Barbara Dubois, age 48, of Nanuet, was charged last week with grand larceny in the second degree, a felony. The New City Library administrative assistant is accused of opening a false account and depositing public monies therein to the tune of $123,849.91.

District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe stated that the defendant opened a bank account in the name of EBCSO, a fictional corporation in June of 2013 at Sterling National Bank with herself as the sole signator on the account. Thereafter, between June 2013 and June 2015 Zugibe said she then systematically stole from New City Library by writing checks to EBCSO with the New City Library account and depositing them into her EBCSO account while still employed by the New City Library.

In total defendant deposited 13 checks and in doing so stole $123,849.91. New City Library does conduct business with an entity called EBSCO. The defendant switched the letters “s” and “c” when she opened this bank account under the fictional entity EBCSO in an effort to conceal her crime, the DA said.

The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard K. Moran.

FROM CPD

Vilches

Clarkstown Police arrested 19-year-old Congers resident Jonathan Vilches for an alleged office break-in at 151 N. Main St., New City on Saturday, December 26 at 10:45 p.m.

The victim of the burglary, a 71-year-old New City man, was at his home when a remote surveillance system motion sensor activated, notifying him of the disturbance at his office. Using his remote camera system, he witnessed a man in his office going through his desk, police said.

During their search of the building officers apprehended the suspect without incident. Officers found a tire iron believed to be used to gain access to the office.

Vilches was arrested on charges of burglary in the third degree, a felony, and possession of burglar tools, a misdemeanor. Bail was set at $1,000 and he was transported to Rockland County Jail.

Underage drinking sting operation

The Stony Point Police Department, in conjunction with the Rockland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, conducted an operation targeting the sale of alcohol to underage persons, on Friday December 11, 2015. An underage individual was sent into eight local businesses to purchase alcohol and was able to make purchases in only one of the eight establishments. The only sale was made at the 7-11 store on Route 9W where the 20 year old clerk sold beer to the underage person. This was their first violation. The businesses that were in compliance and did not sell to the underage person were Lynch’s Restaurant, Halligan’s Pub, Fireside Restaurant, Mobil Gas on Route 9W, Shell Gas at 9W and Main Street, Food Mart/Gas at Route 9W and Washburns Lane, and Stony’s Food and News in Stony Ridge Plaza. All of the businesses that were in compliance asked the undercover for identification and when he could not provide it he was denied the sale. An arrest was made at the one establishment that made the sale and the defendant was processed and released on an appearance ticket to return to Stony Point Justice Court.

Other police activity

On December 22, 2015, the Stony Point Police Department arrested Joseph A Rastelli, 23-years-old, for 2nd degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree. The defendant was arrested following an investigation which revealed the defendant did strike the victim numerous times with an aluminum baseball bat and caused physical injury. The assault occurred in front of # 146 N. Liberty Dr. Stony Point, N.Y. and was unprovoked. The victim was delivering bread to Tony’s Pizza. A clerk at a neighboring storefront told the Rockland County Times that Rastelli believed the victim was stealing from the store and the victim could not speak English well enough to explain himself. The defendant was arrested, processed and is currently being held at the stony Point P.D. awaiting arraignment.

Chelsea D. Powell, a 26-year-old female of 206 Old State Rd, Highland Falls, N.Y. was arrested on 12/10/15 for criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th and criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument. The defendant was arrested on an active arrest warrant for stated charges. The defendant was arrested, processed, arraigned and released on an appearance ticket returnable at a later date.

Dalton McGuiness, a 17-year-old male of 8 Wildwood Trail, Monroe, N.Y. was arrested on 12/9/15 for criminals possession of a controlled substance 7th and DWI (Drugs). The defendant was arrested on an active bench warrant for stated charges. The defendant was arrested, processed, arraigned and remanded to the RC Correctional Facility in lieu of $1000.00 bail. He is due back in the Stony Point Justice Court at a later date.

