Category Archives: Blotter

Police/Fire/Rescue/Courts Blotter

Alleged series of small crimes ends with false name

by DIANE VALDEN

VALATIE—Amanda Wolfe, 34, of Albany was charged with second degree criminal impersonation and petit larceny, both class A misdemeanors, and second degree unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, by K9 Deputy Jason Garvey and Deputy Philipp Gomm, December 10 at 4:08 p.m.

Deputies were called to the Hannaford supermarket in Valatie for a report from loss prevention personnel that a woman allegedly stole merchandise from the store, then went out to the parking lot and got into a vehicle.

She was stopped on State Route 9H and interviewed. She allegedly identified herself to deputies by a name that was not her own and allegedly possessed a quantity of marijuana. Read more…

Deputies charge man with child’s rape after social media contact

by DIANE VALDEN

STOCKPORT—Timothy J. Humphrey, Jr., 28, of 161 Cedar Road, Sharon, CT, was charged with second degree rape and second degree criminal sexual act.

Columbia County 911 dispatched sheriff’s deputies for a suspicious vehicle parked on Mitchell Avenue, January 5 at 1:34 a.m., according to a press release from Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

Deputies went to the location and found two individuals in the car. Interviews were conducted and it was determined that the operator, Mr. Humphrey was intoxicated and there was a child under the age of 15 in the vehicle with him. Sheriff’s Office investigators continued with the probe and through further interviews and admissions made by the defendant, it was revealed that Mr. Humphrey interacted with the child on a social media site and made arrangements to meet the child at the Stockport location. Read more…

Mr. ‘Splat’ faces weapons and drug possession charges in Hudson

by DIANE VALDEN

Guns, drugs and cash were seized in month-long Hudson investigation. Photo contributed

HUDSON—A month-long joint police operation involving Hudson and State police, joined by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Columbia County District Attorney’s Office led to the arrest of a Hudson man on weapons and drug possession charges.

Zachary A. Lewis, a/k/a “Splat,” 27, of 541 State Street was charged with second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a C felony; four counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a B felony; and two counts of fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a C felony. Other charges are pending.

November 21, 2019, State Police, assisted by HPD, executed a search warrant at 541 State Street, Mr. Lewis’ residence. They seized in the apartment: 2 handguns, 6 grams cocaine, 13 grams MDA (ecstasy), a large quantity of ammunition, along with $9,523 in cash. Police searched Mr. Lewis’ car, a blue 2003 Mercedes, parked near North Seventh Street and seized 6 additional handguns. Read more…

Sheriff, State Police investigate investigate child’s death

by DIANE VALDEN

AUSTERLITZ—The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a child, according to a press release from Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

The Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on County Route 9 in Austerlitz to assist EMS with an emergency medical call involving a 12-year-old child, December 3 at 5:28 p.m. Deputies and State Police arrived on the scene and assisted emergency medical personnel with medical care until the Chatham Rescue Squad took the child to the Columbia Memorial Hospital. The child was later transported from CMH to the Albany Medical Center, where the child died December 6. Read more…

Driver dies in one-car crash on county Route 21B

by DIANE VALDEN

The driver of this minivan was killed Monday, when the vehicle struck a tree and traveled down an embankment. Photo contributed

GHENT—A Rensselaer County man was killed in a one-vehicle accident December 9 at 10:14 a.m.

Columbia County 911 dispatched sheriff’s deputies to County Route 21B, just north of Shufelt Road.

Their investigation determined that a 2013 Toyota Sienna operated by Rodney W. Abele, 76, of East Greenbush had been traveling north on County Route 21B when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle went off the east shoulder of the road and struck a tree head-on. After the impact, the vehicle continued down an embankment where it came to rest, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett. Read more…