Police Beat, July 15, 2021

Editor’s note: An arrest or a charge is not a conviction. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed.

Granville Police Department

July 3

10:37 a.m. An officer was dispatched to 88 Quaker Street for a male locked in the bathroom. The man advised dispatch that he locked himself in the bathroom after a 79-year-old woman hit him with her walker. An officer made contact with the woman and had the man remove himself from the bathroom. The man and the officer went to his apartment, and he stated that he got into a verbal argument, and she refused to let him leave. He also stated that she was swinging her walker at him, that’s why he locked himself in the bathroom. He declined charges and was advised that the incident would be documented. The officer spoke with the woman and advised her that she could be arrested for not allowing someone to leave her apartment.

July 5

2:30 p.m. A 68-year-old man came to the station to report that he was told that there may be a tent set up in the backyard of his property at 26 Potter Ave. and he believed a 55-year-old woman was staying in it. An officer found the tent just over the property line and contacted the woman, who stated that the other woman asked if she could put up a shelter in the woods for her cats. The 33-year-old woman stated she gave her permission because she has witnessed the behavior displayed by the woman in recent months and was afraid to tell her no. The officer spoke with the 59-year-old property owner who stated he absolutely didn’t want the woman or anyone else staying on the property. He stated he was willing to allow the woman to a couple of days to remove the tent and any other belongings she might have had there. Police located the woman on July 6 and advised her that she was no longer welcome on the property and needed to move her tent and all belongings. The woman acknowledged the information and stated she would.

July 6

2:05 a.m. An officer was dispatched to 73 North St. for the facility requesting lifting assistance of an elderly resident. The officer arrived on scene and lifted the resident back onto their bed. The resident reported they were not injured or in need of EMS.

July 7

3:15 p.m. An officer was dispatched to 10 Madison St. for an ongoing harassment complaint. The officer spoke with a 19-year-old woman who stated on multiple occasions a 20-year-old man had been following her and taking pictures of her while she was out walking. She also stated that on two different occasions a gray Subaru has followed her while she was walking. She stated that a man in his late 40s was driving. The officer advised her that the next time something seemed suspicious to call 911 so police could assist at that time. Another woman stated that the 20-year-old man was living in the laundry room of 16 Lincoln Street. The information was passed on to another officer.

July 8

12:20 p.m. An officer was dispatched to 17 Madison St. for an irate resident requesting assistance. The officer arrived and spoke with staff who stated that in the late afternoons a woman becomes highly upset with them over her care. The officer spoke with the woman and advised her that if she has concerns with the staff, she needs to bring it up with the administrator. The officer was able to get a number for her son and spoke with him via phone. The officer advised him that if he had concerns with her care to call the administrator. If he did not feel he is getting anywhere with them then he can contact DOH via the website.

2:30 p.m. An officer received a call on the station line from a 34-year-old East Main Street woman. She stated that on July 7 around 5:15 p.m. she arrived home and observed a few children in her pool. She stated that the other apartment’s door was open, so she assumed they were with them. She stated that she looked outside a short time later and the kids were gone. She stated they were naked and the oldest was maybe 5 years old. After speaking with the downstairs tenant the children were not with them. She stated that they might belong across the street but at this time only wished for the incident to be documented. She was advised that if they came back to call the station and police would address it.

Whitehall Police Department

July 4

2:49 p.m. A 30-year-old man called reporting that the downstairs portion of the building which he pays for on Broadway Avenue has been locked so he can’t access the downstairs at this point to get to his belongings and was wondering what to do about it as he was not getting a fast response from the property manager. Upon contact with a 44-year-old man, he stated he was addressing the issue then.

The 30-year-old man wanted to also document that his neighbor was speeding out of the driveway the other day and kicked up rocks. He was unaware if there was any damage sustained to his property outside, but wanted the incident documented. The responding officer contacted the landlord to report the issue and have the landlord address the tenant. The officer also advised the 30-year-old man to contact the Whitehall Police Department if he did happen to sustain any damage consistent with the issue he was reporting.

July 5

Joshua Slingerland pointed a gun at Scott Westermann III on July 4 at 11 a.m. while he was at his residence.

Westermann showed an officer a video and stated that Dakota Schwab of Queen Street also was there and has it on video. The officer advised Westermann to contact Schwab and come back and statements would be taken from them. The officer told Westermann they would need the video. Westermann advised he would return and sign a complaint.

Schwab emailed the video of the incident to the Whitehall Police Department email account. The footage was downloaded and secured at the WPD media files database and filed accordingly by the incident number.

The officer took statements from Westermann and Schwab. They both wanted orders of protection and signed complaints. They forwarded the video to Investigator Hunt.

Dispatch sent a patrol officer a name and number from Slingerland, asking why the police were looking for him. Slingerland arrived at the station and at 5:52 p.m. was placed in custody. Slingerland was processed and taken to central arraignment.

Slingerland was ordered to appear back in Whitehall Village Court on July 12. Judge Lucey issued a stay-away order of protection for both Westermann and Schwab, which was given to both parties. Slingerland was advised of the order of protections and advised to turn over any firearms he possesses.

3:15 p.m. An officer was called to 58 Skene Street for a report of two women involved in a domestic dispute with yelling in the background. The officer patrolled the area and observed a woman in the backyard.

The officer asked the woman who called the police to which she stated her girlfriend did. At the front of the residence, the officer spoke with a 36-year-old woman. She said she lives with her 34-year-old girlfriend.

When asked why she called 911, the woman stated that they got into an argument and her partner put her hands on her. She stated that her partner was taking a nap and agreed to go to the store when she woke up. She woke up from her nap so she tried to get her to hurry up and get to the store because it was hot out and she wanted to get everything done and over so they could relax for the rest of the day.