Antonio Lopez, a 44-year-old male of 52 Coolidge St. Haverstraw, N.Y. was arrested on 12/5/15 for criminal possession of stolen property 5th and petit larceny. The defendant was arrested on an active arrest warrant for stated charges. The defendant was arrested, processed, arraigned and released on an appearance ticket returnable on 1/5/16 @ 0900hrs.

Carl Embola, a 24-year-old male of 238 Depew Ave. Nyack, N.Y. was arrested on 12/1/15 for criminal contempt 2nd. The defendant was arrested on an active arrest warrant for stated charge. He was arrested, processed, arraigned and ROR on appearance ticket returnable at a later date.

BILL DEMAREST

RAMAPO – An upstate New York man has been arrested on attempted murder charges after he was spotted on the New York State Thruway in Rockland County on Wednesday afternoon, according to State Police.

Police said state troopers, with assistance from Ramapo police, arrested Christopher L. Cowen, 23, of Cohoes, N.Y. He was captured after troopers sported a 2006 Hyundai Elantra driving southbound on the Thruway that matched information from police in Schenectady, who were seeking Cowen.

Cowen was initially spotted by a trooper in the Harriman area and was taken into custody in Ramapo without incident at about 12:44 p.m., police said.

As a trooper was following Cowen on the Thruway, Ramapo police said two town officers went to Old Route 17 near Exit 15A to standby just in case the vehicle got off the Thruway. Almost immediately upon arrival, the town officers saw a lone trooper initiating car stop of the Hyundai on Thruway at Exit 15A.

The town officers cut across the grass that separates Old Route 17 from Thruway and assisted the trooper as he attempted to make contact with two occupants of the car. Town officers commanded the front seat passenger, Cowen, to get out of the car and lie on the ground. He was handcuffed without incident.

Police told the media that the arrest was related to a Christmas Eve stabbing in Schenectady, NY.

Originally published by Nyack Free Press

FROM RPD

On Sunday, January 3 at about 8:50 p.m. the Town of Ramapo Police responded to a report of gun shots being heard in the area of Hempstead Rd.

Responding officers arrived and found that an unknown subject had fired a bullet through a window of a home on Hempstead Rd. Several bullets had also been fired into a car which had been parked and was unoccupied on the property of this residence. There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.

This incident is currently under investigation by the Town of Ramapo Detective Bureau. Anyone who may have any information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Town of Ramapo Police at 845-357-2400.

FROM RAMAPO PD

A Spring Valley taxi driver was allegedly assaulted and robbed yesterday evening in Hillcrest.

On Monday, January 4 at about 9:08 p.m., while on patrol, a Town of Ramapo Police officer was flagged down by the taxi cab driver at Rt. 45 near Rennsalear Drive in Hillcrest.

According to the victim, he had picked up suspect in front of the Bravo Supermarket in Hillcrest Plaza. When the taxi reached Rennsalear Drive the suspect grabbed the driver from behind and demanded cash. Suspect also repeatedly punched the driver and sprayed a substance into the driver’s eyes. Suspect then fled on foot.

The victim was transported to Nyack Hospital. The names of the victim and the taxi company are being withheld.

The suspect is described as a tall, large-build, middle aged black male.

Anyone who may have information pertaining to this incident is asked to contact the Town of Ramapo Police at 845-357-2400.

Donnison

On January 4 the Stony Point Police Department arrested 29-year-old Broc Donnison on two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

The New Berlin, NY man allegedly was found in possession of 13 envelopes of  heroin, several hypodermic needles and suboxone during a traffic stop in town.

He was released on an appearance ticket and is due back in court February 23.

New Berlin is approximately half an hour west of Cooperstown. SPPD did not initially indicate whether Donnison was passing through town or had been staying in Stony Point for a period of time.

From www.midhudsonnews.com

WHITE PLAINS – A former West Point cadet has been sentenced in federal court to 97 months in prison for receipt, distribution and possession of child pornography.

Ricky Patrick Hester, 25, was sentenced on Wednesday.

On December 18, 2013 Hester was interviewed by federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations and he admitted that he had used his Yahoo! Email account to send child pornography, that his preference was for boys as young as four years old, and that he had used Dropbox to trade child pornography with others, and that he stored the images on his cell phone.

