State Police investigate a fatal fire in the town of Macomb

On February 14, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m., State Police responded to a fully engulfed structure fire on State Highway 58 in the town of Macomb. Local fire departments extinguished the fire and were able to enter the residence. Unfortunately, they discovered an individual deceased inside.

State Police spoke with the New York Fire Investigator at the scene, who determined that the fire was accidental and showed no signs of suspicious activity. The St. Lawrence County Coroner was also present and ordered the removal of the deceased.

An autopsy was performed on February 15, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Glens Falls Hospital by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica. The identity of the individual, as well as the cause and manner of death, are still pending.

This is an ongoing investigation.

Plattsburgh male arrested for CPW 3rd, CPCS 7th, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia 2nd

On February 18, 2025, State Police arrested Andrew C. Dickerson, age 36, of Plattsburgh, NY. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree (due to a previous conviction), three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

On February 18, 2025, at approximately 10:00 p.m., State Police responded to the Sundance Motel on Route 9 in Plattsburgh to assist a New York State Parole Officer. During the investigation, it was determined that the Parole Officer was conducting a search of Dickerson’s residence and found brass knuckles, drug paraphernalia, and narcotics.

Dickerson was arrested and transported to the State Police station in Plattsburgh for processing. He was arraigned in the Town of Plattsburgh Court and then remanded to Clinton County Jail.

Troop C DWI arrests February 10-16, 2025

On February 10, 2025, at approximately 12:26 a.m., New York State Police at Binghamton arrested Christopher J. Walsh, age 42 of Binghamton, NY for the misdemeanor of Driving While Intoxicated. Troopers on Court Street in the city of Binghamton observed a vehicle make vehicle and traffic violations and initiated a traffic stop after turning onto Louisa Street.  While interviewing Walsh, a Trooper observed characteristics associated with impairment and smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage. Walsh was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which confirmed impairment.  Walsh was arrested and transported to SP Binghamton where his reportable B.A.C was .15%.  He was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Binghamton City Court on March 14, 2025, then released to a sober third party.

On February 10, 2025, at approximately 8:29 a.m., New York State Police at Oneonta arrested Abdulrahman A. Junid, age 22 of Albany, NY for the misdemeanor of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. A Trooper was dispatched to a report that a man that was passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle on County Road 8 in the town of Oneonta.  The Trooper was able to locate the described vehicle with Junid still asleep. The Trooper was able to wake Junid and while interviewing him, observed characteristics commonly associated with impairment.  After an investigation, Junid was arrested.  He was transported to SP Oneonta where he was additionally evaluated by a New York State Police Drug Recognition Expert.  Junid was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Oneonta Town Court on March 4, 2025.

On February 11, 2025, at approximately 9:01 p.m., New York State Police at Homer arrested John H. Phelps, age 64 of Cortland, NY for the misdemeanor of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated. A Trooper was dispatched by the Cortland County 911 Center to the report of an accident with no injuries in the parking lot of Taco Bell on State Route 13 in Cortlandville.  The Trooper arrived to find that Phelps had driven into a snowbank.  While interviewing Phelps about what happened, the Trooper smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage along with characteristics commonly associated with alcohol impairment.  After an investigation on scene, Phelps was arrested. He was transported to SP Homer where his reportable B.A.C of .19%.  Phelps was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Cortlandville Town Court on February 24, 2025, then released to a sober third party.

On February 11, 2025, at approximately 11:31 p.m., New York State Police at Oneonta arrested Farah V. Jimenez, age 40 of Oneonta, NY for the misdemeanor of Driving While Intoxicated. Troopers on Main Street in the city of Oneonta observed a vehicle with vehicle and traffic violations and initiated a traffic stop once on Maple Street.  While interviewing Jimenez, a Trooper smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage. Jimenez was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which indicated impairment.  Jimenez was arrested and transported to SP Oneonta where her reportable B.A.C was .14%.  She was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Oneonta City Court on March 12, 2025

On February 11, 2025, at approximately 11:38 p.m., New York State Police at Homer arrested Carson J. Eckard, age 20 of Dryden, NY for the misdemeanor of Driving While Intoxicated. A Trooper initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle on State Route 13 without any lights on. While interviewing Eckard, the Trooper observed characteristics associated with impairment. Eckard was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which confirmed impairment.  Eckard was arrested and transported to SP Homer where his reportable B.A.C was .10%. He was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Cortland City Court on March 10, 2025, then released to a sober third party. 

