Category Archives: Blotter

Police/Fire/Rescue/Courts Blotter

Rensselaer man charged again with ‘forcible touching’

by DIANE VALDEN

PHILMONT—The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Rensselaer County man on a second count of forcible touching.

Michael Ramm, 37, of Castleton was charged with forcible touching, a class A misdemeanor under NYS Penal Law, by Sheriff’s Office investigators, Thursday, November 1 at 1 p.m. Mr. Ramm was previously arrested by the Sheriff’s Office October 11, 2017 for forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with a separate victim. This investigation came as a result of information gathered after the first arrest, according to a press release from Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

Senior Investigator Mark Dunspaugh of the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit began the most recent investigation October 24. It is alleged in this incident that Mr. Ramm “intentionally touched the intimate parts of another person for no legitimate purpose.” Read more…

Knife incident in May leads to charges in October

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—An Albany man was charged by Hudson Police for allegedly holding a woman against her will.

Police arrested Najahliek Edmunds, 22, of Albany October 23, in connection with an incident at the Hudson Terrace Apartments that happened May 2.

Police say they got a call about a female being held against her will at 15 North Front Street, Apartment 3E (Hudson Terrace Apartments) and went there to investigate. Police arrived and were checking the apartment when they encountered Mr. Edmunds holding a large kitchen knife while standing in a dark room. He dropped the knife as ordered by police and was taken into custody. Read more…

Police arrest mechanic for incomplete work

by DIANE VALDEN

GREENPORT—State Police from the Livingston barracks arrested a Chatham man in connection with defrauding a victim.

Richard A. Dick, 43, of Chatham was charged with petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor, October 11.

Troopers received a complaint that Mr. Dick entered into a verbal contract to complete mechanical work October 3. Read more…

Millerhurst Farm loses cows and barn in blaze, young stock survive

by DIANE VALDEN

Dairyman Mike Miller stands near the remains of his dairy barn on Millerhurst Farm, Ancramdale.Photo by Lance Wheeler

ANCRAMDALE—It’s a farmer’s worst nightmare and it happened at Millerhurst Farm, 3195 State Route 82, when the dairy herd and barn were lost to fire the night of October 14.

Michael Miller who, with his wife, Emily, owns and operates the farm that has been in the family since 1770, told newsman Lance Wheeler the morning after the fire in a video interview that he had finished up chores for the day around 5 p.m. “It seemed like another fine and normal day on the farm,” he said.

He hit the sack around 7 p.m. and shortly thereafter, his wife noticed the power flickering and then go off. She went outside to find smoke everywhere. Mike said he rushed out to try to save some of the cows but found the barn already engulfed in smoke and flame. Read more…

Ghent man dies after his motorcycle is struck by Jeep

by DIANE VALDEN

HILLSDALE—A Ghent man was killed in a motorcycle versus Jeep crash on State Route 22, at the intersection with County Route 21, October 5 at 1:41 p.m.

Columbia County 911 dispatched Sheriff’s deputies who found that a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, operated by Johanna L. Carrita, 70, of Castleton-on-Hudson was traveling north on State Route 22 when she made a left turn onto County Route 21 and struck a 2000 BMW motorcycle.

A Jeep collision with a motorcycle in Hillsdale resulted in the death of a Ghent man, October 5. Photo contributed

The motorcycle, operated by John J. Cronin, Jr., 61, of Ghent was headed south on State Route 22 when it was struck by the Jeep. Mr. Cronin was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett. Read more…