Hester’s cell phone was seized by agents on December 18, 2013 during a search of his West Point dorm room. It contained some 1,200 images and videos of children engaged in sexual activity.

Evidence at trial included approximately 100 emails sent or received by Hester. In many of them, he requested videos and images of “kids being forced to do stuff, “boys being tied up and peed on,” and “man boy hardcore.” In several emails, he indicated a preference for boys ages four to 10 years old.
Hester entered West Point as a cadet in August 2009. He took a sabbatical from August 2011 through August 2012 and returned in the fall of 2012. At the time of his arrest, on December 19, 2013, he was one semester away from graduation.

Hester, 25, lived in Granger, Indiana, from his arrest until his conviction. He was remanded following his conviction.

A hate-fax sent to local governments and newspapers including the Rockland County Times caught the attention of police and local government officials recently. The letter accused Hasidic Jews of sucking the souls out of Christians via the study of the Talmud.

The letter was sent to the Village of Wesley Hill and the Village of Pomona. Mayor Marshall Katz of Wesley Hills reported the letter to the Ramapo PD and the Anti-Defamation League.

He told a media outlet, “What really scared me about it was that it was well written with no spelling errors. Usually someone who is mentally unstable will make mistakes but I don’t see that here. This was written by someone intelligent but filled with a lot of hate.”

Lieutenant Mark Emma of Ramapo PD told Vosizneias news that he thought the letter was bonkers. Emma said, “When someone says that someone reciting the Talmud is sending signals to someone else’s head, to me that is not rational, even if it is grammatically well written.”

Rockland County Times Publisher Dylan Skriloff stated, “I simply discarded this fax upon receiving it, assuming it to be the ravings of a loony.”

Newspapers often receive bizarre letters, phone calls and even visits from crazy people, Skriloff said, recalling the time a person recently released from Rockland Psychiatric Center walked into the Rockland County Times office wearing a large sign which read “Legalize Mega-Leap Year” and proceeded to hand out index cards explaining there should be a leap year with over 1 million days in it.

Read the hate-fax that has caught police attention for yourself:

SUFFERN – Members of Rockland County’s SWAT team were able to take 39-year-old Timothy Murphy into custody without injuries in an incident involving a standoff in Suffern Monday night, according to Suffern police.

Police issued a community alert just before 8 p.m. to advise residents of an ongoing incident on Washington Avenue near the Suffern Police Department. By about 8:30 p.m., another alert was sent out to advise residents the “situation is under control.”

Suffern Police Chief Clarke Osborn said the incident involved a barricaded person at a residence where a weapon was present. He said it’s now safe for residents in the area to resume normal activities.

The SWAT team mobilized and made entry into the apartment and took the person, a 39-year-old man into custody. Upon receiving a search warrant Suffern PD located an AK-47 assault rifle and a .22 caliber handgun as well as a small amount of marijuana.

Due to the volatility of this situation SPD sent out a NY Alert call through the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department Communications Division to notify residents within one mile of the house to avoid the area of this location and stay indoors until the matter came to a conclusion. The suspect was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, third degree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon, fourth degree and unlawful possession of marijuana.

He was arraigned and sent to the Rockland County Jail on $10,000 bail. Chief Osborn said, “We would like to thank all the departments who participated in this situation with the SWAT team as well as the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department and the Rockland Paramedics for their assistance.”

FROM SHERIFF’S DEPT.

Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III wants to inform Rockland County residents about a telephone scam that was attempted recently on a Nyack resident, regarding the arrest of a family member and a request for bail.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating a complaint in regard to someone calling a resident and representing themselves as a member of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office. The caller told the individual that a family member had been arrested in Rockland County and that they would be taken to the County Jail, unless bail was provided over the phone. Thankfully, the individual identified the call as suspicious and did not make any payment. The individual’s suspicion was validated when the family member returned home a short time later.

