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
Aug. 18
5:30 p.m. An 87-year-old Middle Granville man and a 38-year-old Whitehall man came to the police station from across the street at Stewart’s Shops advising they had been in a minor pedestrian automobile accident in the Stewart’s parking lot. The two men said they did not want to file an accident report and that they would take care of the damages civilly.
Aug. 20
8:25 a.m. Police were told a 14-foot boat was stolen off a locked trailer parked on Church Street belonging to a 72-year-old Church Street man. The man said this occurred between Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20, and that he would attempt to get an estimated value of the boat while the responding officer would check with the property owner for possible surveillance footage, with an investigation to follow.
Aug. 21
7:10 a.m. A 55-year-old Rathbun Avenue woman informed police of a pit bull that had jumped over the Main Street bridge and landed roughly 20 feet below on the rocks of the Mettowee River. The woman said the dog was bleeding profusely, leading to the responding officer to go to the scene and speak with another witness, a 28-year-old North Maple Street woman. Police observed the dog on the rocks but there was no access to the rocks without crossing the river. Police contacted the village Department of Public Works and had Granville Engine & Hose Company #1 dispatched to assist. Messages were sent out to the animal control officer as well as on social media to identify the dog’s owner. The pit bull had clearly sustained injuries and stayed in its place until the fire department rescued the dog via a basket. The dog’s owner arrived shortly after the rescue and took the pit bull to the veterinarian’s office.
Aug. 22
7:20 a.m. Police responded to a noise disturbance on Lincoln Street where a 49-year-old man was upset with a 30-year-old woman for reportedly banging objects around her room during the early morning hours. The man told police that the woman will be evicted soon and that the male half of the occupancy had already removed his property. Police arrived to the apartment complex just after the time of the call and did not observe any noise or any answer at the door.
2:27 p.m. A 53-year-old Granville Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation resident called the police speaking in an “irate, condescending and disrespectful” tone over a civil matter that was arranged by the man and the nursing home. The man said that he was recently transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center in Vermont from the Granville Center and that the nursing home was paying for him to stay elsewhere for the time being although the man claimed he had $5,000 worth of his belongings at the Granville Center. The man said the Granville Center told him his items would be returned to him at the new facility in Vermont. Police explained to the man that this was not a criminal matter and that just because his belongings were not returned on today’s date that did not classify his items as stolen. The man became upset during the conversation and hung up the phone.
4:28 p.m. Police were dispatched to the Big Lots parking lot on Quaker Street for a two-car pedestrian automobile accident between a 54-year-old Pawlet, Vermont man and an unoccupied vehicle owned by a 52-year-old Granville man. The Pawlet man said his trailer hit the Granville man’s vehicle and caused damage to the driver’s side quarter panel and bumper. The Pawlet man was informed the police report would reflect him as being the individual at fault.
Whitehall Police Department
Aug. 20
3:20 p.m. An officer on patrol responded to an accident at the Saunders Street and Broadway intersection. A 34-year-old Castleton, Vermont woman was turning left onto Saunders Street and failed to yield, and the vehicles collided. The woman was issued a ticket for failing to yield.
Aug. 21
3:01 p.m. An officer issued a ticket to a 50-year-old man at the North Williams Street and Saunders Street intersection for failure to stop at a stop sign.
6:20 p.m. An officer was dispatched to 4 Adams St. to speak with a 43-year-old man about problems with his ex, a 37-year-old woman. The man explained that the woman had come to his house to pick up one of their daughters, however, he said the woman was not allowed on the property. The officer checked the status of an order of protection and found there to be only a refrain from, not stay away. The man stated that the woman is not legally able to drive, and the officer confirmed that the woman currently has a suspended New York State license. The officer was unable to locate the woman in the village during or after the time of the call, and the man stated that they had arrangements for transporting the children, which were not adhered to for this incident. The officer advised the man that a report would be completed, and he could take it to family court if needed.
Aug. 22
12:55 p.m. A 37-year-old woman came to the station to report that she went to get her children from their 43-year-old father as the court order had changed, but the man would not let the woman take the children. The woman showed the officer messages between her and the man, and both were discussing an amendment that has not yet been signed. The man said that if she came to the house, he was calling the police, and the woman parked on the opposite side of the road from the house and waited almost 15 minutes for the children to come out, and they did not. The woman wanted the incident documented for family court.
