All O&R employees are required to wear color photo I.D. cards in plain sight during their workday. On one side of the card is the color photo and name, and on the other side is the blue and orange O&R logo

Special alert from CPD

On December 12, 2014 at 4:45 p.m. the Clarkstown Police Department responded to S. Conger Ave in Congers for a suspicious incident.

The homeowner, female, 22, of Congers, told the responding officer that a male identifying himself as an Orange and Rockland employee requested to enter her home to check the meter. She told the male that she can’t allow him into the home and that the meter was on the side of the house.

The male suspect left the scene without incident. The homeowner contacted Orange and Rockland and was advised by Orange and Rockland that they had not dispatched a worker to that address. He was described as a male white, 40-42 years old, 5’8”- 5’10”, wearing an orange jacket and driving an orange van. This was the only incident reported to the police department that day.

The Clarkstown Police Department and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. urges residents to ask to see a photo identification card from utility workers certifying that they are O&R employees or contractors before doing any business with them or allowing them to enter customers’ homes.

All O&R employees are required to wear color photo I.D. cards in plain sight during their workday. On one side of the card is the color photo and name, and on the other side is the blue and orange O&R logo.

Police advise if you are suspicious, leave the person waiting outside, keep the door locked, and call the company they claim to represent or call the police immediately. You may also try to take a picture of the individual or the vehicle they are operating. Please be aware of impostors and always be cautious!

Ryan Sumner

NANUET – A Florida man has been charged with multiple criminal offenses which stemmed from allegedly shoplifting from two separate stores and an escape attempt that turned ugly when he attacked mall security.

Ryan Sumner, 21, of Dade City, Florida, stands accused of petty larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and second degree harassment. Sumner was initially spotted by a loss prevention officer when he swiped a golden iPhone 6 on display in the Apple Store in Nanuet and replaced it with another iPhone 6.

After Sumner left the store, loss prevention confronted him in the parking lot and determined that Sumner was also in possession of items stolen from the Nanuet Express Store. However, while they were returning to the Apple Store, Sumner punched the loss prevention officer in the face and fled. No injury to the man was reported and medical treatment was subsequently declined.

Clarkstown Police responded to the incident at around 5:50 p.m. They canvassed the area for Sumner, who managed to make it all the way to an area near the Nanuet P.C. Richards before he was arrested.

Though Sumner has been charged for the iPhone theft and attack on the loss prevention officer, the Nanuet Express Store declined to press charges for the alleged theft of their own merchandise.

Sumner has been arraigned and remanded to Rockland County Jail with an expected follow-up court date set for January 22. His bail has been set at $5,000.

Perez-Coira

DA’S PRESS RELEASE

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Juan Perez-Coira, 44, of Spring Valley, New York was convicted after a bench trial of two counts of murder in the second degree, class “A” felonies; one count of attempted criminal sexual act in the first degree , a class “C” felony; one count of attempted rape in the first degree, a class “C” felony; each relating to the killing of 55-year-old Deborah Burns.

“The defendant took the life of an innocent woman during a vicious sexual assault,” said District Attorney Zugibe. “I can only hope that the victim’s family finds some measure of comfort and solace knowing her attacker will be sentenced to at least 15 years as punishment for his savagery.”

On or about and between December 24 and December 26, 2013, Perez-Coira attempted to commit the crime of rape in the first degree and attempted to commit the crime of criminal sexual act in the first degree, Zugibe said. A

Zugibe said Perez-Coira attempted to vaginally and then anally penetrate the victim and in the course of the attempted rape caused her death. Perez-Coira and the victim were acquaintances and had spent the evening together before the defendant caused her death. She died as the result of internal bleeding.

The defendant remains held at the Rockland County Jail. He faces a maximum of 25 years to fe in state prison when he is sentenced on March 3, 2015. Executive Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino and Senior Assistant District Attorney Tanya A. Gayle are prosecuting the case.

DA’S PRESS RELEASE

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced the arrest of seven individuals on a variety of charges, as part of an ongoing probe into illegal sports betting across the region. The dismantling of the large-scale gambling operation started earlier this month with the arrest of 14 individuals connected to the alleged unlawful enterprise that stretched from Rockland County to Palm Beach, Florida.

Investigators estimate the ring took in millions of dollars a month over a 16-month period by accepting wagers on a wide variety of sporting events – ranging from professional football, basketball, hockey and baseball to college basketball, among others.

The above named individuals surrendered at the Clarkstown Police Department, appeared in Clarkstown Town Court and were released on their own recognizance.