In the past some of these fraudulent calls have apparently used software to spoof the Sheriff’s Office main number, so that the number 845-638-5400 appears on the caller ID. The Sheriff would like all residents to know that the Sheriff’s Office never calls and requests monetary payment for bail over the phone and that bail is only accepted at the Sheriff’s Headquarters, or the Correctional Facility. Anyone that has received a similar call  is asked to report to the Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible.

Residents wanting to provide further assistance can also attempt to trace the incoming call by hanging up and dialing *57. After receiving a call you want to trace, hang up the receiver to end the call. Pick up the receiver and listen for the dial tone. You must trace the call before another call is received. Press *57 and follow the voice-recorded instructions. Stay on the line and listen for a recording that tells you if Call Trace was activated and if the call was successfully traced. Once you have successfully traced the call contact your local law enforcement agency and obtain a complaint number.

Anyone with information in regard to this fraud is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 845-638-5401.

Cocuzza

Rockland County Corrections Union President John Cocuzza was recently arrested by Sheriff Louis Falco over alleged discrepancies in a log book while he was watching inmates on suicide watch.

Cocuzza told the Rockland County Times his supposed errors did not affect his pay, but had to do with times he checked a box on a log sheet within a given period of time. While watching inmates on suicide watch, Cocuzza explained, the typical log-in procedure is to mark once every 15 minutes. He said during suicide watch, however, officers cannot take their eyes off the inmate, so typically they will fill in the logs later.

His charges supposedly relate to his marking boxes at times he is not on video writing in the log book. The hours he was paid for, however, are not in question, he said.

Cocuzza was told by Falco that he could either accept a deal or face numerous felony charges for his supposed letter fraud. Sources have told the Rockland County Times that the charges are unusual as they could have easily been dealt with at an administrative level.

Cocuzza was not popular with Falco due to his support of opposing sheriff candidate Richard Vasquez (R) in the 2015 election. Cocuzza received over $200,000 in pay in 2014 because he volunteers for extensive overtime hours, working up to 100 hours per week.

Rose A. Wadsworth, 29, of 8 Allison Ave. Apt. 1, Haverstraw and Quanisha Williams, 20, of 51 New Main St., Haverstraw were both charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree following an alleged shoplifting incident at Stony Point Shop-Rite.

On January 10, 2016 the Stony Point Police Department arrested the the defendants after their investigation revealed they attempted to remove $417.54 worth of items without paying from the Stony Point Shop Rite. The defendants were processed and released on an appearance tickets returnable February 2 at Stony Point Justice Court.

BY CAROL MCILMURRAY

RAMAPO- Since Chief Peter Brower retired on Sept 28, 2015, Ramapo Town Board has not appointed a new or acting police chief.

According to Capt. Thomas Cokeley, “There is no acting chief, no appointed chief and no interim chief at the moment…There is no one here in the Town of Ramapo holding the position of police chief.”

Capt. Cokeley and Capt. Brad Weidel of Ramapo PD were both in consideration to fill the seat which Chief Brower voluntarily retired from late last year.

According to Cokeley, Chief Brower, who served on Ramapo PD since Oct 1970, didn’t retire because of age. “He could have stayed on a few more years. He decided it was time to go. He had enough.”

Capt. Cokeley declined to comment on whether he would take the position police chief. When questioned about the four month vacancy of the police position Capt. Cokeley stated, “Some municipalities take their time to fill these positions.”

At the time of his retirement, Chief Brower, 68, was earning $369,088, making him one of the highest paid employees in NYS. Brower attained the position of chief in 2007. At the time of Brower’s retirement, Supervisor St. Lawrence stated to the Journal News that Brower’s pension was inclined to equal 60-70 percent of that $369K salary and the next chief in line would be subject to pay negations with the town.

According to the 1936 Rockland County Police Act, a chief of police must be promoted from within its own PD staff. Both Capt. Cokeley and Capt. Weidel have taken the necessary exams to fill the position. Current pay for Cokeley and Weidel are $274,143 and $248,547, respectively.

At the time of this printing, neither Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence nor Town Attorney Michael Klein returned calls for comment from Rockland County Times.

CLARKSTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT:

ASSAULT, MENACING, CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON & HARASSMENT
On January 21, 2016 at approximately 8 p.m., the Clarkstown Police Department responded to 100 Smith Rd. in Nanuet for a report of a man with a possible pellet gun having a dispute with a female. Responding patrol officers observed a man in the hallway of the location with what appeared to be a black handgun. Officers were able to deploy their Taser to stop the suspect and disarm him. After taking the suspect into custody, it was determined that the suspect had shot a female victim in the head with the pellet gun he in fact had in his possession. The victim, a 75 year old female from Nanuet, had a puncture wound in her temple area. She was transported to Nyack Hospital for medical treatment of her non-life threatening injury. The suspect, Valeriy Sokolov, 62, of Nanuet, was arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. Sokolov was charged with assault in the second degree (felony), menacing in the second degree (misdemeanor), criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (misdemeanor) and harassment in the second degree (violation). Sokolov is awaiting arraignment.

ROBBERY, CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY & CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON
On January 21, 2016 at approximately 6:15 p.m., the Clarkstown Police Department responded to Sephora, located at the Shops of Nanuet in Nanuet, for a report of shoplifting. A loss prevention employee observed two suspects remove merchandise from a shelf, stuff the merchandise in bags and exit the store without paying for the merchandise. Upon exiting the store, the employee, a male, 33, of West Nyack, tried to stop the male suspect. A physical struggle ensued between the suspect and the employee at which time the suspect used mace on the employee. The suspect was apprehended by responding patrol units. The second suspect fled on foot and was not apprehended. The second suspect is described as wearing a red doo rag and carrying a bag. The employee complained of difficulty breathing and eye irritation but did not request medical attention. The apprehended suspect was identified as Daffton Bloomfield, 25, of the Bronx. He was arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. The suspect was in possession of fragrance products valued at $1,460.  Bloomfield was charged with robbery in the first degree (felony), robbery in the second degree (felony), criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (felony) and criminal possession of a weapon (misdemeanor). Bloomfield is awaiting arraignment.

STONY POINT POLICE DEPARTMENT:

DWI
Noel Castro, age 49, residing at 93 Grassy Point Road, Stony Point, NY, was arrested on January 10, 2016 for DWI. The defendant was arrested after he was involved in a domestic dispute and left the scene. The defendant was stopped shortly after said dispute and it was determined he was operating a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition. The defendant was arrested, processed and released on several traffic tickets returnable at the Stony Point Justice Court on February 2, 2016 at 9 a.m.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF & HARASSMENT
Paul M. Schrank, age 41, residing at 62 Irene Lane, Stony Point, NY, and Lori Weiner, age 49, residing at 9 Pippen Place, New City, NY, were arrested on January 13, 2016 for criminal mischief in the third degree, an E-Felony and harassment in the second degree. Schrank was also arrested for criminal mischief in the fourth degree. Stony Point Police arrested the defendants after a domestic dispute and subsequent investigation revealed they were involved in a physical altercation and did intentionally damage each others’ property. The defendants were arrested, processed and are currently being held at the Stony Point P.D. awaiting arraignment.

CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY
Stephanie Moore, age 27, residing at 75 Buckberg Road, Tomkins Cove, NY, was arrested on January 13, 2016 for petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. Stony Point Police arrested the defendant after investigation revealed she attempted to remove $29.07 worth of items without paying from the Stony Point Shop Rite. The defendant was arrested, processed and released on a future appearance ticket.

ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD
Teddie Best, age 37, residing at 19 Charles Court, Stony Point, NY, was arrested on January 8, 2016 for two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The defendant was arrested following an investigation that revealed he left his 1 ½ and 2 ½ year old sons’ home alone, unattended. Responding officers found the children inside the residence unattended after they received a call from the children’s mother. The defendant was arrested, processed and is currently being held at the Stony Point P.D. awaiting arraignment.

