Category Archives: Blotter

Police/Fire/Rescue/Courts Blotter

Teen driver seriously injured in Route 23 crash

by DIANE VALDEN

Sheriff’s Office personnel investigated a two-vehicle crash in Claverack. A teenager was trapped when her vehicle rolled over into the woods. Photo contributed

CLAVERACK—A Copake teenager was seriously hurt in a two- vehicle crash at 1076 Route 23, December 14 at 7:41 a.m.

Columbia County 911 dispatched Sheriff’s deputies to the crash scene. Deputies determined that a 1996 Buick operated by Jessica Spencer, 17, of Copake, who was trying to turn around, pulled into the path of a 2011 Ford SUV operated by Amanda Baird of Hillsdale, who was headed west on state Route 23.

The collision caused the Spencer vehicle to leave the highway and roll over, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett. Read more…

Father, son charged in Greenport home invasion

by DIANE VALDEN

GREENPORT—A father and son were arrested in connection with a home invasion at a State Route 9G residence, December 8.

Clarence Scott, 52, of Philmont and Chad M. Scott, 24, of Copake were charged with first degree burglary, a class B felony, by State Police from the Livingston barracks.

Columbia County 911 called troopers to State Route 9G residence for a reported fight, December 8 at 4:45 p.m. Troopers and investigators from Livingston responded. An investigation revealed that Clarence Scott and Chad Scott allegedly forcibly entered the residence and assaulted a male victim. The Scotts and the victim knew each other. Read more…

Deputy injured in crash while on way to shooting

by DIANE VALDEN

GHENT—A sheriff’s deputy was involved in a personal injury accident while responding to a shooting incident in Stockport November 25 at 5:47 p.m.

Deputy Peter Merante was operating a 2017 Ford police interceptor sedan traveling on State Route 9H in the area of County Route 20 on his way to a reported shooting at 33 Pats Lane, Stockport, when his car was struck by a 2019 Chevrolet, operated by Clifford Jean-Baptiste, 30, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

The Greenport Rescue Squad took Deputy Merante to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment of hip, leg and back pain. The squad also took Mr. Jean-Baptiste and his passenger, Melissa De Pestre to CMH for evaluation. They were later released. Read more…

Deputies arrest Stockport man for shooting father

by DIANE VALDEN

STOCKPORT—A son has been charged in connection with shooting his father.

Columbia County 911 dispatched Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies to 33B Pats Lane for a reported shooting November 25 at 5:38 p.m. Deputies located Billy Johnson inside the residence with a gunshot wound to his pelvic area.

His son, Timothy S. Johnson, was found outside the residence by deputies and made statements indicating that he was responsible for the shooting, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett. Read more…

Second man charged for Stockport house fire

by DIANE VALDEN

STOCKPORT—A second man has been arrested in connection with an October 2017 house fire in Stockport. The arrest was made by way of a sealed indictment handed down by a Columbia County Grand Jury, according to a press release from Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

October 1, 2017, Columbia County 911 dispatched the Sheriff’s Office to 290 County Route 25 for a fully-involved residential structure fire. The residence was destroyed and the cause of the fire was ruled suspicious.

The investigation led to the arrest of William P. Travis III, 31, of Woods Lane, Stuyvesant, December 20, 2017 at 7:15 p.m. Sheriff’s investigators charged him with third degree arson, a class C felony. He is currently incarcerated in the Columbia County Jail awaiting trial. Read more…