Category Archives: Blotter

Police/Fire/Rescue/Courts Blotter

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…

Deputies arrest man for Greenport stabbing incident in car

by DIANE VALDEN

GREENPORT—Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies have charged a man in connection with a stabbing, October 3.

Columbia County 911 dispatched deputies to the intersection of Route 23 and Route 9, known as Buckley’s Corners, for a reported stabbing October 3 at 7:35 a.m., according to a press release from Sheriff David P. Bartlett.

Deputies discovered that a stabbing occurred inside a vehicle while it was traveling in that area and the incident stemmed from a domestic-related dispute.

The victim and suspect were found near the intersection. The victim was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries and was later released. Read more…

Copake man charged with rape of child, 13

by DIANE VALDEN

COPAKE—State Police from Livingston in conjunction with the Columbia County Child Advocacy Center arrested Marvin R. Vasquez Morales, 21, of Copake for second degree rape, a class D felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor, September 20.

On September 12 information was provided to the Columbia County Child Advocacy Center regarding the possible rape of a child in Copake. An investigation revealed Mr. Morales and the 13-year-old child were familiar with each other. They began an intimate relationship earlier this year resulting in sexual contact, police said. Read more…

After head-on crash, 3 from G’town hospitalized

by DIANE VALDEN

LIVINGSTON—Three people were hurt, two of them seriously in a head-on collision with entrapment on State Route 9G near Oak Hill Road September 10.

An initial investigation by State Police suggests at 9:42 a.m. a 1998 Honda Accord operated by Nathaniel M. McCagg, 24, of Germantown was southbound on State Route 9G.

Mr. McCagg failed to maintain his lane of travel, and struck a 2016 Subaru Forester operated by Vincent F. Miller, 67, with Debbie Miller, 67, both of Germantown, as passenger. Read more…