HAVERSTRAW POLICE DEPARTMENT:

DWI
The Town of Haverstraw Police have begun investigating a serious motor vehicle accident that occurred on Route 9W in the Village of Haverstraw on January 21, 2016 at 1 a.m. A 2004 Mercury 4 door sedan, driven by Anthony Bonfiglio, age 48, of 202 Knights Corner in Stony Point, was traveling north on Route 9W at what appeared to be a high rate of speed, left the roadway struck a utility pole, sheering it off and then the pole and his vehicle crashed into a business, Whole Shot Bagels, 62 S. Route 9W in Haverstraw before coming to a rest. The driver was ejected from the car. He suffered serious injuries and was treated at the scene by Rockland paramedics and transported to Nyack Hospital via Haverstraw Ambulance. Due to the severity of the injuries he was transferred to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Anthony Bonfiglio was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and was also issued several Vehicle and Traffic summonses. The Town of Haverstraw Police was assisted at the scene by the Rockland County Sheriff’s Police Division, Rockland County BCI, the Haverstraw Fire Department and the Haverstraw Village Building Inspector. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Town of Haverstraw Police department at 845-354-1500.

ORANGETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT:

AGGRAVATED DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED
On January 16, 2016 at approximately 1:20 a.m., the Orangetown Police arrested Alexander Singh, 25, of Dumont, NJ, for aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Mr. Singh was traveling south on Route 340 in a 2007 Ford Mustang when he drifted off the roadway and collided with a parked vehicle and a mailbox. Mr. Singh failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. Mr. Singh was transported to Orangetown Police headquarters where he failed a breathalyzer test. Mr. Singh was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated based on the results of the breathalyzer test and released to a family member after posting $100 bail. Mr. Singh is due in Orangetown Court on February 10, 2016.

DA REPORT:

GRAND LARCENY, FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS, ISSUING A FALSE CERTIFICATE, OFFERING A FALSE INSTRUMENT & OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT
Walter Booker, age 44, residing at 15 Bird Place, Spring Valley, NY, was arrested on January 21, 2016 for a variety of felony charges, including falsifying a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for a village homeowner. Booker is charged with: one count of grand larceny in the third degree, a class “D” Felony; three counts of falsifying business records in the first degree , class “E” felonies; four counts of issuing a false certificate, class “E” felonies; three counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, class “E” felonies; and one count of official misconduct, a class “A” misdemeanor. According to the charges, Booker, who holds the position of Chief Building Inspector for the Village of Spring Valley, is accused of issuing false Certificates of Occupancy for a home located at 9 Zeissner Lane, Spring Valley. In doing so, the defendant aided the owner of the property in unlawfully obtaining tax exemptions to which the homeowner was not entitled. Booker is also accused of filing false certificates which aided the owner of the property and their associated corporation to unlawfully receive income via operating a daycare center/school at the location. The defendant was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to Town of Ramapo Justice Court at a later date.

SOUTH NYACK-GRAND VIEW POLICE DEPARTMENT:

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT/STOLEN VEHICLE
The South Nyack-Grand View Police Department, in cooperation with the Town of Orangetown Police Department, is investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred January 23 on Piermont Avenue in the Village of South Nyack. The accident caused extensive damage to a utility pole, and resulted in many residents losing power during the weekend snow storm. The accident, which occurred near the intersection of Smith Ave at 1:50 a.m., involved a vehicle that was later reported as stolen from a location in the Village of Nyack. The vehicle was observed being operated south on Piermont Ave by a SNGV Police Officer, who also witnessed the accident. Immediately after the crash, the operator fled the scene on foot. At this time, the South Nyack-Grand View Police Department is searching for Scott Miller, a South Nyack resident who also goes by the names Camrod Miller and Shawn Johnson. Mr. Miller is alleged to have been the individual who stole the vehicle, and who left the scene following the accident. Mr. Miller is a 46-year-old black male, and is described as being 6’7” and approximately 275 pounds. Mr. Miller is currently on Parole in NY, and will be charged with crimes related to the incident once he is in custody. Any person who has seen Scott Miller, or who knows where Mr. Miller may be, should contact the South Nyack-Grand View Police Department at 845 358 0206 or the Orangetown Police Department at 845 359 3700.