The defendants are charged variously with Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records, Money Laundering and other offenses. Based on information obtained during the probe, there were approximately 60 court authorized search warrants in New York, New Jersey and Florida. To date more than $3 million dollars in cash and other properties have been seized.

The crackdown was the culmination of a 16-month probe led by the Organized Crime Unit directed by the District Attorney’s Office with the assistance of the New York State Police Special Investigative Unit, the Clarkstown Police Department, the Ramapo Police Department, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Queens District Attorney’s Organized Crime Division, the NYPD Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Department of Homeland Security, the Broward County Sheriff’s Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.

The individuals arrested today are identified as:

- Benjamin Reiss of 9 Hampton Dr, Nanuet, NY charged with promoting gambling in the first degree and possession of gambling records in the first degree

- Frank Giordano of 277 Shady Brook Lane, Pomona, NY charged with promoting gambling in the 1st degree and possession of gambling records in the first degree

- Gerardo Dimatteo of 367 Birdsall Lane, Yorktown Heights, NY charged with promoting gambling in the second degree and Possession of gambling records in the first degree

- Robert Aulicino of 313 Orchard St, Monroe, NY charged with promoting gambling in the second degree and possession of gambling records in the first degree

- William Robbins, formerly of Thiells, NY, currently residing at 147 Fox Den, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina charged with money laundering in the fourth degree and promoting gambling in the second degree

-  James Hayman of 6 Hudson View Dr, Tomkins Cove, NY charged with promoting gambling in the first degree and possession of gambling records in the first degree

- Jonathan Klein of 14 Blue Heron Dr, Staten Island, NY charged with promoting gambling in the first degree and possession of gambling records in the first degree

A Clarkstown woman found herself arrested on DWI charges after getting out of her car and walking down the street in an unusual manner.

Clarkstown Police responded to a report of a suspicious person in the location of Meriweather Trail in Congers around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16. Suspect, Nancy Sheridan, 51-years-old, from Congers was observed walking in the roadway near her vehicle and police determined that she was exhibiting signs of intoxication. Sheridan failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for suspicion of DWI as a felony due to a prior conviction.

She was also charged with first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Sheridan was arraigned before Hon. Craig Johns at Clarkstown Justice Court with bail set at $5,000.

NEW CITY – Clarkstown Police advised residents on Monday to be wary of an unidentified individual who attempted to gain access to a Congers home under the guise of an Orange & Rockland utility worker.

Police stated in a December 16 press release that a woman living on South Congers Avenue in Congers was home on December 12 when a man identifying himself as an Orange & Rockland employee requested to enter her home to check the meter. After she told him that the meter was outside on the side of the house, he left the premises without incident.

The encounter was reported to Orange & Rockland, who confirmed a worker had not been sent to that particular house. The impostor was described as a man in his early 40s who stood between 5’8” and 5’10”, wore an orange vest and drove an orange van.

No similar incidents were reported that day, but police advised Clarkstown residents to be on the lookout for similar ruses. If met by an individual who claims to be an Orange & Rockland employee, residents are encouraged to check for color photo identification cards which all employees are required to wear. One side of a valid ID shows the name and photo of the worker while the other has the blue and orange Orange & Rockland logo.

If a resident is unsure of the visitors’ identity, they are encouraged to keep the person waiting outside behind a locked door while they contact Orange & Rockland or police and, if possible, photograph the person or their vehicle.

Pictured above: (L) Officer Rafael Ramos, Who served two years with NYPD, and (R) Officer Wenjian Liu, a seven year veteran of NYPD, both policed the 84th precinct in Brooklyn

NYPD released the names and pictures of the two officers murdered Saturday in their marked patrol car by an out of town gunman, while on assignment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

Officer Rafael Ramos, 40,  an NYPD officer since 2012, and Officer Wenjian Liu, 32, a seven year veteran of the NYPD, both “died in the line of duty protecting a city they love,” stated top NYPD officials at a press conference yesterday.

The officers were ambushed by criminal assailant, Ismaaiyl Abdula Brinsley, 28, traveling from Maryland, after he took to social media claiming to be ready to commit revenge killings against police for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Brinsley, a career criminal, with a rap sheet dating back to at least 2004 that includes strings of arrests made in multiple states.

Previous mugshot of cop killer
Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, in Dekalb, Georgia

Early yesterday, before travelling to Brooklyn and killing two officers, Brinsley shot his former girlfriend in the abdomen at her home, about 20 miles outside of Baltimore. Cops and medics were called to the home around 5:45 a.m.

