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 29
9:15 p.m. Two juveniles were issued appearance tickets for Washington County Probation on July 26 at 9 a.m. after charges of menacing in the third degree following an incident on South Street. A 17-year-old Wells, Vermont boy reported the incident to police claiming a 17-year-old North Street boy and another juvenile approached the Wells boy’s car and were yelling profanities and pulling on his car door handle while the boy was driving. The Wells boy said the two juveniles were also pounding on his car windows antagonizing him to come out of the car and that he has had issues with the boys in the past.
Aug. 4
6:25 p.m. Police responded to a Munson Avenue location to assist a 71-year-old Quaker Street man who had appeared to be struggling with a stroke or sugar issue. Police helped until Granville Rescue Squad arrived to transport the man having a sugar emergency to the hospital.
7:50 p.m. Johnathan E. Combs, 42, of Quaker Street was ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, a misdemeanor, and Jaime M. Rodd, 39, of Potter Avenue was ticketed for facilitation of the aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, an infraction, when Combs was observed operating a motorcycle on Church Street and Burtis Avenue. Police noted in the incident report that Combs has had several recent tickets for the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Combs was issued his ticket, and police located Rodd and issued her a ticket after warning her days prior that if Combs was observed by police operating her motorcycle again, she would be ticketed for facilitating the crime. Warner’s Auto Body towed the motorcycle.
10:19 p.m. Rebecca A. Wolcott, 33, of Washington Street, was arrested for resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, both class A misdemeanors, and disorderly conduct, a violation, following an incident on Morrison Avenue that received four calls to police. After arriving, police observed a highly intoxicated Wolcott and were informed by her 29-year-old Washington Street brother that she had punched him in the face after a verbal dispute. While attempting to retrieve information, police noted they had to tell Wolcott multiple times to go inside after being “loud, vulgar and out of control outside the residence.” Police observed Wolcott’s son, an eight-year-old boy, crying, screaming and pleading for Wolcott to follow the officer’s commands. Wolcott continued to yell and scream and did not separate herself from the situation outside. Police advised Wolcott she was under arrest for disorderly conduct after being told multiple times to go inside and to calm down. Wolcott would not allow the officer to effect the arrest and started pulling away from the officer. Police noted that while they were trying to conduct the arrest, there were several individuals yelling and standing in a “threatening manner” within arms-reach of the eight-year-old boy, telling Wolcott to stop. The boy was taken inside and Wolcott was forcefully brought to her feet and guided to the patrol car with one hand cuffed. The officer was able to effectively place Wolcott in custody and transport her to the police station for processing. Police noted that several individuals near the scene were highly irate and videotaping the incident. The 29-year-old brother had asked the officer to just give his sister a warning but the officer advised that it was too late for that. A domestic incident and Child Protective Services report were both completed.
Aug. 6
11:47 a.m. Sarah G. Jones, 36, of Salem, was ticketed for the aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, an unclassified misdemeanor, the operation of a motor vehicle with improper plates, the operation of a motor vehicle on a highway, the operation of a motor vehicle without financial security, the operation of a motor vehicle without an inspection certificate and the operation of a motor vehicle by an unlicensed driver, all violations, when Jones was stopped on East Main Street for a loud muffler. Jones told police her license was suspended and police learned the plates to the Chevrolet Cobalt Jones was operating did not match that vehicle. Slate Valley Automotive arrived to tow the vehicle after Jones was issued her tickets.
1 p.m. Lillie A. Berkhout, 21, of West Road was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic device when she was stopped by police for speeding at a rate of 50 mph in a 30 mph zone on North Street.
Aug. 8
2:22 p.m. Eleanor M. Merrow, 60, of Danby, Vermont was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic device when she was stopped by police for driving 43 mph in a 30 mph zone on North Street.
3:40 p.m. Jami A. Pope, 47, of Granville was ticketed for speeding at a rate of 56 mph in a 30 mph zone on Pine Street. Pope said she was running late transporting a young boy to an appointment and thought the zone was 45 mph.
Aug. 9
1:59 p.m. Shawn D. Mello, 36, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was ticketed for speeding on Pine Street at a rate of 54 mph in a 30 mph zone. Mello told police when he was stopped that he did not see the speed limit sign and thought the limit could have been 50 mph.
Aug. 10
2:14 p.m. James M. Byrne, 46, of Granville was ticketed for unregistered operation of a motor vehicle on a highway, driving 48 mph in a 30 mph zone and for the operation of a motor vehicle without an inspection certificate when Byrne was stopped on Pine Street.
Whitehall Police Department
Aug. 6
6:10 a.m. Whitehall officers took an anonymous call at the station from a man who said there was a girl at Stewart’s who appeared to be a runaway. The officer patrolled the shop and met with staff who said the girl had been in the store since 5 a.m. and purchased items and wasn’t causing any problems. When the officer spoke to the girl in the store, she appeared upset that the police were talking to her and wanted to be left alone. The girl appeared around 20 years of age and continued to deny needing any help.
Aug. 7
6:32 p.m. Officers were dispatched to 155 Broadway at Putorti’s Market for found property. The officer interviewed a 69-year-old woman who said she located a purse on the railing near the ice cream shop. The officer took the purse from the woman back to the station. The purse belonged to a 30-year-old woman whom police attempted to contact, but she didn’t answer. On Aug. 8, the woman retrieved her belongings from the station.
8:22 p.m. An officer on patrol could hear fireworks coming from the area of Lamb Street and West Street. Fireworks were located at 11 West St. where two men, ages 52 and 53, said they would stop setting them off after several complaints had been received from police.