SUFFERN POLICE DEPARTMENT:

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT & RECKLESS DRIVING
On January 24, 2016, Suffern Police Department charged a 24-year-old Suffern man with several violations following a snowmobiling accident. Officers responded to a report of a snowmobile driving erratically in the roadway on Lonergan Drive and Temple Lane. While checking Lonergan Drive, the snowmobile pictured was observed driving at a high rate of speed and drove right into one of our patrol cars almost head on. The snowmobile then flipped over and struck a parked vehicle causing damage to both this car and the police vehicle. The driver of the snowmobile suffered a leg injury and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment and was charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving, operating an uninsured and unregistered vehicle as well as many other traffic violations.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE
A 37-year-old Nanuet man was charged with assault in the third degree following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. The suspect allegedly slapped, punched and kicked the victim and was placed under arrest on Rockland Terrace. The victim was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment following the incident.

EXPOSURE OF A PERSON
A 56-year-old Marlboro, NY man was picked up for an active bench warrant for exposure of a person from an incident in 2014 and after being arrested never came back to court.

SUSPENDED REGISTRATION
A 35-year-old Spring Valley woman was charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended registration after being stopped on Lafayette Ave.

UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA
Two Suffern teenagers, both 18 years old were charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. An officer on patrol on Lonergan Drive was checking a suspicious vehicle and upon an investigation charged the teens with this offense.

Ranchers standoff takes deadly turn

BY RAQUEL OKYAY

Photo of Lavoy Finicum, killed in a confrontation with authorities on Tuesday, from a profile in a Utah newspaper

In an ongoing battle between Oregon patriots defending their property and the federal government protecting its land-grab, police fired the first shots on Tuesday.

In a roadblock arrest near the wildlife refuge that is the center of the standoff, a father of 11 children was killed, one suspect was injured, and six people were sent to jail on federal felony charges of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States. A group of ranchers, including its leaders, had planned to attend a citizens forum in a nearby town.

“I know from my field of expertise, these disputes never resolve themselves,” said Delaware academic researcher, Ismael “Al” Sarmad, an observer of the situation. “History has shown a large percentage of similar disputes end in bloodshed.” When citizens get together to oppose the overreach of their government, he said it is routine for citizens to face blowback from the government in the form of criminal charges or even violence.

Authorities killed Arizona rancher LaVoy Finicum, the driver of one of the vehicles stopped in the roadblock, in a barrage of bullets on Tuesday. He was among a coterie of ranchers who had taken control of an Oregon wildlife refuge in protest of federal actions the group claimed are threatening the way of life of ranchers.

It is not clear yet what exactly transpired during the shooting. Some eyewitness accounts indicate that Finicum had his hands up in the air when multiple shots were fired at him until he fell to his knees, and then multiple shots were fired at him, again. Others indicated Finicum had defied authorities commands before getting shot. Finicum had promised in earlier interviews that he would fight rather than go into federal custody.

After the shooting, one of Finicum’s daughters posted this statement on her Facebook page: “I want the world to know how my father was murdered today. His hands were in the air and he was shot in the face by the American authorities. Ammon Bundy reported there are six witnesses to this evil.”

Since Jan. 2, III% militia groups from the Western Pacific region have convened at the Oregon wildlife refuge to complain that local, state and federal officials were stealing property from area ranchers. Law enforcement officials have surrounded the perimeter of the refuge but not approached the group, who promised to shoot only if guns were pointed at them first. It is not known how many militia men are still on the inside. Ammon Bundy was quoted in major media as requesting his remaining brothers in arms to stand down and leave the refuge.

“To those remaining at the refuge, I love you. Let us take this fight from here. Please stand down. Go home and hug your families,” Bundy said in a statement. “This fight is ours for now in the courts. Please go home.”

“We need to step back. Somebody died yesterday,” attorney Mike Arnold told reporters, as quoted by CNN. “Mr. Bundy wants everybody to remember that somebody died, and this is not just about him right now.”

