Category Archives: Blotter

Police/Fire/Rescue/Courts Blotter

County emergency notification system changes

by STAFF

GREENPORT—Columbia County is changing its mass emergency alert system to the system provided by New York State known as NY Alert.

Currently, all disaster, weather-related and other emergency warnings and alerts for county residents are provided by the Code Red mass alert system. This is a system that Columbia County purchased and has paid to maintain for the past several years.

Beginning August 29, emergency alerts and notifications for tornadoes, earthquakes, severe storms and other weather, natural or man-made disaster and important emergency warnings and information will be provided by the NY Alert system.

After extensive research by County 911 Director Rob Lopez, he and Emergency Management Director David Harrison, Jr., have recommended to the county Board of Supervisors that Columbia County make the change, rather than renew the annual contract with Code Red. Mr Lopez and Mr. Harrison noted in a press release that New York State has worked consistently in recent years to provide an improved system, which has proven to be a professional and reliable alert system for communities statewide. Read more…

Plane crashes beside runway; pilot, 87, walks away

by DIANE VALDEN

A 1978 Cessna 172N crashed into the wooded area on the east side of the airport runway. Photo contributed

GHENT—An attempt to take-off from the Columbia County Airport ended in a crash into the woods for an 87-year-old pilot, July 29 just before 2 p.m.

Columbia County 911 dispatched Sheriff’s deputies to the crash just off the airport runway at 1142 Route 9H.

Sheriff’s Sergeant Brian Molinski arrived on the scene and found Fred DeFilippis, 87, of Dobbs Ferry (Westchester County) at the crash scene. Read more…

Attorney general asked to investigate K’hook assault case

by DIANE VALDEN

KINDERHOOK—Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka has asked the State Attorney General’s Office to take over the case of an assault on a man at the County Route 21 home of a Sheriff’s deputy, July 5.

The Columbia Paper has learned from a source close to the assault investigation, that the DA made the request earlier this week after new information about the case came to light July 27.

Asked to confirm the information Wednesday, Mr. Czajka said he had no official comment. Read more…

Boy reports beating and robbery by three on Hudson street

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—City Police Department received a transferred 911 call from a victim reporting that he had just been assaulted. Tuesday, July 14 at 6:52 pm.

Patrols responded to the area of Warren Street and First Street and located the victim, a juvenile resident of Hudson. He advised police that he was riding his bicycle on Warren Street just above Front Street when a group came up to him and began attacking him. He said the suspects punched him in the jaw and face several times causing him to fall off of his bicycle. After assaulting him, they allegedly stole the victim’s bicycle and his backpack.

The backpack contained cash and a debit card among other items. Read more…

Attempted murder charge results from drowning incident

by DIANE VALDEN

TAGHKANIC—Joseph Macri, 75, of Taghkanic was charged with second degree attempted murder, a class B felony, by State Police from Livingston, July 3.

At about 3:45 p.m. that day, troopers responded to Sopak Road in Taghkanic for a report of a possible domestic incident. Upon arrival troopers found Mr. Macri allegedly attempting to drown the victim in a pond on the property.

Mr. Macri complied with commands from troopers and was taken into custody without incident. The victim was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital and listed in stable condition. Read more…