A family member of the girlfriend informed the press that after being shot she underwent surgery and is expected to survive.

Brinsley fled the scene and was tracked by Baltimore police to New York via his cellphone. At approximately 1:30 p.m. Baltimore County detectives became aware of Brinsley’s activity at a now closed instagram account named @dontrunup, believed to be his ex-girlfriend’s account.

A potentially incriminating screenshot from the former girlfriend’s now defunct account has been made made public.

Brinsley’s used this now closed Instragram account to pos a picture of the gun used used in Saturday’s shooting

“I’m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours … let’s take 2 of theirs,” Brinsley writes, next to a photo of the silver semi-automatic Taurus handgun. Brinsley attached the three following hashtags, #ShootThePolice, #RIPErivGarner (sic) and #RIPMikeBrown. Brinsley followed up his last post on the social site, “This may be my final post … I’m putting pigs in a blanket.”

Baltimore police contacted NYPD about the suspect around 2:10 p.m.

The attack happened at 2:45 p.m., as the officers sat parked on Tompkins Ave. near Myrtle Ave. directly outside the Tompkins House, a housing project prone to violence. P.O. Ramos and P.O. Liu were assigned to keep a continued presence in the area by the 84th precinct.  According to cops and witnesses, Brinsley approached the car at the passenger side and fired several rounds into their parked NYPD vehicle.

Witnesses saw two officers exit the vehicle and stumble as they fell to the ground. Courtney Felix, 23, at a friend’s apartment overlooking the scene, told a local paper, “They looked like they were really hurt.”  Felix also noted, “They were struggling to get out of the car.”

Witnesses also stated they saw immediate and rapid police response, with close to “75 uniforms and undercovers” appearing within “moments.”

Brinsley committed suicide in a nearby subway platform after being closely pursued by cops on foot.  Police stated he shot himself in the head at the subway station at Myrtle-Willoughby Aves, a local stop on the G line. The gun pictured on Brensley’s social media account was found by his side.

Medics performed CPR and transported the downed police officers to Woodhull Hospital, Officer Rafael Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu were pronounced dead at approximately 5 p.m.

Local police departments in Rockland quickly released statements following news of the assassinations of their nearby brothers in blue.

Orangetown Police Dept said, “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the NYPD and the officers’ families. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten by our community.”

Suffern Police Department stated, “Our sincerest condolences to the NYPD who lost two of its members a short while ago in a shooting. Many of their officers live in our community and our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. ”

Following the point blank shooting, a copycat NYPD killing was attempted near a housing project in the Bronx, early Sunday morning. The male shooter aimed at two NYPD officers only failing to execute due to his gun jamming.

Investigators grabbed the attempted assassin after he dropped his gun and ran into the Millbrook Houses on Saint Ann’s Ave. in Port Morris, sources said.

The political climate in NYC surrounding the NYPD has reached a feverish boil, with Police Union and members of law enforcement publicly blaming and shunning Mayor Bill deBlasio for not standing behind the grand jury decision not to indict Staten Island NYPD officer Daniel Panteleo in the death of Eric Garner.

The NYPD union president went so far as to say DeBlasio had “blood on his hands.”

An ATM machine was stolen overnight from Smiley Food Mart in Pearl River, a quarter mile south of the Pfizer plant, 327 N. Middletown Rd.

Police did not offer details on the investigation other than to acknowledge there was a theft in the store related to the ATM machine. Smiley Food Mart was closed this morning for several hours before reopening.

PEARL RIVER – a 58-year-old Nanuet woman was charged with drunken driving after an investigation of a hit-and-run accident in Pearl River on Tuesday, according to Orangetown police. Police said Regina Conway rear-ended another vehicle on northbound Route 304 near Crooked Hill Road. Conway, police said, drove away from the accident.

Conway was arrested a short time later, about 2:20 p.m., by town officers, police said. The investigation of the accident found that Conway was intoxicated, according to police. She was charged with driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. She faces a Jan. 7, 2015, hearing in Orangetown Town Court in Orangeburg.

Republished: Nyack Free Press

The booze was still moving through 37-year-old Jeffrey Burton’s system at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, Orangetown police say.

The 144 Call Hollow Rd., Pomona resident was arrested on Rt 9W in Sparkill, south Rockland Sunday, December 28, as dawn was about to crack. Police said Burton was driving a 2008 Mercedes Benz northbound when he drove off the roadway and crashed into a stone wall at the entrance to the Rockland Country Club in Sparkill.