10:19 p.m. Officers received a call from a 30-year-old North Mountain Street woman who said someone had just tried to break in through her back door. She said her neighbor saw someone running from the back porch toward Williams Street. Police canvassed the area but had negative results. Police interviewed the woman who said whoever was trying to the break in was unable to because of a deadbolt lock. She said her 34-year-old neighbor chased the suspect through the backyard and down the street, and the officer told the woman she needs to place a camera at the rear door because this is the third time the incident has happened. The officer then interviewed the 34-year-old neighbor who said he got a call saying someone was trying to break in, at which point he went to the backyard and saw a man running through the backyard toward Skene Street. He said he chased the person for a short distance and then lost sight of him when the person reached Williams Street.
Aug. 8
11:30 a.m. A 46-year-old man came into the station and said someone stole 15 bags of bottles from the back of Joe’s Redemption Center. The man provided officers with video of an unknown woman stealing the bottle bags from the rear of the business and placing them into the bed of a brown Ford F-150. The woman left in the vehicle headed westbound on Gilmore Street and took a right onto West Street. The 46-year-old went to the station the next day to report that the truck involved in the theft had a New York license plate of JLU1175. Officers ran the plates, and the vehicle was registered to someone at 12 Maple St. The man said that the value of the bottles was approximately $95.22. Officers made an attempt to locate the vehicle and the woman but were unable to locate either. On Aug. 12, police were told that $74 of the money has been paid back and followed up with the man to confirm the information.
Aug. 9
12:40 p.m. A 42-year-old woman called about dealings she had with a 41-year-old man and a Glens Falls woman over the past several months. The woman had received messages or emails from both individuals in multiple jurisdictions. More recently the woman has been receiving text messages from unknown numbers that she believes are the woman and man, but she cannot prove it. After talking with the woman at length, she said she would get a new phone number for her and her children and only allow her ex-husband to contact her by e-mail for anything to do with the children.
Aug. 10
5:56 p.m. Police were dispatched to 88 S. Williams St. for a disturbance. Officers interviewed a 60-year-old woman who said she and her neighbor had gotten into a disagreement, and the woman was posing threats. The officer determined that the threats were not enough evidence to make an arrest and said the disagreement should be handled through civil court. The officer then spoke with the 56-year-old neighbor, and she said that the other woman started yelling harassing things to her and her grandson as they got out of their vehicle. Officers advised the woman she needs to stop talking with the other neighbor and handle the driveway disagreement through civil court.
11:39 p.m. A 49-year-old woman called the station line to report that she could hear an argument taking place in the upstairs apartment between her 25-year-old daughter and her daughter’s 25-year-old boyfriend at 103 S. Williams St. Officers patrolled the location and spoke with a man who said he became upset because $100 was missing from his wallet, and stated he felt like the woman does not pay attention to him anymore. Officers spoke with the woman who said the same issues happen but that the man believes she’s cheating on him. She said the argument was not physical. While speaking with her, the man came from the apartment and stated the money he was missing was in his backpack. Officers spoke with the man at length about the issues he is having and offered solutions. A domestic incident report was completed on the scene, and both parties agreed to cool down for the night and said there would be no further arguments between them.
New York State Police
Aug. 7
1 p.m. Starasia S. Jones, 30, of Brooklyn was charged in Fort Ann with introducing contraband into prison in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 8
8:18 p.m. Martin R. Taft, 47, of Salem was charged with criminal mischief in the third degree, specifically damages exceeding $250, a class E felony. He was being held.
Aug. 9
9:56 p.m. Stephen P. Fronhofer, 38, of Greenwich was charged with criminal mischief in the third degree, specifically damages exceeding $250, a class E felony. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 10
11 a.m. Gregory M. Scott, 27, of Schaghticoke was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 13
4:07 p.m. Jeffrey T. Jones, 21, of Fort Ann was charged with menacing with a weapon in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. He was being held.
Vermont State Police
Aug. 9
9:38 p.m. Vermont State Police were dispatched to a motorcycle crash on Messer Hill Road in Plymouth. Investigation revealed that Matthew Poljacik, 26, of Woodstock was operating a dirt bike on Messer Hill Road when he lost control and left the roadway. While speaking with Poljacik, who suffered minor injuries, indicators of impairment were observed. Poljacik was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where he was processed for suspicion of DUI. Vermont civil violation complaints are pending, and Poljacik was charged with operating without liability insurance and driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Aug. 10
5:28 a.m. Vermont State Police responded to the report of a tractor trailer crash on Vermont Route 22A north of North Cross Road in the Town of Benson. It was determined that a 2017 Freightliner truck driven by Phalante Dutervil, 56, of Tampa, Florida, was traveling north on Vermont Route 22A when it drove off the right side in an attempt to avoid animals in the roadway. The vehicle collided with a large rock and trees. No injuries were reported on scene. Vermont State Police were assisted by the Benson Fire Department, Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement & Safety Division. A Vermont civil violation complaint is pending.
State Police arrest Greenwich man for falsely reporting an incident involving a knife
On Thursday, Aug. 11, New York State Police in Greenwich, New York, arrested Kenneth Straight, 53 of Greenwich, for falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, making a punishable false written statement and obstructing governmental administration, all class A misdemeanors, according to a press release provided by the New York State Police.
On Wednesday, March 9, New York State Police responded to the Cumberland Farms located on State Route 29 in Greenwich when Straight called 911 reporting that a man at the location was threatening him with a butcher knife.
Straight was gone when troopers arrived. An investigation determined that Straight instigated a verbal altercation with another man and falsely reported the man pulling out a knife during the argument. Straight also provided a written statement describing events that did not occur.
Straight was arrested on a warrant and transported to State Police barracks in Greenwich for processing.
He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Greenwich Town Court on Thursday, Sept. 8.
