Sister Strangulation Suspect In Albany Headed For Mental Eval: Authorities
A Capital Region man accused of trying to kill his sister is headed for a mental health evaluation before trial.
Lawyers for Ahmed Hemedan, 20, of Albany, requested the exam at his arraignment Monday, Aug. 17, and a judge agreed, local NBC affiliate WNYT reported.
Hemedan was arrested Sunday, Aug. 9 at Corning Preserve Boat Launch next to the Hudson River, the Albany Police Department said. He tried to strangle his sister inside a car at the boat launch, and she drove into the river, investigators said.
Underwater, Hemedan pulled his sister from the submerged car, then began trying to drow…
Man, 83, Confronts Juvenile In Parking Lot, Violates Order Of Protection In Carmel: Sheriff
An 83-year-old man was arrested after allegedly violating a court-issued order of protection by approaching a juvenile in a Putnam County parking lot, authorities said.
Deputies said the incident happened around 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the parking lot of a business along Route 6 in Carmel, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The protected party — a juvenile — told authorities that Kent resident James Dickson, who is the subject of a full stay-away order involving the same victim, approached and made comments similar to those that led to his earlier charges…
Sledgehammer Rampage By PFA Violator End With Officers Hospitalized In Bellmore: Police
A Long Island man is accused of swinging a sledgehammer and injuring two police officers during a violent arrest, detectives announced on Friday, Sept. 19.
Jason Franco, 34, of Bellmore, was involved in a domestic disturbance at a North Bellmore home on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 4:40 p.m., according to police.
Franco got into a verbal argument with a 77-year-old man, then used a sledgehammer to smash through the victim’s bedroom door, detectives said. The victim, fearing for his life, dialed 911.
Nassau County Police Officers arrived and tried to take Franco into custody, but he became c…
Fairview Firefighter Who Slammed Ex To Floor, Hit Her Gets Probation, DA Says
A Westchester firefighter convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend in a violent domestic attack has been sentenced, prosecutors announced.
Joseph Apostoli, 46, of the Fairview Fire Department in Greenburgh, received three years of probation with domestic violence conditions on Monday, Sept. 15, according to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
The DA’s Office had sought a period of “shock probation,” which would have included jail time, but Judge James McCarty denied the request.
Following a non-jury trial in June, McCarty convicted Apostoli of two counts of third-de…
Vandal Targeted Black Victim's Car In Ballston Hate Crime, Police Say
A 20-year-old Saratoga County man is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly vandalizing a victim’s car, police said.
Deputies responded to a disturbance call on Blue Heron Way in the town of Ballston just before 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators determined that Christopher Brothers, 20, of Ballston Spa, struck the victim’s car with a hammer and jumped on top of it, causing over $1,500 in damage, police said.
Deputies alleged he intentionally targeted the victim, who is Black, because of his perceived race.
Brothers was arres…
18-Year-Old Accused Of Choking Girlfriend In Yorktown, Now Facing Charges: Police
An 18-year-old Westchester resident has been arrested following a reported dispute in which he allegedly choked his girlfriend, police announced.
The arrest stemmed from a walk-in complaint on Sunday, Aug. 24, around 7:23 p.m., regarding a past domestic incident, Yorktown Police said on Thursday, Aug. 28.
The victim told police she had a verbal argument with her boyfriend that escalated into physical violence. She alleged that the teen grabbed her wrists, causing redness and swelling, and then placed his hand around her neck and applied pressure, obstructing her breathing.
Polic…
Admitted Child Rapist Who Repeatedly Abused Schenectady 14-Year-Old Sentenced To Prison
A Schenectady man will spend years in prison after admitting he sexually abused a teenage girl over a period of several days.
Michael Taylor, 43, was sentenced to six years behind bars in Schenectady County Court on Thursday, July 01, after pleading guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl.
Taylor confessed to enticing the victim, who was known to him, to stay at his apartment by giving her marijuana and a cell phone, according to the Schenectady County DA’s office.
Over the course of a week, he committed multiple sexual acts against the girl, prosecutors said.
As part of the sentence, a Sche…
Wyandanch Man Tortures Dog With Flame, Violates Protection Order: Police
A Wyandanch man is accused of torturing a dog with a flame and violating an order of protection during a domestic incident in South Farmingdale, police announced on Sunday, Dec. 29.
Officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a South Farmingdale residence on Friday, Dec. 27, where a 53-year-old woman reported arguing with her son, who had left the home, detectives said.
Police later located Rorenise Toafili, 30, of 19 Washington Avenue, and found him in possession of a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine, authorities said.
Further investigation revealed Toafili had b…
Former Rockland County Corrections Officer Sentenced For Tampering With Records, Harassment
A former Rockland County corrections officer has been sentenced to probation after admitting to falsifying records and exposing himself to a female inmate while on duty, prosecutors announced.
John Kezek, 39, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Florida, New York, was sentenced following his guilty plea to tampering with public records and official misconduct, said Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh.
The sentencing occurred on Thursday, Dec. 19.
As part of his guilty plea, Kezek admitted to falsifying records at the Rockland County Correctional Facility and exposing himself to …