VALATIE–State Police at Livingston charged John Southard, Jr., 22, of Valatie with two counts of third degree arson, a class C felony, January 2, after Troopers in Kinderhook responded to a 911 call about a car fire near the intersection of Merwin Lane and Williams Street.
Livingston investigators along with the Troop K Forensic Investigation Unit responded to the scene and confirmed that the fire was intentionally set. Further investigation revealed that another parked vehicle in the municipal lot on Main Street was also intentionally set on fire.
Mr. Southard was later arrested and was arraigned in Greenport Court before Justice Robert Brenzel, who sent him to the Columbia County Jail without bail. Mr. Southard was ordered to reappear in the Town of Kinderhook Court at a later date.
*State Police at Livingston charged Jonathan E. Ramirez, 21, of Valatie with third degree burglary, a class D felony, December 31. The arrest stems from an investigation conducted by State Police investigators and troopers following a 911 call about a burglary in progress at Shooter’s Highland, a hunting supply business in the village. Mr. Ramirez allegedly forcibly entered the business with the intent to steal property from within. He was arraigned in Ghent Court after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was committed to the Columbia County Jail without bail and was ordered to reappear in court at a later date.
West Lebanon
Gildardo Verdugo-Gomez, 21, a Mexican citizen who was staying in Petersburg, was charged with second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument by Trooper John La Plante during a traffic stop on Route 20, November 23.
Police say Mr. Verdugo-Gomez presented a forged Maryland driver’s license to the trooper. Mr. Verdugo-Gomez, who police say is also an illegal entrant into the United States, was arraigned in New Lebanon Court and was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail. He was to return to court at a later date.
Canaan
Shamel Daniels, 16, was charged with third degree assault by Trooper J. Weber, November 4.
State Police at Kinderhook were called to the Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth, where they found that Shamel, a student, had allegedly punched, kneed and pushed down a staff member who suffered a sprained knee as a result. Shamel was arraigned in Canaan Court and released back to the custody of Farm Center personnel.
Kinderhook
A 12-year-old, not identified by police, was charged with second degree criminal mischief by Trooper Eric Bonci, November 5.
The trooper was called to the Kinderhoff Group Home on State Route 203 where he found that the juvenile had allegedly intentionally caused more than $1,600 worth of damage to the group home van. The juvenile was issued a ticket to appear in Columbia County Family Court.
Craryville
Nicholas Beauchamp, 17, of Mellenville was charged with fourth degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct by State Police at Livingston, November 3.
Nicholas allegedly threw a chair breaking ceiling tiles and a light fixture at the Taconic Hills School. He was released with an appearance ticket returnable in Copake Court.
Gallatin
Jason Guido, 32, of Queens was charged with third degree fleeing an officer with a motor vehicle, second degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and numerous other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations by Trooper J. Crowe, November 9.
Police say Mr. Guido was travelling at 103 mph on the Taconic State Parkway on a motorcycle. When the trooper tried to stop Mr. Guido as he exited the Taconic at the State Route 82 exit, Mr. Guido allegedly accelerated in an attempt to lose the trooper. Mr. Guido continued on 82, speeding through a construction zone before he lost control and laid his motorcycle down near the intersection of Elsohn Road. He was unhurt and was taken into custody. He was also found to be recording the pursuit on a video camera mounted on his motorcycle. He was arraigned in Gallatin Court and released on $100 bail. He was to reappear at a later date.
Chatham
Raymond Adrian, 32, of Chatham was charged with third degree assault by Trooper M. Clark, November 7.
Mr. Adrian allegedly punched a man in the nose, breaking it. He was arraigned in Chatham Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Daniel Weinberger, 21, of Clinton Corners was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations by State Police at Livingston, October 22. Troopers were called to a one-car accident on State Route 23, Greenport. The Weinberger vehicle had struck a sign, a guide rail and then a utility pole in front of Columbia-Greene Community College. Mr. Weinberger was found to be intoxicated and was released with tickets returnable in Greenport Court.