On February 12, 2025, at approximately 6:46 p.m., New York State Police at Binghamton arrested Nicholas P. Elliot, age 40 of Whitney Point, NY for the class “E” felony of Aggravated DWI with a Child less than 16 as Passenger (Leandra’s Law).  Troopers were dispatched by the Broome County 911 Center to the report of a single vehicle crash on Page Brook Road in Whitney Point.  An investigation revealed that Elliot was traveling on the roadway with two children under the age of 16 when he went off the roadway.  While interviewing Elliot, a Trooper smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage and characteristics associated with impairment. Elliot was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests which confirmed impairment. Elliot was arrested and transported to SP Binghamton where his reportable B.A.C was .24%.  Elliot was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Triangle Town Court on March 20, 2025.

On February 14, 2025, at approximately 5:20 p.m., New York State Police at Homer arrested Julie M. Cecile, age 42 of Cortland, NY for the misdemeanors of Driving While Ability Impaired (Combined Influence of Drugs and Alcohol) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.  A Trooper was dispatched to Interstate 81 south in the town of Preble for a report of a traffic complaint.  The Trooper observed the described vehicle traveling 35 mph in the 65 mph zone on I-81, strike a guiderail, cross two lanes of traffic and continuing southbound.   A traffic stop was initiated and while interviewing Cecile, the Trooper observed characteristics associated with impairment and an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.  Cecile was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which confirmed impairment.  Cecile was arrested and transported to SP Homer.  She was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Cortlandville Town Court on March 10, 2025, then released to a sober third party.

On February 14, 2025, at approximately 11:48 p.m., New York State Police at Oneonta arrested Sandy Pena, age 37, of Oneonta, NY for the misdemeanor of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. While on Main Street in the city of Oneonta, a Trooper observed a vehicle with a vehicle and traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop.  While interviewing Pena, the Trooper observed characteristics associated with impairment. Pena was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which confirmed impairment.  Pena was arrested and transported to SP Oneonta where she was additionally evaluated by a New York State Police Drug Recognition Expert. She was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Oneonta City Court on March 12, 2025, then released to a sober third party.

On February 15, 2025, at approximately 3:23 a.m., New York State Police at Binghamton arrested Angel L. Polanco, age 39 of Binghamton, NY for the class “D” felony of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (with two previous convictions within 10 years) and the class “E” felony of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the first degree.  Troopers initiated a traffic stop on Court Street in the city of Binghamton after observing a vehicle and traffic violation. A Trooper smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage and characteristics associated with impairment.  Polanco was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which indicated impairment.  Polanco was arrested and transported to SP Binghamton where his reportable was .14%.  Polanco was processed and then transported to the Broome County Correctional Facility for Centralized Arraignment.

On February 15, 2025, at approximately 6:24 a.m., New York State Police at Oneonta arrested Chauncey S. Couse, age 57 of Oneonta, NY for the misdemeanors of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree.  Troopers observed a vehicle parked in a no parking zone on Dietz Street in Oneonta and noticed that the operator was someone known to them and that there was a warrant for his arrest.  Troopers also observed that Couse appeared impaired.  Couse was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Field Tests, which confirmed impairment.  Troopers also located illicit substances in the vehicle.  Couse was arrested and transported to SP Oneonta where he was additionally evaluated by a New York State Police Drug Recognition Expert. Couse was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Oneonta City Court on March 20, 2025, then turned over to the Sidney Village Police Department on outstanding warrant charges.

On February 15, 2025, at approximately 6:05 p.m., New York State Police at Oneonta arrested Tod A. Quick, age 57 of Sidney, NY for the misdemeanor of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated.  A Trooper responded to a one-vehicle crash where the vehicle went off the roadway on County Highway 14 in the town of Franklin. While interviewing Quick about what happened, the Trooper observed characteristics associated with impairment. Quick was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which confirmed impairment.  Quick was arrested and transported to SP Oneonta where his reportable B.A.C was .20%.  He was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Franklin Town Court on March 13, 2025, then released to a sober third party.

