2012 March
MARCH 30, 2012 – Update – 112 Fairview Ave. Fire
The investigation concerning the fire at #112 Fairview Avenue in the Town of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on January 21, 2012, in which three (3) local college students died, has been concluded. The joint investigation was conducted by the following agencies: Fairview Fire District, Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response – Fire Investigation Division, and Arlington Fire District.
The official determinations made in this case are as follows:
1) The cause of the fire is listed as undetermined.
2) The area of fire origin was determined to be in the rear, 1st floor portion of the structure.
3) The following possible causes were eliminated during the investigation: heating systems, spontaneous ignition, portable heating units, lighting, cooking equipment, and solar energy.
The investigation concluded that smoking materials, electrical distribution, electrical devices and human behavior could not be eliminated as potential causes.
Police and fire officials spoke with surviving family members of the three deceased students prior to this report being released.
Chief Thomas Mauro of the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department and Fire Chief Chris Maeder of the Fairview Fire District stated that “their agencies had received overwhelming cooperation throughout the investigation from Marist College and neighborhood residents”.
On March 28, 2012, private contractors removed the remaining fire debris and materials from the site.
UPDATE: Armed Robbery – With Injury to Victim
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department reports two (2) arrests in the following case.
On Monday, March 26, 2012, at approximately 10:00 p.m. the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received a ‘911’ emergency call reporting that a male subject had been the victim of a robbery with injuries in the parking lot of the Galleria Mall. The victim was returning to his parked car in the rear parking lot of the mall after work when he was confronted by two (2) male suspects demanding money. A physical altercation ensued and the victim was then shot by one of the suspects with a handgun.
On Wednesday, March 28, 2012, the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department arrested two (2) suspects for the armed robbery and shooting. The investigation confirmed that the robbery was not a random crime but that the victim was specifically targeted by the defendants.
The victim is currently listed in critical condition at a local hospital.
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received investigative assistance in these arrests from the City of Beacon Police Department, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force.
Digital photographs of the two defendants can be obtained by e-mailing Captain Paul Lecomte at plecomte@townofpoughkeepsie-ny.gov
ARREST INFORMATIONDefendant #1:
Matthew C. Scannell – 24 years old
Address: 3A Van Cortland Court, Beacon, N.Y.
Charges: Assault, 1st degree, Class B/Felony, Robbert, 1st degree, Class B/Felony
Defendant #2:
Jeremy Herring- 24 years old
Address: 557 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Charges: Assault, 1st degree, Class B/Felony, Robbery, 1st degree, Class B/Felony
Both defendants were arraigned in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court by Judge Paul Sullivan and both were remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $75,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.
ARRAIGNMENT INFORMATION
Both defendants will reappear in Town Justice Court on April 3, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
March 27, 2012 – Armed Robbery – With Injury to Victim
On Monday, March 26, 2012, at approximately 10:00 p.m. the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received a ‘911’ emergency call reporting that a male subject had been the victim of a robbery with injuries in the parking lot of the Galleria Mall.
Responding police patrols discovered there had been an altercation in the rear parking lot of the mall between the victim and two (2) other male subjects. The victim was shot by one of the suspects who was armed with a handgun. He was transported by Mobile Life to St. Francis Hospital for emergency treatment where he was admitted.
The suspects are described as one black male and one white male in their 20’s. The preliminary investigation indicates that this was not a random robbery but that the victim was targeted in this crime.
Anyone with information regarding this crime may call the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department at 845-485-3666 or leave a tip at townpolice.net
March 26, 2012 – Domestic Violence Arrest
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department reports the following arrest regarding multiple domestic violence complaints received by this agency.
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department had conducted a domestic violence investigation which resulted in the filing of complaints for violations of a Town of Poughkeepsie Court Order of Protection and other related criminal charges.
Arrest warrants were issued by the Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court for the defendant, Nathaniel Green. Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department detectives, along with members of the U.S. Marshals NY/NY Regional Fugitive Task Force, undertook an extensive search to locate and arrest the suspect.
On 3/23/12 at approximately 11AM, a caller reported the suspect was seen outside the victims residence. The caller further reported the suspect had fled the area on foot. Responding Town of Poughkeepsie police officers set up a perimeter of the area and the suspect was located and arrested without incident.
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department was assisted in this investigation by the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, New York State Police, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the Dutchess County Sheriffs Office.
ARREST INFORMATION
DEFENDANT: Nathaniel A. GREEN – 34 years of age
no current address
CHARGES:
Arrest Warrants for following Charges:
– CRIMINAL CONTEMPT 1st DEGREE- E Felony (eight (8) counts)
– GRAND LARCENY 4th DEGREE- E Felony
– CRIMINAL CONTEMPT 2nd DEGREE- A Misdemeanor
– HARASSMENT 2nd DEGREE- A misdemeanor (three (3) counts)
– CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 4th DEGREE- A misdemeanor (two (2) counts)
– CRIMINAL MISHIEF 3rd DEGREE- A Misdemeanor
– UNAUTH. USE OF VEHICLE 3rd DEGREE- A Misdemeanor
– AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT 2nd DEGREE- A Misd. (three (3) counts)
ARRAIGNMENT INFORMATION
GREEN was arraigned in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court by Judge Paul Sullivan and remanded without bail to the Dutchess County Jail.GREEN will reappear in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court on 3/26/12.