The 36-year-old woman then stated that her partner became upset with her and began to yell at her telling her that they were no longer going to the store because she gave her attitude. The woman then stated that she attempted to walk into the other room when her partner grabbed her wrists and told her she wasn’t going to the store by herself.

The 36-year-old woman stated that she had red marks on her arm but was denying EMS assistance. The woman stated that she wanted charges pressed on her girlfriend because of the issue. The officer advised the woman to stay out front while they spoke with her girlfriend.

The 34-year-old woman stated that she did not grab her girlfriend’s wrists but tried to prevent her from leaving because she was going to the store to buy drugs which she advised was synthetic marijuana. The woman advised that she did not want that in her house due to kids being there.

The officer advised the 36-year-old woman that they would need a statement and brought her into the patrol car with her child due to the outside temperature while the officer took her statement.

After the statement was completed, the woman stated that she was thinking about what this would mean for the future and she did not want to ruin it by having her girlfriend arrested.

After being asked multiple times, the woman persisted that she did not want her girlfriend arrested. The officer spoke with both parties together and suggested that one of them go somewhere for the rest of the day to work things out from there.

The 36-year-old woman contacted family for a ride. Both agreed to stay away from each other for the rest of the day while the 36-year-old woman tried to find a ride.

A domestic incident report was completed on scene and given to the victim with victim rights attached. Child Protective Services was contacted as the incident occurred in front of a child.

July 6

4:34 p.m. John Sawn III was located and arrested on a bench warrant referencing a previous incident. He was arrested on charges of criminal mischief with intent to damage property and harassment in the second degree with physical contact.

New York State Police

July 7

4 p.m. Kathleen M. Ratigan, 41, of Poestenkill was stopped in the Town of Easton and charged with DWI, first offense, a class U misdemeanor, and aggravated DWI with a child, first offense, a class E felony. She was issued an appearance ticket.

July 8

7:51 p.m. Monica J. Yildiz, 44, of Granville was charged in Granville with petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.

July 9

1:44 a.m. Haley M. Martin, 21, of Cambridge was stopped and issued a citation for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, first offense, and DWI, first offense, both class U misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.

July 10

4:12 a.m. Taylor S. Brown, 24, of Glens Falls was charged in Fort Edward with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, a class E felony, and DWI, first offense, a class U misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.

1:10 p.m. Rosalyn N. Tillman, 20, of Binghamton was charged in Fort Ann with introducing contraband into prison in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.

1:10 p.m. Nicole E. Pitcher, 30, of Eldred was charged in Fort Ann with introducing dangerous contraband into prison in the first degree, a class D felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor. She was being held.

1:40 p.m. Ralph Paulin, 43, of Poughkeepsie was charged in Fort Ann with introducing contraband into prison in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.

3:48 p.m. Taurvis T. Coleman, 35, of Argyle was arrested for criminal contempt in the first degree, specifically physical contact in a domestic dispute, a class E felony. He was released on cash bail.

Vermont State Police

June 20

12:17 a.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a burglary in the Town of Benson. Investigation revealed that Scott Clark, 38, of Brandon had forced entry into the residence. Troopers made contact with Clark on Stage Road in Benson and determined Clark to be operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants. Clark was issued a citation to appear before the Rutland County Superior Court, Criminal Division, on charges of burglary, driving under the influence and false reports to law enforcement authorities.

June 29, 30

Vermont State Police took multiple complaints from a victim in Dorset that Mark Guertin Jr., 34, of Mount Tabor was violating his conditions of release. Investigation revealed that Guertin was not supposed to have certain types of contact with the victim, which he did more than a dozen times. Guertin was issued a criminal citation to appear at the Bennington Superior Court, Criminal Division, at a later date.

July 4

10:16 p.m. Vermont State Police were dispatched to a single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on U.S. Route 7 in the Town of Rutland. Upon arrival, troopers learned that the operator of the vehicle, Taylor Edwards-Galarneau, 24, of Proctor struck a pedestrian, identified as Gregory C. Merriam, 64, of Rutland. Merriam was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center by ambulance where he succumbed to his injuries. Investigation revealed the pedestrian was crossing U.S. Route 7, and as he crossed over onto the northbound lanes of travel he was struck by Edwards-Galarneau. Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact Trooper Ray Domingus at 802-773-9101.

July 5

9:09 a.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a family fight on Stevens Road in the Town of Pittsford. Through investigation it was determined that William Jameson, 56, of Pittsford caused bodily injury to a family or household member. Jameson was placed into custody and transported to the Rutland Barracks for processing. He was issued conditions of release to appear at Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

July 7

8:38 p.m. Vermont State Police responded to Hulett Hill Road in the Town of Benson for a report of a single-vehicle crash. Investigation revealed that the operator, Jimmy Brown, 51, of West Haven was traveling westbound when he veered off the north side of the road and crashed his motorcycle in the ditch. Further investigation revealed Brown had been operating the motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Brown was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center for injuries sustained in the crash.

July 8

11:12 p.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a single-vehicle crash in the Town of Wells. Through investigation it was determined that Timothy R. Garrick, 24, of Wells was traveling north in a 2004 Ford Explorer on Vermont Route 31. He lost control on the wet roadway, striking a guard rail and ultimately rolling into a ditch. The car was totaled. During the course of the investigation troopers observed indicators of impairment. Garrick was transported to Castleton Police Department and processed for driving under the influence. He was released to a sober party with a citation to appear in court.


See also

Whitehall: Domestic dispute leads to man’s arrest

Whitehall: Multiple charges filed in domestic case