Category Archives: Blotter

Police/Fire/Rescue/Courts Blotter

Crack bust lands Hudson man in county jail

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON–As the result of executing a search warrant at 226 State Street, City Police charged Fred L. Collins, 51, who lives there, with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine), a class A misdemeanor; second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia (packaging material), a class A misdemeanor; and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

The warrant was executed on the second floor of the building June 20 at 12:05 a.m. and was based upon evidence of crack cocaine sales from the location, according to a press release from Chief Ellis C. Richardson.

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Eight charged for alcohol sale to a minor

by DIANE VALDEN

GREENPORT–Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies charged eight people during an underage alcohol sales check around the county June 4.

Charged were:

*Stephen D. Choinsky, 28, of Germantown, employed by Blues Stores Xtra Mart, Livingston

*Kimberly VanAllen, 37, of Hudson, employed by Cumberland Farms, Columbiaville

*Gurdeep S. Kang, 43, of Schenectady, employed by Cobble Pond Farm, Niverville

*Xu Zhao, 31, of Canton, Michigan, employed by Spring Garden Restaurant, Greenport

*Linda Bathrick, 46, of Athens, employed by Rite-Aid Pharmacy, Greenport

*Mahmood A. Malik, 54, of Hudson, employed by Germantown Sunoco

*Kevin S. Herber, 24, of Hudson, employed by Hess, Fairview Avenue, Greenport

*Matthew G. Liebel, 21, of Kingston, employed by Stewart’s, Germantown.

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Stottville teen charged with burglary in gun theft case

by DIANE VALDEN

STOTTVILLE—A local teen has been charged in connection with breaking into a house and stealing several guns.
Kenneth A. VanWagner Jr, 18, of Stottville was charged with second degree burglary, a class C felony and fourth degree grand larceny, a class E felony, June 4 at 5:10 p.m., according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison Jr.
In April, Mr. VanWagner allegedly forced his way into a residence on Cinder Road in Stottville and stole several shotguns and rifles.
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Sentencing leads to a reversal in Gropp murder case

by DIANE VALDEN

ALBANY–The conviction of Mickey Miller on a charge of second degree attempted robbery in connection with the 2004 home invasion that led to the slaying of fruit farmer Henry Gropp was reversed by a state Appellate Division court May 7.

Mr. Miller, 36 at the time of the crimes, of Hudson, was one of five people originally charged with second degree murder and second degree burglary for breaking into the Gropp home on Mill Road in Livingston, November 1, 2004 at about 4 a.m. At the trials of three of the defendants, testimony established that a plan was hatched to break into the Gropp home and steal payroll money they thought the farmer kept there. But during the quest for cash, Mr. Gropp, 69, was stabbed to death.

Mr. Miller, then defended by Attorney Greg Lubow, cut a plea deal with District Attorney Beth Cozzolino and on June 24, 2005 pleaded guilty to second degree attempted robbery, a Class D violent felony. The DA then withdrew the original indictment.

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Ghent barns go up in flames

by DIANE VALDEN

GHENT–Wind-driven flames claimed three structures, multiple vehicles and some piglets and chickens on the Dykeman Farm, 104 Quinn Lane, the night of May 31.

County 911 dispatched Ghent firefighters and the Chatham Rescue Squad to the scene at 9:06 p.m.

A neighbor on County Route 22 reported the fire after seeing smoke that the neighbor initially thought was coming from a building at Art Omi, about a quarter mile away from the Dykeman place through the woods, according to Ghent Fire Chief Dan Lamarre.

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