^rd degree (class B felony) and unlawful possession or marihuana (violation).

Subject was arraigned by Nyack judge Robert Knoebel and sent to the RC Jail on $20,000 bail. Alvarado, a passenger in Sierra’s vehicle, was also arrested. Police said Alvarado was found to be in possession of a clear plastic bag of marijuana.

Santos Alvarado

However, the real trouble began for Alvarado when he was caught giving a false name and date of birth. The subject was arrested and taken to OPD Headquarters where his true identity was discovered, as well as the fact he was wanted on two outstanding warrants, one from the Village of Haverstraw for felony assault on a police officer and one from the Town of Ramapo for traffic offenses.

Alvarado was charged with criminal impersonation in the 2^nd degree (misdemeanor) and unlawful possession of marijuana (violation).  Subject was turned over to detectives from the Rockland County Sheriff’s office and transported to the RC Jail based on the felony warrant out of Haverstraw.

On April 30, 2014 the Stony Point Police Department announced the following arrests:

Marisel Rodriguez-Lopez, a 22 y/o female of # 99 West Main St. Apt. 3, Stony Point, N.Y. was arrested on 4/27/14 for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The defendant was arrested after a vehicle and traffic stop revealed that she was in possession of 1.7 grams of marihuana. The defendant was arrested, processed and released on an appearance ticket returnable 6/5/14 at 1330hrs.

Saray Gonzales-Fernandez, a 20 y/o female of # 99 West Main St. Apt. 3, Stony Point, N.Y. was arrested on 4/27/14 for Aggravated Unlicensed Operator 3rd. The defendant was arrested after a vehicle and traffic stop revealed that she was operating a motor vehicle while her NYSDLIC was suspended. The defendant was arrested, processed and released on several traffic tickets returnable 6/5/14 at 1330hrs.

Stephen McGilvray, a 55 y/o male of # 34 High Ridge Rd., Stony Point, N.Y. was arrested on 4/26/14 for Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The defendant was arrested after an officer investigating a suspicious vehicle discovered the defendant was in possession of 9.2 grams of marihuana. The defendant was arrested, processed and released on an appearance ticket returnable 6/5/14 at 1330hrs.

Christina Carpio-Lemus, a 36 y/o female of # 23 Brooks Dr., Stony Point, N.Y. was arrested on 4/24/14 for Aggravated Unlicensed Operator 3rd and Failure to Surrender Suspended NYSDLIC. The defendant was arrested after a vehicle and traffic stop revealed that she was operating a motor vehicle while her NYSDLIC was suspended x 5 for failure to answer summons. The defendant was arrested, processed and released on several traffic tickets returnable 5/20/14 at 1330hrs.

COLUMN BY DIANE DIMOND

Diane Dimond

It’s clearly time to bring back firing squads.

If we’re going to keep carrying out the death penalty in this country and if we are going to continue to grandly insist that they are “humane executions” then only a return to a firing squad will insure a speedy and relatively pain-free death for the condemned.

You might think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I say, line up six to eight sharp shooters, employ the old practice of giving one of them a blank instead of a bullet and instruct them to aim for the prisoner’s heart. I guarantee the convict will be dead before they drop to the ground.

Compare that to what we’ve been led to believe is the least barbaric option of taking a life: lethal injection.

As we recently saw in the bungled execution of Clayton Lockett at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, things can go wrong – - very wrong – - using a lethal injection.

The problem is critical now because European manufacturers of lethal drugs have decided they will no longer supply the U.S. because we are the only Western country that still has death penalty. So penitentiaries across America are scrambling to find alternative “cocktails” of drugs to kill those whose death row appeals have run out.

Lockett, 38, became Oklahoma’s first prisoner to receive a new, three-drug concoction designed to do three things: first, render him unconscious and unable to feel pain. Second, to make him unable to breathe and, finally, to stop his heart.

It soon became clear that this convicted kidnapper, rapist and murderer of an 18-year-old girl never fell into unconsciousness even though a doctor declared he had. Four minutes later, Lockett’s body twitched and he rose up from the gurney muttering, “Oh, man.” A prison official quickly pulled the curtain on the spectator’s window, declared “vein failure,” and the execution was interrupted. According to prison officials, 45 minutes later, Lockett died of a heart attack.

Lockett’s case is not unique. Three months ago, an Ohio man, convicted of rape and aggravated murder, became that state’s first guinea pig of an untried lethal cocktail. Witnesses to Dennis McGuire’s execution said after the injection, he clenched his fists, gasped loudly for air and made choking sounds for 15 minutes before he was declared dead.

Who thinks that is more humane than a quick hail of bullets into the heart?

