Police Beat, April 21, 2022

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

April 8

9:30 a.m. A 21-year-old Mettowee Street woman called police to report that she had found her car’s gas cap open and hood to the car slightly up. The woman said she went to the store and when she was almost home, her vehicle started to quit. The woman informed the responding officer that she called her father who found a plug wire off the car and scanned the car showing a lot of codes. The woman added that her father put the plug wire back on the vehicle yet it was still running badly, thus making her concerned an individual had tampered with her car. The situation was only informational at this time.

10:10 a.m. Police responded to a two-vehicle collision on Main Street in front of O’Reilly’s Auto Parts and spoke with a 77-year-old Quaker Street man and a 69-year-old Fair Haven, Vermont man. The officer observed damage to the 77-year-old’s driver’s side door and damage to the 69-year-old’s front right fender, passenger side doors and rear quarter panel. The 77-year-old said his vehicle was parked facing east when he opened his driver’s side door and the 69-year-old man’s vehicle struck his vehicle. The 69-year-old man told police that while driving eastbound on Main Street, the 77-year-old man opened his door into traffic and the 69-year-old man could not avoid hitting it. After interviews, the officer found the 77-year-old man at fault for opening his driver’s side door into traffic. The officer assisted with an information exchange.

3:45 p.m. Police advised a 33-year-old Morrison Avenue woman, a 36-year-old Irving Avenue woman and a Pearl Street man that they would need to pay restitution when an estimate is obtained for the actions of their children, ages 11 and 12, who damaged lights in Veterans Memorial Park. The adults were told that the children cannot return to the park without obtaining permission from the Mayor and/or Granville Village Board. The officer noted in the report that they are also attempting to obtain contact information for the parent of another juvenile responsible for brick damage.

5:24 p.m. Granville police were requested as backup for State Police at a County Route 24 residence just north of the village to respond to a reported domestic incident. Upon arrival, the responding officer observed a State Police unit on scene and was informed there was no domestic dispute or argument between several individuals. One side of the reported parties left the premises. There was no signed complaint at that time and the officer returned to the village.

7:55 p.m. An 18-year-old Wells, Vermont woman came to the station to say that she had been having issues with a Poultney, Vermont man. The woman said the man had confronted her in regard to several issues. The woman requested this be documented and if she has any further issues, that police would speak with the man.

April 11

3 p.m. A 21-year-old Albany woman called the station line prior to 3 p.m. to request a welfare check on her daughter after the child did not go to school that day. The woman said the child had been with the father, a 21-year-old Pacific Street man. The on-duty officer when the woman called was unable to locate the man and the child. Later in the day, the woman called back and said the child had still not been located and that she and the father had both physical and legal custody of the child. A second officer was able to locate the man, and he confirmed the child was fine. The man explained that he decided to keep the child with him until a court hearing on April 13, saying the mother of the child was homeless. The woman said she was not homeless, she was placed in state housing in Rutland, Vermont. The officer explained to the woman what the father was doing and that the child was okay. Neither party provided the court order and seemed satisfied with the outcome.

4:25 p.m. Michael L. McGrath III, 17, of Granville, was ticketed for following a vehicle too closely and driving a motor vehicle without a proper license when he was stopped on Church Street. The responding officer observed McGrath, driving a black Dodge Charger, turn off of South Street quickly onto Church Street and follow a vehicle very closely in an unsafe manner. When stopped, McGrath provided a New York State driver’s permit. The passenger in the car, a 38-year-old South Maple Street woman, could not produce a valid driver’s license. When asked by the officer why he was driving, McGrath said he thought his permit after some time became a license. After further discussion, McGrath admitted to knowing that was not true. A 34-year-old South Maple Street woman came to the scene to drive the car away.

7:30 p.m. Jamey P. Rappaport, 51, of Rutland, Vermont, was ticketed for operating an unregistered motor vehicle, a violation, when he was stopped by police in the Cumberland Farms parking lot on Quaker Street. State Police were called for a suspicious vehicle with no plates, a gray Lincoln MKX, in the Price Chopper Plaza. Upon walking up to the vehicle, the responding officer observed an expired paper Vermont temporary plate (Feb. 2, 2022) in the window, which was not visible from the back of the car. After identifying the driver, police were advised by Rappaport that he was shopping, heading back to Rutland and that Vermont police do not stop him for not being able to see the paper plate. The responding officer explained to Rappaport that was not true and issued him the ticket.