A joint statement issued by the FBI and Oregon State Police revealed an enforcement operation to bring into custody those associated with the occupation of the wildlife refuge. Ammon Bundy, age 40, and Ryan C. Bundy, age 43, were among those arrested. The Bundy family of Nevada had their own standoff with the feds in 2014, as patriarch Cliven Bundy and hundreds of militia men stood toe to toe with federal authorities.

Sarmad, who has a Masters Degree in both Homeland Security and Business Administration, said he began watchdog efforts in this case to highlight the evisceration of our constitutional rights. “I saw the first Bundy standoff over land as a harbinger of things to come, for example; civil unrest and citizen versus government showdowns.” Bloodshed was an outcome he attempted to avoid, he said.

“I have investigated all acts of violence in this nation’s history and in modern times like Waco and Ruby Ridge being the biggest examples, I knew there would be loss of life,” he added. “I attempted to assist in a peaceful resolution between the government and the citizens Oregon.”

Sarmad said he tried to engage Oregon Governor Kate Brown to provide advice from a homeland security standpoint, but he was unable to reach her directly. He proceeded to contact the state police, Harney County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI, again to propose an amicable, without bloodshed solution.

“I advised them I had an exit strategy for all interested parties involved which would be peaceful and without any violence,” he persisted. “I then started working on strategies, dates, timetables and projections related to the plan of drawing down the occupiers’ numbers at the refuge and simultaneously working on a way to diffuse any similar occurrences in the future.” Although the FBI was receptive initially, he said a lack of results proved his attempts futile.

“I wanted a win-win-win for everyone,” said Sarmad, “One in which the people got their proper redress, one where the government did not engage the people in violence, and one where the guilty who are taking people’s land would be made accountable. “

A technology specialist and independent investigative journalist, who requested anonymity, told the Rockland County Times that the corporate media is replete with gross misinformation regarding the goals and intentions of the ranchers, the militia, and the views of Harney County residents. “[The majority of residents] clear demand is that the FBI and the Bureau of Land Management leave immediately, not the propaganda spin we hear otherwise.”

The source said he had begun covering this story when he was contacted by an embedded III% reporter in Burns, OR who needed web support when his news website, Facebook, and YouTube channel were disrupted.

The feds own approx. 65 to 85 percent of Oregon lands which contain valuable minerals, water and oil, he said. “There isn’t much left for We the People and what little we do have left, is only accessible by government permit.”

The militia men had been drawn to Oregon following the widely condemned imprisonment of ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond on “terrorism” charges, related to brush fires on their property that had extended onto federal lands. A judge had ruled the mandatory five year sentence for the father and son ranchers unusual and shortened the term to several months. However, a higher court ruled around the turn of the new year that the lower court judge did not have the authority to make this change and ordered the Hammonds to complete their five year terms.

At this point the Bundys of Nevada and other ranchers and militia members from across the west descended on Harney County, Oregon to commence a citizens grand jury against local and federal officials. At some point the group jumped the gun and took control of the wildlife refuge, prompting the current standoff.

Jessica Carey, 19, of Yonkers, NY was arrested on drunk driving charges 4:22 a.m., Friday morning, January 29 in Rockland County. A Sheriff Patrol officer observed the subject operating a motor vehicle on Rt. 59 in a reckless manner. Subject was found to be intoxicated and arrested, the officer said. She was processed at Sheriff HQ in New City and released on a summons to return to Clarkstown Justice Court.

ORANGEBURG – A 52-year-old Blauvelt man was charged with drunken driving after he crashed into a utility pole on Saturday in Orangeburg, acccording to Orangetown Police.

Police said Kenneth K. Bachert was highly intoxicated, leading to a charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.

Bachert, police said, crashed a 2009 Acura MDX on northbound South Greenbush Road, hitting a utility pole and disabling the car. In an investigation of the accident, police said Bachert failed field sobriety tests and later failed a chemical breath test at Orangetown Police Headquarters in Orangeburg.

Bachert was later released to a family member and faces a hearing on Feb. 16 in Orangetown Town Court in Orangeburg.

Originally published by Nyack Free Press