I can cite several more cases of bungled lethal injections — including a 265-pound man whose execution took nearly 10 needle sticks over two hours because technicians couldn’t find a proper vein — but I don’t want to be accused of overlooking the final, frightening minutes of the victims.

Certainly, the victims of all condemned killers faced much more brutal and undeserved ends, and we should never forget the crimes against them. That goes without saying. But that’s not the point of this column.

The Boston Globe recently took a look back at executions in the U.S. — from 1890 to 2010 — and found botched attempts have happened regularly no matter what the mode of death. A reminder as you read on: The U.S. Constitution guarantees none of us is to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

The Globe found that at hangings there were some convicts who, “Had to be dropped and hanged more than once when the initial fall did not kill them.” In addition, there was the problem of unwanted decapitations. Those condemned to the electric chair sometimes had to be repeatedly shocked before they died. Some caught on fire and executioners reported smelling burned flesh. Death row inmates sent to the gas chamber, “Often struggled, convulsed, gasped for breath and were asphyxiated for extended periods of time before they succumbed.” None of these manners of death is nearly as quick or reliable as a firing squad.

Today, 32 states, the U.S. military and the federal government all have death penalty by lethal injection statutes on the books. (Only New Mexico, Connecticut and Maryland have voted to abolish capital punishment.) According to the latest Gallup poll on the death penalty, a full 60 percent of Americans still support this ultimate punishment for convicted murderers. And so my point is that, if this really is the path we want to take, there is no more fail-proof way to carry out an execution than a firing squad. Period — end of discussion.

Like many Americans, I struggle with being both against the death penalty and for it in certain cases. For example, another Oklahoma man was set to be executed right after Clayton Lockett, but Charles Warner’s date with death has been postponed pending an investigation into the state’s practices. Warner does not dispute that he raped and killed an 11-month-old baby girl, and for fiends like that I’m hard pressed to suggest he should live another day. Am I a gung-ho advocate for the death penalty? No. Am I vehemently against it? Well, I guess not. That’s my constitutionally protected opinion (as fluid as it is) so, please, no hate mail.

At this juncture, when U.S. prisons are hard pressed to even get the chemicals for a lethal injection, maybe it’s time for each of us to search our souls and ask what we think is right. There are evil people in the world who do horrid things. If the justice system finds they should be eliminated — how do we want to achieve that?

Only two states currently authorize firing squads and one, Utah, is phasing out the practice. Ironically, Oklahoma — the state that botched an execution and sparked a social conversation — would allow firing squads, but only if the courts first find both lethal injection and electrocution to be unconstitutional.

That’s not on the horizon anytime soon. So, the bottom line? The flawed system of lethal injection is here to stay unless and until we tell lawmakers we want something different. Do you?

Rockland resident Diane Dimond is a syndicated columnist, author, regular guest on TV news programs, and correspondent for Newsweek/Daily Beast. Visit her at www.DianeDimond.net or reach her via email Diane@DianeDimond.net

Report filed by Clarkstown Police Dept:

On Thursday May 1, 2014 at approximately 11:50 p.m., the Clarkstown Police Department responded to Lake Rd and N. Conger Ave in Congers for a report of a motor vehicle accident.

A witness stated that a vehicle had struck a parked car on Lake Rd. and fled the scene. The witness followed the vehicle a short distance on N. Conger Ave until police arrived. The driver of the vehicle that fled the scene, Michelle Zaret, 31, of Congers, was interviewed and appeared to be intoxicated but was not injured.

She was placed under arrest and transported to Clarkstown Police Headquarters. Michelle Zaret had performed a field sobriety test on scene and submitted to a breathalyzer test at police headquarters. She was charged with DWI (misdemeanor) and leaving the scene of an accident, property damage only (traffic infraction).

She was arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court and released on her own recognizance and must appear for a return court date on May 28, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.

Ramapo PD alerted the public that two teenagers were arrested for trespassing today (Sunday, May 4) at the Quarry located at 1 Tiltcon Road in the Village of Suffern.

Both parties were arrested without incident, and transported to Ramapo Police Department where they were then turned over to their parents.  RPD reports they have stepped up patrols in the area to reduce the number of trespass incidents at the Quarry.

BY MICHAEL RICONDA 

Cedeno

Williams

STONY POINT – The quiet waterfront hamlet of Jones Point in the Town of Stony Point typically sees little crime, but a rare exception occurred last Friday. Two North Rockland men were arrested after a burglary gone awry left one resident injured by a would-be thief’s fists and teeth, according to Stony Point PD.