An OPD officer determined that Burton was driving while under the influence of alcohol and he failed field sobriety checks. At OPD Headquarters he provided a breath sample and police say his BAC registered more than .08 percent.

That wasn’t the end of his trouble. Police say a check with New York State DMV revealed that subjects NYS Driver’s License was suspended four times including a suspension for driving while ability impaired by alcohol in April, 2014. Burton was arrested on felony DWI charges and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle charges, was released on $100 bail and is due in Orangetown Court on January 28, 2015.

John Mortsakis

Police responded to reports of an accident on West Nyack Road at 9:20 p.m. When they arrived, they found the vehicle and driver, John Mortsakis, 29, of West Nyack, in a ditch on the side of the road.

While interviewing Mortsakis and determining he had not been injured in the crash, police stated the suspect appeared visibly intoxicated. They administered field sobriety tests, which Mortsakis failed, and placed the suspect under arrest. Mortsakis also reportedly failed a breathalyzer test.

Mortsakis, who has prior DWI offenses on his record, was charged with felony DWI for committing the crime less than 10 years after his prior offense. He was also charged with misdemeanor DWI.

Mortsakis was released on $2,000 bail and is expected to return to court on January 7.

Originally published by nyackfreepress.blogspot.com, republished with permission

Foda

SUFFERN – A Suffern man accused of setting up a meth lab in his home in 2015 was arrested again January 5 on new drug charges, according to Suffern police.

Sammy Foda of 37 Woodland Drive, Suffern, was charged today with two counts of criminal sale of narcotics after selling drugs to an undercover police officer over the past several months, according to Suffern Police Chief Clarke Osborn. Foda was arrested on a sealed indictment by members of the Rockland County Narcotics Task Force and the Suffern Police Department following a joint investigation of drug dealing taking place at his residence.

He faces additional charges following a raid on his home in September, when officers found contents of a meth lab contained there. Foda was ordered held in the Rockland County Correctional Facility in New City without bail pending a hearing.

DA REPORT:

BURGLARY
Johnnie Charles, age 44, residing at 171 Fred Hecht Drive, Spring Valley, NY, was indicted on January 7, 2015 by a Rockland County Grand Jury for the crimes of burglary in the second degree and possession of burglar’s tools. District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that on or about December 25, 2014, the defendant entered a residence on Division Avenue in the Village of Spring Valley with the intend to commit a crime. He fled when he found the homeowners were home.

CRIMINAL CONTEMPT
Daryl Griffin, age 54, residing at 201 Prospect Street, Englewood, NJ, was indicted on January 7, 2015 by a Rockland County Grand Jury for the crime of criminal contempt in the first and second degree. District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that on or about December 25, 2014 at approximately 8:15 p.m., the defendant violated an existing order of protection by threatening the victim during an argument.

BURGLARY
Ronaldo Maldonado-Crespin, age 19, residing at 50 Wayne Avenue, Suffern, NY, was indicted on January 7, 2015 by a Rockland County Grand Jury for the crime of burglary in the third degree. District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that on or about  June 23, 2014 at approximately 4:30 a.m., the defendant broke into a florist shop located in the Village of Suffern.

ATTEMPTED ARSON
Miguel Rivera, age 58, residing at 1 South Route 9W, Haverstraw, NY, was indicted on January 7, 2015 by a Rockland County Grand Jury for the crime of attempted arson in the second degree. District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that on or about and between October 28 and November 3, 2014, the defendant started a fire in a closet of an Adult Care home located in the Village of Haverstraw while other residents were in the building.

BURGLARY
Jimmy Rodriguez, age 24, residing at 72 Division Avenue, Spring Valley, was indicted on January 7, 2015 by a Rockland County Grand Jury for the crime of burglary in the second degree (two counts). District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that on or about  September 17, 2014 the defendant broke into a home in Spring Valley and ran off with a duffle bag in which he dropped when surprised by the homeowner. On October 11, 2014, the defendant also broke into a home in Garnerville and stole property consisting of a laptop and other items. After an investigation was conducted, the defendant was apprehended.

CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY
Roberto Torres, age 54, residing at 149 Lakeview Village, Spring Valley, NY, was indicted on January 7, 2015 by a Rockland County Grand Jury for the crime of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (6 counts). District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that on or about and between September 2 and September 3, 2014, the defendant possessed six stolen credit and debit cards with the intent to benefit himself.

ROCKLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:

DWI
Moshe M. Mendick, age 37, residing in Monsey, NY, was arrested on December 9, 2014 for driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08% or more, failure to stay in a single lane and a speed violation. A Sheriff”s Deputy observed the subject operating a motor vehicle northbound on the Palisades Interstate Parkway weaving across the roadway and at times occupying both travel lanes. The subject was stopped and found to be intoxicated.  The subject was arrested, processed and released without bail.

DWI
Robert Vasquez, age 24, residing in Blauvelt, NY, was arrested on January 7, 2015 for operation of a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08% or more, DWI and reckless driving. A Sheriff Patrol Officer observed the subject operating a motor vehicle on NY Thruway in an erratic and reckless manner.  The subject was found to be intoxicated and was arrested. The subject was processed at Sheriff HQ in New City and released on summonses to return to Nyack Justice Court.

TOWN OF RAMAPO POLICE DEPARTMENT:

CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A FORGED INSTRUMENT
On January 6, 2015 at approximately 3:10 a.m., the Ramapo Police Department responded to the area of Carlton Road in the Town of Ramapo for the report of a motor vehicle that had struck a utility pole. Upon arrival, officers were able to determine that an 18-year-old from Brooklyn, NY had lost control of a 2014 Infiniti sedan while westbound on Carlton Road. The vehicle then struck a utility pole causing the pole and wires to dislodge and fall to the roadway. The operator and his 17-year-old passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported by Ramapo Valley Ambulance Corps to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. During the course of the investigation, officers discovered that the 18-year-old operator was in possession of a forged Ohio driver’s license. He was arrested on a charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument second degree, a D Felony. He was processed at the Ramapo Police Department and arraigned. Carlton Road is was closed briefly to traffic between West Maple Avenue and Carlton Lane while Orange and Rockland crews replace the utility pole and power lines.

SUFFERN POLICE DEPARTMENT:

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
On the night of January 9/the morning of January 10, Suffern Police Deparment made two arrests, both due to proactive policing. The first was made at around 10 p.m. on January 9 when an officer on patrol in the Knolls of Ramapough observed a suspicious vehicle on Mohawk Ct. The officer conducted an investigation on this vehicle and ended up charging an 18-year-old Airmont man with unlawful possession of marijuana. In the second arrest, an officer was finishing up his midnight shift and as he was getting out of his vehicle at around 7:50 a.m. on January 10 a vehicle drove through the front lot of our station alerting our plate reader that the vehicle had a suspended registration. The officer stopped the vehicle, which was driven by a 22-year-old Garnerville woman and the suspension was confirmed.

AGGRAVATED DWI
A 46-year-old Pomona man was arrested the morning of Thursday, January 8 and charged with aggravated DWI. An officer on patrol observed a vehicle pulled off on the side of Wayne Ave. with the engine running at approximately 1:45 a.m. and stopped to check on it. When he approached the vehicle, he observed the driver of the vehicle and several open beer cans within the vehicle. He was given field sobriety tests, which he failed, and was placed under arrest and taken to police HQ. While at HQ, he was given a breathalyzer and the results were above .18%.

CLARKSTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT:

NEW YEAR’S DWI ENFORCEMENT
This New Years Eve into New Years morning, Clarkstown Police Department participated in a countywide DWI Enforcement crackdown. Funding and training was facilitated through the Rockland County STOP DWI office and through a grant provided by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Two arrests were made by the Clarkstown Police department during the overnight hours as follows: One male subject, 18, from Valley Cottage, New York, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs. The arrest took place on Rt. 9W in Congers. Subject was arraigned before the Clarkstown Justice Court and released on his own recognizance with a return date of January 7, 2015, 1:30 p.m. The other subject arrested was a male subject, 67, from Chestnut Ridge, New York, was detained on Rt. 59 in Central Nyack. Driver was charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. The subject released with return date of January 28, 2015, 9:30 a.m.

CPD PRESS RELEASE

On January 10, 2014 at 7:55 p.m., the Clarkstown Police Department responded to the Oasis Gas Station located at 221 Route 303, Valley Cottage for a possible armed robbery. The responding patrol units interviewed the employee. The employee, male, 56, of Congers, stated that while sitting inside the business, two suspects entered the establishment through the front door and held a long gun to his face demanding money.

The employee got into a physical altercation with the suspect that had the long gun. The altercation spilled into the parking lot of the premise. The employee began to scream for help, at which time both suspects fled the scene northbound on Route 303 and turned West onto Emerald Drive.