4:36 p.m. Officers were dispatched to Cumberland Farms for a reported hit and run that was called in by a passerby. Officers found out from an employee all parties that were involved in the accident had left.
9:28 p.m. Officers were dispatched to 292 South Williams St. for a trespass in progress. Officers interviewed a 75-year-old woman, who said a man wearing dark clothing was knocking on her front door asking her if she sold the house and to whom she was selling it. She said she shut the door and the man walked off the porch toward Stewart’s. Patrols canvased area with negative contact. It was believed the suspect was a 27-year-old Elizabeth Street man who was located and told he was not welcome back on the property. The officer detained the 27-year-old because he was on a file five out of Washington County Sheriff’s Office and he was transported to the Fort Ann rest stop where he was turned over to deputies.
Aug. 23
10:59 p.m. Officers interviewed a 51-year-old Broadway man at the station who said a 24-year-old man had been making statements that made him irate. He said next time the 24-year-old says something smart he’s going to do something about it. The officer told the man that they would speak with the 24-year-old and tell him to stop his comments. The officer patrolled to 127 Broadway and asked a 49-year-old woman at the residence to tell the 24-year-old to stop making comments to the man. The officer told the woman that the comments had been going on for a couple of days and after telling her that she became irate and went inside because she said officers were after the 24-year-old. After the woman went inside, the 24-year-old came out and patrols told him he needed to stop, but the man stated patrols harass him every day and he was going to speak with a supervisor the next day to file a complaint about harassment he’s been receiving from patrols during the day.
9 p.m. Officers were dispatched to 151 Broadway and spoke to a 62-year-old woman who said a man came into her apartment and stole her red couch pillow. She said that she had left her door unlocked and while her attention was on something else the suspect came in and stole it. While attempting to obtain the information the woman would yell and go into other rooms making it difficult to communicate with her. She said that she didn’t care about the pillow and that she was more concerned with hearing people talking in the laundromat in the same building. The officer canvassed the area but returned with negative results for a man with a red couch pillow.
9:20 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the Rec Center for a report of a stolen sign. The officer spoke with a 58-year-old woman who said that a voting sign had been stolen from the top of the hill. The officer told her that when pulling into the rec center there was a sign at the top of the hill, and she said that she had gone up to collect it and it was gone. The woman said she spoke with two unknown children, and she told them that she was going to have to call the police and believed the sign was returned by the children. The officer confirmed that the sign was at the top of the hill and brought it down to her because the polls were closed.
Aug. 24
11:10 p.m. Officers were dispatched to 8 Fifth Ave. for a harassment call and spoke with a 47-year-old man who stated the neighbor across the street had come over to his residence and started pounding on the door with a flashlight and was heard scratching on the side of the house. He said he was sleeping when he heard a loud bang on the front door that woke him up along with his roommate who had come to his room and asked if he had heard it. The man said he told the suspect to leave him alone and he could hear the man’s wife come outside about two times to get him to return to his house and leave everyone alone. The man said his neighbors sounded intoxicated during the incident. The officer was unable to contact the unknown man after knocking on the neighbor’s door and would return during the daytime as the 47-year-old put in his statement he wanted the man charged for his actions and an order of protection issued.
Aug. 25
12:50 p.m. Officers responded to 48 Queen St. for a vehicle parked in the middle of the roadway and blocking traffic. The officer spoke with a 32-year-old man who said that a man had just moved the car from the middle of the roadway to partially in the roadway. The officer spoke with the 64-year-old man who said he was changing the tire of his car and that he was very nice to the 32-year-old and told him he would move the car if he needed to get by. After interviewing the 64-year-old man who refused to volunteer anything other than his name the officer was able to run the vehicle and obtain the information. The 64-year-old was told to move the car off the street while working on it.