March 21, 2012 – Auto Accident
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit reports investigating a two (2) car personal injury motor vehicle accident that occurred at approximately 4:18 p.m. on March 20, 2012. This occurred at the intersection of South Road (State Route 9) and the exit from the Spackenkill Plaza and IBM on the eastern side of South Road.
A Town of Poughkeepsie Police vehicle was traveling from the plaza to go northbound on South Road in response to a report of an active domestic dispute. As the police vehicle approached the intersection with the emergency lights and siren activated, two (2) of the southbound lanes of South Road yielded for the police vehicle. As the police vehicle entered the third or left lane of southbound traffic it was struck by a 2006 Subaru operated by a 22 year old male from Wappingers.
This accident resulted in the operator of the police vehicle being transported to St. Francis Hospital, where she was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries. The intersection of South Road and the plaza exit was closed for approximately two (2) hours while the vehicles were removed and the roadway cleared. Town of Poughkeepsie Police were assisted by the Arlington Fire Department.
The accident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 845-485-3666.
March 12, 2012 – Robbery with a Firearm
On Monday, March 12, 2012, at 12:30 a.m., the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received a report of an armed robbery that occurred at the Shell Gasoline Station located at 190 Innis Avenue in the Town of the Poughkeepsie.
An employee reported that a male suspect, described as approximately 6′ tall, dressed in all black with his face concealed by a mask, entered the store. The suspect then displayed a rifle in a threatening manner towards the employee and demanded money and cigarettes. The employee complied with the suspects’s demand and was not injured in the confrontation. The suspect left the store on foot in an unknown direction.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident can contact the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department at 845-485-3666 or submit an online tip submission form at dev.townpolice.net.
March 11, 2012 – Robbery with Firearm
On Sunday, March 11, 2012, at 1:31 p.m. the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received a report of an armed robbery that occurred at the ABC Deli located at the intersection of Delaval Place and North Grand Avenue in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
An employee of the store reported that a male suspect, approximately 5′ 8” tall, with a slender build, wearing all black clothing and a ski mask, entered the store. The suspect then displayed a handgun in a threatening manner towards the employee and demanded money, cigarettes and scratch off lottery tickets. The employee complied with the suspect’s demand and was not injured in the confrontation. The subject left the store on foot in an unknown direction.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident can contact the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department at 845-485-3666 or submit an online tip submission form at dev.townpolice.net.
March 9, 2012 – Attempted Carjacking
On Friday, March 9, 2012, at 1: 36 p.m., the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department received a 911call from a female victim reporting she was in the parking lot of the Arlington branch of the Poughkeepsie Public Library System located at 1 Davis Avenue in the Town of Poughkeepsie. The victim stated a female suspect attempted to remove her from her 2011 BMW.
Responding police officers located the victim in the parking lot who stated she was seated in her vehicle with her 2 year old child when the female suspect, described as black, approximately 5′ 3” tall, wearing a black sweatshirt, pulled opened her car door and demanded she get out of her car. The victim pulled her car door shut, locked it and called 911. The victim and her child were not injured during the incident.
A description of the suspect was sent to responding Town of Poughkeepsie Police Officer in the immediate area. Minutes later a Detective located the suspect several blocks from the scene of the attempted carjacking. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Defendant: Chantasia Griffin - age 19
131 Maloney Road
Wappinger Falls, NY
Griffin was arrested without incident and charged with Attempted Grand Larceny, 2nd degree, section 155.40-1 NYSPL, a Class D/Felony.
Chantasia Griffin was arraigned before Judge Paul Sullivan in Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court. Defendant was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash / $20,000 bond and is to return to Town of Poughkeepsie Justice Court on March 12, 2012.
March 6, 2012 – Rail Trail – Rock Throwing Incidents
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department is currently investigating four (4) incidents of motor vehicles that had windshields damaged by rocks thrown from the area of pedestrian overpasses connected to the Dutchess County Rail Trail in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Two (2) vehicles were damaged between February 16, 2012 and February 24, 2012 on Salt Point Turnpike, where the Dutchess County Rail Trail overpass crosses the roadway, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. A third incident was reported on March 3, 2012 at 6:48 p.m. at the same location. An additional report was received on March 3, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. on VanWagner Road at the location of the pedestrian overpass for the rail trail.
The four (4) vehicles involved were struck by apparently thrown rocks and there have been no reported injuries to any motorists.
Chief Thomas Mauro stated ‘the police department is aggressively investigating these incidents and takes this matter very seriously’. ‘We have notified our law enforcement partners in the area, as well as Dutchess County officials who oversee the rail trail’. Chief Mauro stated that additional police resources have been allocated to this area and this will continue.
The public is asked to report any suspicious conduct in these areas to law enforcement as soon as possible. Anyone with information concerning these crimes can make an anonymous notification at dev.townpolice.net