An extensive search of the area which included multiple patrol units as well as a K-9 unit was conducted with negative results. The employee received a small laceration on his knee and arm, but did not require immediate medical attention. The suspects did not get any cash or proceeds from the location.

The suspect that had the long gun was described as a black male, 180-200 pounds, 6’00” tall, wearing dark clothes and a mask.

The second suspect was described as a male, 160-180, 5’8” tall.

The gun was described as a long rifle with a small barrel opening on the end, perhaps a .22 caliber.

The Clarkstown Detective Bureau is investigating the incident and would like anyone that may have been in the area or has any information about the incident to call the Clarkstown Police Department Tip Line at 1-877-639-6233.

Kristen Welsh, a 32, of #52 E. Main St., Stony Point N.Y. was arrested on January 8 for criminal possession of controlled substance in the seventh degree and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

The defendant was apprehended after an investigation revealed she never appeared at court after being given the charges in October.

Welsh has faced numerous drug charges over the past decade. She is due back in court on February 5.

 Clarkstown, NY – On Friday, January 9, 2015 at approximately 4:01 p.m. State Police stopped a vehicle driven by Jean Claude A. Mehu, 61, of Spring Valley, NY for numerous traffic law violations. It was determined that Mehu was impaired after he failed field sobriety tests and he was transported to SP Tarrytown for processing where he refused a breath test. He was charged with felony DWI due to a previous DWI conviction within the last 10 years. He appeared in Clarkstown Court on January 14, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.

SPRING VALLEY – A 30-year-old Spring Valley man has been arrested on felony drunken driving charges after he was spotted driving erratically in Spring Valley, according to the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department.

Oscar Lemus-Linares was stopped on South Central Avenue at about 3:54 a.m. on Sunday by a Sheriff’s officer. An investigation found that Lemus-Linares was intoxicated, police said.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated, a felony, because of a previous DWI conviction, police said.

He was also cited for driving without a license and driving a vehicle without a court-ordered ignition interlock device, which prevents a driving who is intoxicated from being able to start a vehicle. He was charged with a second felony, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, as well.

Lemus-Linares was arraigned in Spring Valley Village Court and ordered held in the Rockland County Correctional Facility in New City on $1,500 bail pending a Jan. 16 hearing in Spring Valley.

Investigation came in response to increase in heroin overdose deaths

VALHALLA – Twenty people were arrested across the river on Wednesday on charges of selling heroin in northern Westchester as part of a year-long initiative to combat the distribution and sale of heroin in the north county area, according to Westchester County Police.

Responding to a surge in heroin use and related overdose deaths in 2013, a multi-agency task force of officers was formed in early 2014 by the Department of Public Safety, seven northern Westchester police departments and the FBI. The goal of the Westchester County Northern Narcotics Initiative was to target street-level dealers and well as their suppliers.

Since its formation a year ago, the task force has made more than 125 arrests across northern Westchester of persons who were selling heroin, including in large quantities.

Wednesday afternoon, Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, Public Safety Commissioner George N. Longworth and representatives of the FBI and seven local police departments are scheduled to reveal details on the ongoing investigation.

Republished: Nyack Free Press

Sloatsburg, NY – On Sunday, January 11, 2015 at approximately 10:11 p.m. State Police stopped a vehicle being driven by Svetlana Likhova, 49, of Palisades Park, NJ. It was determined that Likhova was impaired after she failed field sobriety tests and she was brought to SP Tarrytown for processing where she refused a breath test. She was charged with felony DWI due to a prior DWI conviction within the previous 10 years. She is due in Sloatsburg Court on February 2, 2015 at 5 p.m.

SOUTH NYACK – A Bronx man, with Rockland County ties, was brought to Rockland County on Monday for arraignment in South Nyack Village Court on charges in connection with a 2014 incident at Nyack College.

South Nyack-Grand View Police said Jamel Dean, 39, was officially charged with second-degree criminal trespassing and third-degree criminal trespassing, both misdemeanors, in connection with a Sept. 23 incident at the college campus in South Nyack.

Police Chief Brent P. Newbury said Dean was identified after an investigation of reports of a suspicious person at the college. Newbury said video from a surveillance system showed Dean in several Nyack College buildings in non-public areas.

Newbury said Dean that tips from the public helped lead to the identification of Dean, who was arrested in October by state Division of Parole. Dean was brought to South Nyack on Monday from a state prison, where he is being held on an unrelated charge. Dean pleaded guilty to trespassing as a violation and was sentenced to time already served.

Republished: Nyack Free Press