On February 15, 2025, at approximately Mark Richard Earl Allen, age 30 of Port Crane, NY for the misdemeanor of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated.  A Trooper was dispatched to assist Port Dickinson Police with a dispute on Brandywine Highway.  The Trooper found Allen inside a running vehicle and smelled an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.  Allen was asked to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which confirmed impairment.  He was arrested and transported to SP Binghamton where his reportable B.A.C was .20%.  Allen was processed and issued appearance tickets to the Dickinson Town Court on March 18, 2025, then released to a sober third party.

On February 16, 2025, at approximately 10:48 p.m., New York State Police at Binghamton arrested David A. Schmidt, age 27 of Windsor, NY for the class “E” felony of Driving While Intoxicated (with a previous conviction within 10 years) and the class “C” felony of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the second degree.  A Trooper was dispatched to check on the welfare of a person passed out in a vehicle in a parking lot on Industrial Park Drive.  The Troopers arrived to find Schmidt still passed out in his vehicle with an open liquor bottle in his lap.  Schmidt was arrested.  Troopers additionally located a loaded firearm in Schmidt’s vehicle, he is does not possess a pistol permit.  Schmidt was transported to SP Binghamton and processed.  He was turned over to the Broome County Correctional Facility for Centralized Arraignment.

State Police make multiple arrests in Rensselaer County prostitution investigation

On January 30, 2025, State Police of Brunswick, with the assistance of the Troop G Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET) and the East Greenbush Police Department, arrested the below individuals who were each charged with one count of Promoting Prostitution in the fourth degree

• • Corina B. Brown, 29, of Cairo, NY
  • Ciera I. Green, 26, of Albany, NY
  • Camila K. Jones Austin, 27 of Tukwila, WA
  • Kate N. Kwofie, 23, of Troy, NY
  • Renee J. Mckay, 33, of Albany, NY
  • Madelyn K. Michael, 24, of Puyallup, WA
  • Sulieka Rodriguez Hernandez, 22 of Paterson, NJ

Sylvia D. Stinson, 26, of Schenectady, NY, was also arrested for Promoting Prostitution in the fourth degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree.

During this ongoing investigation, the listed individuals allegedly offered to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee in East Greenbush, NY. While being taken into custody, Stinson was found to possess a controlled Substance. 

All individuals were processed at SP Brunswick and issued appearance tickets returnable to the East Greenbush Town Court on a later date and released.

State Police investigate a rape incident in the town of Brasher

On February 18, 2025, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Devin M. Merritt, age 29, Brasher Falls NY, for rape 1st.

On April 14, 2021, at approximately 11:14 a.m., State Police were informed of a sexual assault incident that occurred in the town of Brasher between 2012 and 2015.  An investigation determined Merritt, forced sexual intercourse on a female victim under the age of 11.  During the investigation, it was revealed that Merritt had been incarcerated for unrelated charges. After serving his sentence, he was placed on parole, which he subsequently violated, resulting in him returning to prison to serve an additional three years. The Town of Brasher Falls Court issued an arrest warrant for Merritt in anticipation of his release, due to pending first-degree rape charges.

On February 18, 2025, members of the State Police arrested Merritt and processed him at SP Canton. He was arraigned in the Town of Canton Court and remanded to the St. Lawrence County Jail, with bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. Merritt is scheduled to return to the Town of Brasher Falls Court on March 11, 2025.

State Police arrest Troy man following the reported sexual assault of a child.

On February 15, 2025, State Police of Saratoga arrested Zachary A. Clark, 26, of Troy, NY, for Criminal Sexual Act in the first degree, a class “B” felony, and Sexual Abuse in the first degree, a class “D” felony.

On January 18, 2025, Troopers received information that a past sexual assault had occurred. The investigation determined in 2018 and 2019, Clark reportedly sexually assaulted a child under the age of 11 on more than one occurrence while in the town of Ballston, NY.

Clark was arrested and processed at SP Saratoga. He was arraigned at the Milton Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or a $100,000 partially secured bond.