6 p.m. Officers received a call at the station for a 67-year-old man reporting that gas had been stolen from the tank of his car. When officers arrived at Smith Street, they spoke with a 60-year-old woman who said her son put $40 in the gas tank on the previous half a tank they had, making it a full one. Neither party saw anyone in the area, and the officer attempted to speak to the neighbors, but they were not home. The officer didn’t locate any cameras in the area and both parties were unsure of the gas being put in if was just a problem with the gauge.
11:25 p.m. Police contacted a 34-year-old woman at 36 Champlain Ave. who said her 48-year-old neighbor is again harassing, stalking and terrorizing her. The officer was unaware of past complaints and the woman said over the past few months her neighbor and their family have been blocking her driveway with their vehicle, walking down her driveway, walking on her property, staring at her through the window, staring at her family when they are outside in addition to other issues. The woman said that she was outside talking with a friend when her neighbor came out on her porch and began making comments in her general direction. The woman responded to her with expletives and told her to leave her alone. The officer attempted to have the woman explains certain incidents as to where charges would be possible, however after speaking to her at length it was determined that most of the incidents she described would not constitute any charges. The officer insisted that the woman do her best to ignore the comments and staring and that officers would do what they could to mitigate the problems. The woman said she would be in to provide evidence and witness statements of when her neighbor’s family had been on her property and said she wanted them charged with trespassing.
New York State Police
Aug. 21
9:39 p.m. Candie S. Lebarron, 42, of Cambridge was arrested for possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a class D felony. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 22
10:45 a.m. David J. Hayes, 32, of Fort Edward was arrested in Queensbury on charges related to aggravated harassment, specifically criminal contempt in the first degree and aggravated family offense, both class E felonies, and aggravated harassment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor. He was being held.
Aug. 23
3:57 a.m. Brian L. James, 52, of Whitehall was charged with criminal contempt in the second degree, specifically disobeying a court order in relation to a domestic dispute, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 24
12:37 a.m. Francis R. Betit, 57, of Whitehall was arrested in Fort Ann for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, first offense, DWI, first offense, and aggravated DWI per se with no prior, all class U misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
9:55 a.m. Nicholas R. Oliver, 27, of Whitehall was arrested for criminal trespass in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, in connection with an incident that occurred on Aug. 5. He was issued an appearance ticket.
6:02 p.m. Shawna L. Loveland, 32, of Granville was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor. She was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 25
4:09 p.m. Paul A. Lafountain, 50, of Cambridge was arrested for petit larceny that occurred in Greenwich. He was issued an appearance ticket.
11:42 p.m. Marcus R. Young, 34, of Granville was arrested in Greenwich for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Aug. 28
12:57 a.m. Brice N. Laraway, 23, of Hudson Falls was arrested in Hartford for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% and DWI, both first offenses and class U misdemeanors. He was issued an appearance ticket.
Vermont State Police
Aug. 21
11 p.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a domestic disturbance that occurred at the Home Depot parking lot in Rutland Town. Investigation revealed John Marro, 51, homeless, physically assaulted a family member. Marro left the scene in a vehicle and drove to the Rutland Barracks on Aug. 23 to turn himself in. He was released on conditions set by the court and ordered to appear at a later date.
Aug. 22
6:34 p.m. Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks were notified of a violation of an abuse prevention order in Poultney. Through investigation, it was determined that Sammi Brandon, 31, of Manchester contacted a prohibited person in violation of an active relief from abuse order. Brandon was located by the Manchester Police Department and issued court-ordered conditions of release before being released on a criminal citation.
Aug. 26
8:24 p.m. Vermont State Police in Rutland responded to a one-car motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on U.S. Route 7 in Rutland Town. Troopers located a woman in the roadway being attended to by Regional Ambulance Service. Shortly after, troopers were advised the woman died because of the crash. She was identified as Chelsea Sikora, 42, of Rutland. Initial investigation found Sikora was crossing Route 7 when she was struck by a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer in the southbound lane driven by Brett Senif, 48, of Rutland City. Troopers spoke with Senif, who showed signs of impairment. Senif was later arrested and transported to the State Police Barracks in Rutland for DUI. The crash was still under investigation. Vermont State Police urge anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them in Rutland. Regional Ambulance, Rutland Town Fire Department and Rutland Town Constable assisted.