*Paul Carter, 50, of Hudson was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, inadequate license plate lamp and unsafe lane change by Deputies Brendan Filli and Jason Garvey during a traffic stop on State Route 9, Greenport, October 22 at 1:41 a.m. Mr. Carter was to answer the charges in Greenport Court.
*Ezra Walz, 30, of Elizaville was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (heroin), possession of hypodermics, tampering with evidence (throwing drug-related items from the car while stopped) and making a punishable false written statement by State Police at Livingston during a traffic stop on County Route 8, Gallatin, October 25. Also charged was Richard Gordon, 30, of Hillsdale for possession of hypodermics. Mr. Gordon was released with an appearance ticket returnable in Gallatin Court and Mr. Walz was arraigned in Claverack Court and sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
*Kurt Paul, 23, of Ghent was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (Suboxone pills), unlawful possession of marijuana and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation by State Police at Livingston during a traffic stop on State Route 23 Greenport, October 25. He was released with appearance tickets returnable in Greenport Court.
*Zachary Clark, 34, of Schodack Landing was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a class E felony; driving while intoxicated; operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%; two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor; unlawful possession of marijuana and speed in excess of 55 mph by Deputy Louis Bray during a traffic stop on Route 9H in Kinderhook, October 31 at 10:58 p.m. Mr. Clark was allegedly intoxicated and had two children, ages one and six, in the vehicle with him. Arraigned before Kinderhook Town Justice James Carlucci, Mr. Clark was sent to the county jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bail bond and ordered to return to town court at a later date.
*Anthony Brill, 46, of New York City was charged with fifth degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class B misdemeanor, by Deputy Andrew Broockmann, November 2 at 7:45 a.m. Mr. Brill was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Canaan Court.
*Frank Rizzi, 59, of Ghent was charged with driving while ability impaired lane unsafely by Deputies Brendan Filli and Kris Bauhoff during a traffic stop on Atlantic Avenue, Stottville, November 2 at 2:38 a.m. Mr. Rizzi was to answer the charges in Stockport Court.
*Adam Pothul, 24, of Sheffield, MA was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08% and failure to keep right by Deputies Jason Garvey and Cindy Madison during a traffic stop on State Route 23 in Hillsdale, November 5 at 3 a.m. Mr. Pothul was issued tickets to answer the charges in Hillsdale Court.
*Eric Clark, 30, of Greenport was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08% and failure to stop at sign by Deputies Brendan Filli and Joshua Oakes during a traffic stop on Delaware Avenue, Greenport, November 5 at 3:16 a.m. Mr. Clark was released with tickets.
*Robbie N.J. Michaelchuck, 34, of Burford, OH, was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than .08%, inadequate tail lamps, inadequate exhaust and fractured windshield by Deputies Brendan Filli and Jason Garvey during a traffic stop on Warren Street, Hudson, November 9 at 2:47 a.m. Mr. Michaelchuck was released with tickets to answer the charges in Greenport Court.
*David Saurusaitis, 43, of Columbiaville was charged with driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and several other vehicle and traffic charges by Trooper W. Oles, November 10. Police were called to investigate a car into a telephone pole on Van Buren Road in Stockport. They determined that the operator, Mr. Saurusaitis, had fled the scene and ran into a wooded area. While troopers were searching for him, they called his cell phone and he eventually came out of the woods and turned himself in. After failing sobriety tests, Mr. Saurusaitis claimed he had chest pain and was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital for an evaluation. He was issued tickets returnable in Stockport Court.
*Milagros Nunoz, 37, and Zaida Santiago, 38, both of Springfield, MA, were charged with first degree criminal possession of marijuana by Troopers Gabriel Ryan and Matthew Izbicki, November 22 at 3:40 a.m. The troopers, stationed on the Thruway, were conducting an unrelated traffic stop on the Berkshire Spur in Schodack, Rensselaer County. As they walked up to the stopped vehicle, a large SUV headed east on the Thruway, passed them in the driving lane and failed to move over as required. The vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Suburban with Mr. Nunoz and Ms. Santiago inside, was stopped and allegedly contained 14 bales of marijuana weighing more than 200 pounds.