HUDSON—A report about an impending fight turned into an investigation into shots fired for Hudson Police, May 15.
Hudson Police Officers Nicholas Hodges, Jeffrey Keyser with Detective Jason Finn were called to the area of North Second and Columbia streets to investigate a disturbance at about 9 p.m.
On arrival officers determined a large group of individuals were about to fight and remained in the area, eventually dispersing the large group into smaller groups. At about 9:30 as individuals and groups in the area were leaving , gunshots were heard near North Second and State streets, in the proximity of the officers as well as people involved and not involved in the would-be fight. Officers Hodges and Keyser ran toward the groups, to find the possible shooter(s) as well as possible victims. Detective Finn, who had returned to his vehicle, responded as well.
No shooting suspects were located, but while attempting to find possible witnesses, a person of interest, reportedly in possession of a handgun, was described and officers were directed to an address on the 200 block of State Street. Hudson officers requested assistance and secured the reported location of the person of interest. State Police and Sheriff’s Office units responded and assisted the HPD officers on scene.
HPD Special Operations Team was requested and responded. A search warrant was applied for with the assistance of District Attorney Paul Czajka at the scene. County Judge Richard Koweek signed the warrant.
The Special Operations Team executed the search warrant but recovered no weapon and the person of interest was not located. Special Operation Team was assisted by at State Police K-9 Unit. An investigation is ongoing.
Livingston
State Police from Livingston investigated a one-car personal injury automobile accident off Route 9, May 12 at 4:30 a.m.
Amanda Auriemma, 22, of Hudson was driving north on Route 9, when for an unknown reason, her vehicle went off the west side of the road. The vehicle continued on about 50 yards off the road and struck a National Grid high voltage utility tower, where it became lodged in the base of the tower. National Grid was summoned and assessed the damage before the vehicle could be removed. Due to structural damage, the tower had to be stabilized before the vehicle could be extracted. Ms. Auriemma had minor injuries but refused medical treatment at the scene. Troopers determined that alcohol was not a factor in the accident. The cause is still under investigation.
Copake
Albert J. Dalton, 46, of Copake was charged with disorderly conduct by Deputies Kelly Briscoe and Thomas Bagnall, May 7 at 12:15 a.m.
Mr. Dalton allegedly caused a disturbance and threatened other tenants within an apartment building. Arraigned before Copake Justice John Spencer, Mr. Dalton was sent to the county jail in lieu of $250 bail and directed to return to court at a later date.
Hillsdale
Susan Snyder, 57, of Hillsdale was charged with second degree criminal contempt by Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Donald Krapf, May 10 at 1 p.m.
Ms. Snyder allegedly went to the residence of an individual she had been ordered to stay away from by a court order. She was released with an appearance ticket to answer the charge in Hillsdale Court at a later date.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*David G. Oakley, 45, of Medford, MA, was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol and failure to move over by State Police at New Lebanon, Sunday, May 12 at 4:20 a.m. Troopers had a vehicle pulled over on Route 20 in New Lebanon. Mr. Oakley allegedly drove past the troopers and the stopped vehicle without slowing down and failed to move over to the unoccupied lane. Troopers then pulled Mr. Oakley over and deemed him to be impaired by alcohol. He provided a breath sample of .07%, and was issued traffic tickets returnable in New Lebanon Court May 23.
*Tracey Duprey, 27, of Craryville was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance outside its original container under the Public Health Law, and driving while ability impaired by drugs and turned over to Poughkeepsie Police on a warrant for seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance by State Police at Livingston, May 16. Troopers were called to an automobile versus deer accident on the Taconic State Parkway in Milan. The responding trooper discovered that Ms. Duprey was wanted by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police. She was also found to allegedly possess Xanax pills without a prescription and to be driving while impaired by drugs. She was ticketed to appear in Milan Court May 30.
*Robyn W. Decker, 27, of Germantown was charged with driving while intoxicated, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unsafe lane change by Deputies Kris Bauhoff and Vernon Doyle, May 12 at 5:55 a.m. Ms. Decker was operating a 1997 Toyota eastbound on Camp Creek Road, Germantown, when she crossed over the westbound lane, went off the road and struck a tree. Northern Dutchess Paramedics and the Greenport Rescue Squad took Ms. Decker and her passengers, Henry Bauder, 22, Amanda Lopez, 22, and Ian Delaney, 28, to Northern Dutchess Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Germantown firefighters were also on the scene. Ms. Decker will answer the charges in the Germantown Court May 29.
*Geofery Leggieri, 47, of Hudson was charged with felony driving while intoxicated by State Police at Livingston, May 15. Motorists reported to police that Mr. Leggieri was possibly intoxicated after seeing him drop his motorcycle at an intersection, need help to upright it, and then drove off erratically. He was located by troopers on Kittle Road, Claverack. He was found to have a blood alcohol content of .31%, which is over three times the legal limit of .08%.
He was arraigned in Claverack Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $500 bail. He was to reappear at a later date.
To contact Diane Valden email .
Judge heeds victim’s parents and imposes probation
By DIANE VALDEN
CLAVERACK—Thomas Griffin, 19, of Germantown was sentenced to five years probation, alcohol evaluation, 1,000 hours of community service and revocation of his driver’s license after he pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter during an emotional session in Columbia County Court, May 17.
According to State Police, Mr. Griffin was driving drunk, when his 2003 Toyota went off the road and struck a utility pole near 3168 Route 9, Livingston, December 31 at about 1:30 a.m.
Mr. Griffin’s friend, rear seat passenger, Max Kelly, 21, of Germantown was extricated from the vehicle by Livingston firefighters and airlifted in critical condition to Albany Medical Center with extensive injuries. He subsequently died as a result of those injuries.
The courtroom in the temporary county courthouse in Claverack was filled with family and friends of both young men.
Represented by Attorney Thomas O’Hern, Mr. Griffin was sentenced by Greene County Judge George Pulver, after he heard statements from Mr. Kelly’s mother and father, who tearfully beseeched the judge for no jail time.
Both Columbia County Judges Richard Koweek and Jonathan Nichols recused themselves from presiding over the case. Columbia County Assistant District Attorney David M. Costanzo handled the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Kelly was a student at Columbia-Greene Community College and the captain of the Twins baseball team.
He was an All-Star baseball player and was recently recognized before his death by the Mountain Valley Collegiate Conference for the All Conference Baseball Team.
His parents, Jodie Rae Wische and John Michael Kelly accepted their son’s college diploma posthumously at C-GCC graduation ceremonies Saturday, May 18.