Aug. 27
5:10 a.m. Vermont State Police were notified of a motor vehicle crash on U.S. Route 7 at the intersection of U.S. Route 4 in Rutland Town. It was determined that Ella Norton, 19, of Rutland, driving a 2014 Jeep Laredo, was traveling east on Route 4 with the intention of turning north onto Route 7. Andre Lafayette, 51, of Rutland, driving a 2008 Chevy Express Cutaway, was traveling south on Route 7. Route 7 had flashing yellow traffic signals, while Route 4 had flashing red traffic signals. Norton entered the intersection when it was not safe to do so, and her vehicle struck the rear right of Lafayette’s vehicle, which sustained significant damage to the rear right tire and undercarriage. David Anagnos, 50, of Rutland, a passenger in Lafayette’s car, suffered a minor injury to his right arm. Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by Rutland Town Fire Department. A Vermont civil violation complaint is pending.
State police arrest man living illegally in Fort Ann home
On Saturday, Aug. 20, New York State Police in Granville arrested Steven Miller, 46, of Queensbury, New York, for burglary in the second degree, a class C felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a class D felony; four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to a press release from the NYSP.
On Aug. 20 at about 8:36 p.m., troopers were called to a home in Fort Ann, New York, for a report of a man trespassing in an unoccupied house.
The investigation determined that Miller had forced entry into the home and had been living there for approximately five days without the property owner’s permission.
Miller was found to possess multiple controlled substances, hypodermic needles and a glass smoking device.
Miller was arrested and transported to NYSP barracks in Granville for processing. He was transported to the Washington County Correctional Facility to await arraignment.
State Police arrest Whitehall man after he threatens multiple people with knife
On Friday, Aug. 19, New York State Police in Granville arrested Jason Surprenant, 23, of Whitehall, New York, for criminal mischief in the third degree, a class E felony; menacing in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to a press release from NYSP.
On Aug. 19 at about 10:18 p.m., troopers responded to Whitehall Studios on State Route 4 in the town of Whitehall for a report of a man threatening multiple people with a knife.
The investigation determined Surprenant had damaged one of the buildings at the location and threatened the property managers with a knife.
Surprenant had been disarmed and detained by a citizen before troopers arrived and was immediately taken into custody. He was found to possess a glass pipe used to smoke illicit drugs.
Surprenant was transported to NYSP barracks in Granville for processing. He was arraigned at the Whitehall Town Court and remanded to the Washington County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 cash bail.
State Police issue more than 25,000 tickets during ‘Speed Week’ crackdown
The New York State Police recently announced that its troopers issued 25,199 total traffic tickets during the special “Speed Week” traffic enforcement campaign.
“Speed Week,” which was conducted from Monday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 21, targeted speeding and other unsafe driving behaviors, including distracted driving and violations of the Move Over Law.
Statewide, troopers issued 14,008 tickets for speeding, 531 for distracted driving, 476 for Move Over Law violations and arrested 214 people for drunk and impaired driving. State Police also responded to 206 personal injury crashes, including five fatal crashes.
During the August 2021 “Speed Week” detail, State Police issued 32,922 total tickets, including 18,358 for speeding. In 2021, Speed Week ran for a total of nine days opposed to seven days in 2022. Some 518 tickets were issued per day in 2021 compared to 631 tickets issued per day in 2022.
As part of this enforcement detail, troopers targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. Troopers watched for impaired and distracted drivers, vehicle occupants who were not properly buckled up and drivers who violated the Move Over Law, which requires motorists to exercise extreme caution when passing emergency vehicles that are stopped in or on the side of the road.
The New York State Police supplemented regular patrols statewide, including use of concealed identity traffic enforcement (CITE) patrol vehicles to better locate drivers talking or texting on handheld devices. These unmarked vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.
In Troop G, which contains Washington County and the Capital Region, 1,394 motorists were stopped for speeding violations, 25 were arrested for DWI, 30 were cited for distracted driving, 36 were pulled over for not wearing seat belts or using child restraints and 69 did not obey the Move Over Law. In addition to other violations, motorists in the Troop G area were issued a total of 2,205 tickets, almost 9% of tickets issued across the state.