9:39 p.m. Matthew J. Hurlburt, 31, of Port Henry, was ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, a misdemeanor, speeding 50 MPH in a 30 MPH zone and improper passing on the right, both violations, when he was stopped on North Street just outside of the village. A patrolling officer observed Hurlburt, driving a black Dodge Nitro, speeding in the opposite direction of the patrol car on North Street. When the officer pulled to the side of the road to turn their vehicle in the opposite direction to stop Hurlburt, the officer observed Hurlburt continue to operate at a high rate of speed and pass a vehicle in a no-pass zone. Hurlburt turned left onto Pine Street and the officer activated emergency lights and eventually stopped Hurlburt. After admitting to speeding and passing the vehicle ahead of him, Hurlburt said he needed to go to the hospital and was driving erratically because of that. After conducting a driver’s license check, the officer found Hurlburt to be under suspension in New York State effective March 28 for no insurance. Hurlburt was issued tickets.

Whitehall Police Department

April 10

2:18 p.m. Officers received a call from a 45-year-old Clemons man stating that 30-year-old Robert Valley was trespassing at 113 Broadway Ave. in Whitehall and breaking an active order of protection. Police spoke with the man on the scene, and he said Valley had started walking northbound on Broadway Avenue. When asked for proof, the man said a 53-year-old woman had a video of Valley laying on a couch on the second floor. Officers located Valley just south of Broadway Avenue and Saunders Street. Valley was taken to the police station for processing and another officer collected statements from the woman with the video and the man who reported the incident. Valley was sent to Washington County Jail on a charge of criminal contempt in the second degree and criminal trespass in the third degree.

9:50 p.m. Officers were dispatched to 205 Broadway Ave. for a third-party report of a domestic dispute. A 40-year-old woman reported she and her 42-year-old ex-boyfriend had a disagreement about seeing other people a while back, and she wanted the man removed from the residence. The officer informed the woman that because he lives at the residence, he could not remove him but could ask if he had another place he could stay for the night. The officer spoke with the man who said he had been waiting for a ride from someone in Hudson Falls but ended up taking a courtesy ride from the officer to Cumberland Farms in Fort Ann. A civil standby was requested for the next day so the man could gather his clothes and tools and move out for good.

April 11

4:30 p.m. A 36-year-old man was interviewed by officers about his ex-girlfriend stealing his coffee maker. He said he would not press charges, but if it is damaged or not returned, he would seek charges, and he had a copy of the receipt proving his purchase. The woman contacted the police department to have patrols respond to 100 South Williams St. to drop it off.

April 14

10:42 a.m. A 29-year-old woman called the station telling police her landlord was requesting she remove items from under the porch, which she did. She said when she returned home the items she moved to the backyard were placed in front of the house by the road. None of the items were damaged or taken and the officer advised the woman to call her landlord to discuss a good spot to store her items so they would not be in the open.

New York State Police

April 12

10:41 a.m. Amanda J. Hall, 28, of Salem was arrested in Greenwich for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.

11:30 a.m. A 17-year-old man from Wells, Vermont, was arrested in Granville for criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child during a domestic dispute, both class A misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.

April 13

8:16 p.m. Tommy L. Houston, 43, of Comstock was arrested in Granville for possession of dangerous contraband in prison in the first degree, a class D felony. He was released to a third party.

April 14

8:40 p.m. Tiffany Pannell, 41, of East Dorset, Vermont, was arrested in Greenwich for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% and DWI, both first offenses and class U misdemeanors. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Vermont State Police

April 11

7 p.m. Vermont State Police received a report that Tammy Davis, 64, of Rutland did not pay for several items from Hannaford in Rutland. Further investigation revealed that Davis committed the offense of retail theft. Davis was cited and released on a criminal citation to answer to the charge at a later date.

April 12

5:16 p.m. Ryan Latterell, 37, of Rutland City, was stopped by Vermont State Police on U.S. Route 7 in Clarendon on suspicion of driving with a criminally suspended license. He was cited to appear at the Rutland County Court at a later date.