Police reported two men broke into the Jones Point home on April 28, only to be surprised when the owner and a friend unexpectedly arrived and caught them in the act. The burglars  fought with the victims and one sustained bruises, abrasions and a severe bite during the altercation and escape, police said. Meanwhile, the other intruder fled through a bathroom window.

Following an investigation, Luis Cedeno, 21 of Pomona and Christopher Williams, 23 of Garnerville, were arrested. Both men were slapped with charges which included first degree burglary, second degree assault and third degree criminal mischief, all felonies.

A friend of the victims told the Rockland County Times that Cedeno is the culprit who used his teeth during the attack.

Police also charged both men with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and separate drug charges. Williams was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, and Cedeno was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Stony Point Police Lieutenant Keith Williams disclosed the suspects also have priors on their record.

The victim was tended to by first responders with the Stony Point Ambulance Corps and Rockland Paramedics. It was determined at the scene that there was no need for hospitalization.

Both suspects were sent to Rockland County Jail. Cedeno is being held on $50,000 bail while Williams is being held on $75,000 bail. The suspects are expected in court on May 8.

• Reckless Endangerment in the 2^nd Degree, Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Trespass in the 3^rd Degree, Class B Misdemeanor
• Pedestrian on State Highway, Traffic Infraction

The men were released on bail and issued Appearance Tickets ordering them to appear in the Town of Greenburgh Court on Tuesday May 6, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.

On May 3, 2014, the Stony Point Police Department arrested Anthony Bongiovanni, 29, of 12 Demarest Ave., West Haverstraw on the charge of criminal trespass in the second degree.

Stony Point PD claim an investigation revealed Bongiovanni unlawfully entered a Stony Point residence “without permission or authority on three separate occasions.”

The defendant was arrested, processed and issued an appearance ticket returnable in Stony Point Justice Court on May 15.

An unknown man in his 40s was reportedly beckoning children at Highview Elementary School in Nanuet yesterday evening, Clarkstown Police Department has alerted the public.

On Monday, May 5 at approximately 5:30 p.m. a school program counselor reported to police that a suspicious male was walking around the Highview Elementary grounds during the “after hours” program for children that participate in the extended day events. The counselor advised the police that the male appeared to be in his 40s, with dark receding hair, wearing a plaid shirt and carrying a neon colored stick or cane.

The counselor told police the man was standing on the sidewalk that runs adjacent to the rear field fence-line of the school and apparently was saying “come here kids.” The male never stepped foot on school property according to the witness, police said. None of the children at the school had any contact with the male and the program counselor stated that the male had left the area before police arrived, police said.

The responding CPD patrol units canvassed the area but were unable to contact the unknown male. The school principal was notified of the incident. This incident does not appear to be related to the prior luring incident in West Nyack, police said.

STATE POLICE

On April 27, 2014, New York State Police in Brewster arrested Anne E. Taylor, 63-years-old, of Brewster, New York, for criminal mischief second degree (felony) and menacing seconnd degree (misdemeanor). She’ll go down in the archives with one of the more unfortunate mug shots you’ll ever see.

Taylor’s arrest is the result of a domestic incident in which Taylor went to the home of the victim, and purposely crashed her vehicle into the victim’s vehicle, police said. Taylor caused additional damage to the victim’s car by striking it several times with a hammer. She then threatened the victim with the hammer, police allege.

Taylor was arraigned by the Honorable Gregory Folchetti in the Town of Southeast Court and remanded to Putnam County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

BY BILL DEMAREST

PEARL RIVER – Orangetown police are investigating a lewd incident that took place Monday afternoon in the parking lot of a Pearl River shopping center.

Police said an 18-year-old woman was walking home from school through the lot of the ShopRite supermarket at about 2:45 p.m. when she saw a man siting a car, with his pants down and exposing himself. The woman ran from the area.

The man was described as white, about 60 years old, in a dark green vehicle similar to a Honda Civic. Police ask that anyone with information related to the incident call Orangetown detectives at 359-3700.

Republished: Nyack Free Press

An as yet unidentified man was arrested Friday night after allegedly pulling a gun on someone in a bout of road rage.

At 4:36 p.m. Friday, Ramapo police officers were called to Rt. 45 in Pomona to respond to a report of a man menacing another person with a handgun.  The police met with the victim and determined it was likely an instance of “road rage” that sparked the confrontation.

Police said the suspected assailant and the victim had stopped their cars and then the suspect approached the victim’s vehicle and pulled out what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the victim’s face.  The suspect then drove away from the scene.

The suspect was located and arrested at his residence and charged with menacing in the second degree, a misdemeanor.  The Ramapo Police Department was assisted in this incident by numerous Haverstraw police officers.