6:46 p.m. Vermont State Police responded to a complaint in the Town of Rutland. Investigation revealed that Seth Mormile, 34, operated a motor vehicle on a public highway that wasn’t equipped with the required interlock device as required by Mormile’s license. During the interaction Mormile showed signs of impairment and subsequently was screened for DUI. Mormile was arrested and issued a criminal citation to appear to the above charges at a later date.

8:27 p.m. Vermont State Police were conducting routine patrol near Route 313E and Warm Brook Road in Arlington. A motor vehicle stop was conducted for a moving violation. Investigation revealed the operator, John A. Jamieson, 73, of Shaftsbury appeared to be operating under the influence of alcohol. Jamieson was placed under arrest for the suspicion of DUI and later was released with a citation to appear at the Bennington Superior Court, Criminal Division, at a later date to answer to the charge of DUI-Alcohol #2.

April 13

5:51 p.m. Vermont State Police responded to a theft complaint from Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Town of Rutland. Investigation revealed that Sarah Holland, 34, of Rutland, entered the store and left without paying for merchandise she took. During the investigation, Holland repeatedly gave troopers false information to hide her identity. Holland was issued a criminal citation to appear to the above charges at a later date.

7:31 p.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a single-vehicle crash on North End Road at West Tinmouth Road in the Town of Tinmouth. Through investigation it was determined that a juvenile driving a 2011 Toyota Rav was traveling west on North End Road and traveled across the eastbound lane and off the roadway. The SUV sustained significant damage to its driver’s side door.

8:54 p.m. Vermont State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on East Pittsford Road in Rutland Town. Nathan McPhee, 40, of Chittenden was traveling north on East Pittsford Road in a 1995 Dodge Ram truck when it exited the roadway and struck a power pole. McPhee was transported by Regional Ambulance to Rutland Regional Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. It was determined that McPhee had not been wearing a seatbelt. Troopers were assisted on scene by the Rutland Town Fire Department.

April 14

6:33 p.m. Vermont State Police were at a convenience store at 1250 Vermont Route 7A in the town of Shaftsbury when they observed a man later identified at David Stryker, 43, of Eagle Bridge, New York, park his vehicle and upon exiting exhibited indicators of impairment. Troopers were approached by staff at the establishment who confirmed Stryker to be impaired. Stryker attempted to back out of a parking space, nearly striking a vehicle. Stryker was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and after processing he was issued a citation to appear in Bennington Superior Court, Criminal Division, at a later date to answer to the charge of DUI #3. Stryker was released to a sober party.

April 16

4:33 p.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 7 near Sangamon Road in the Town of Pittsford. It was determined that Hunter Dyer, 27, of Brandon, driving a 2002 Subaru Forester, was traveling north on U.S. Route 7. Michael Byrne, 41, of Brandon, driving a 2021 Honda Pilot, was traveling south on U.S. Route 7. Dyer attempted to pass another north-bound vehicle on a curve resulting in his Forester crossing the centerlines and striking Byrne’s car. Both drivers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by Regional Ambulance Service to Rutland Regional Medical Center. Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by Regional Ambulance Service, Pittsford First Response and Pittsford Fire Department. A Vermont civil violation complaint is pending.


Jeffrey T. Jones

Hartford man arrested for burglary

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeffrey T. Jones, 21, of Hartford for burglary in the third degree, a class E felony; petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor; and endangering the welfare of a child, and class A misdemeanor.

Jones was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office found that Jones along with another male younger than 18 years old entered a seasonal camp on South Copeland Pond Way in Fort Ann on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, and took items from the building without the owner’s permission. Some of the property was recovered during the investigation.

Jones was processed at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and arraigned at centralized arraignment. The second male involved was sent to youth court.


Theodus M. West

Fort Edward man arrested for grand larceny

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested Theodus M. West, 46, of Fort Edward, on a charge of grand larceny in the third degree, a class D felony, after a joint investigation with New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, Washington County Department of Social Services and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

As a result of the investigation it was determined that West failed to properly use transportation services that were funded by the Washington County Department of Social Services, resulting in the theft greater than $3,000 in the period January 2020 to March 2021.

West was processed and released after arraignment pending a future court date in the Town of Fort Edward Court.