Tag: Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Wallaby, Parrots, Peacocks Among 84 Animals Seized From Filthy Warwick Home: Sheriff
Dozens of animals were rescued from a home in Orange County after investigators uncovered what authorities called filthy and neglectful conditions.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the case began in 2024, when a complaint was filed about animal abuse at a residence on Old Dutch Hollow Road in Warwick. That complaint had also led to the removal of more than 100 animals at the time.
On Aug. 12, 2025, deputies executed an arrest warrant for Linda Hickey, 62, of Monroe, in connection with the 2024 case. While at the property, inve…
‘Operation Powder Burn’: 20 Caught In Largest Gun Bust In Orange County History, DA Says
A massive, eight-month investigation into an illegal gun and drug trafficking ring operating out of Orange County has resulted in the arrest of 20 people and the recovery of more than 55 firearms, hundreds of grams of drugs, and over $65,000 in cash, prosecutors announced.
Dubbed “Operation Powder Burn,” the coordinated effort spanned multiple states and involved local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, making it the largest gun trafficking case in Orange County history, District Attorney David M. Hoovler said in an announcement on Friday, Aug. 1.
The investigation re…
Former State Auditor Steals $400K From Wallkill During Audit, DA Says
A state auditor from Dutchess County assigned to examine an Orange County town’s finances has been arraigned on felony charges after allegedly stealing more than $400,000 in public funds, prosecutors announced.
Tobias Otieno, age 41, of Hyde Park, was arraigned this week on a felony complaint charging him with second-degree grand larceny as a public corruption crime, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Thursday, July 10.
According to Hoovler, Otieno is accused of stealing $405,843.25 from the Town of Wallkill between June 2022 and September 2024, while working as a…
Cops ID Goshen Father, 2 Young Sons Killed In Fire
A father and his two young sons were killed in a devastating house fire Saturday night, May 31, in a Hudson Valley, NY town, authorities said.
Shane Munn, 40, and his two sons, ages 12 and 17, all died in the blaze at 876 Pulaski Highway in Goshen at approximately 8:10 p.m., according to New York State Police.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find the building completely engulfed in flames, police said. Munn was found dead inside the home, while his two sons were rushed to Garnett Health Medical Center in Wallkill, where they later died from their injuries, according to NYSP.…
3 Indicted For 2021 Murder Of Taxi Driver In Newburgh Over 3 Years Later: DA
Three young men have been indicted in connection with the 2021 murder of taxi driver Jorge Arbayza de la Cruz in Orange County, whose shooting sparked a years-long multi-state investigation.
Nehemiah Clarke, 20, Jordan Burch, 19, and Damani Cruz, 20, have been arraigned in Orange County Supreme Court on charges related to the fatal September 30, 2021, shooting, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Wednesday, April 16.
According to court records and law enforcement officials, the three are accused of attempting to rob Arbayza de la Cruz, 51, a local taxi …
Psychiatric Escapee Punched Doctor At Garnet Medical Center, Gets Attempted Murder Charge: DA
A psychiatric patient who violently attacked his psychiatrist and escaped from Garnet Health Medical Center in Orange County has now been indicted for attempted murder, prosecutors announced.
Christopher Morgan, 40, of Monroe, was arraigned on Tuesday, March 18, in Orange County Court on charges stemming from the brutal assault at the behavioral health unit of the hospital in Wallkill earlier this month, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced on Wednesday, March 19.
Morgan was initially charged with felony robbery after authorities captured him in Port Jervis on Friday, Mar…
Hospital Escapee Attacked Employee, Took ID Card At Middletown Facility: Police (Update)
A psychiatric patient who escaped from an Orange County hospital after attacking a hospital employee has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including a prior bomb threat, authorities announced.
On Thursday, March 6, Christopher M. Morgan, 40, of Port Jervis, was a patient at Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown when he violently assaulted a 74-year-old hospital employee, forcefully taking their ID access card, New York State Police said on Friday, March 7.
Morgan then used the stolen card to flee the behavioral health unit and escaped the hospital on foot, as Dail…
Fentanyl Lab Busted: Dealer With Federal Record Arrested In Newburgh, Police Say
Authorities shut down a fentanyl lab in Orange County following a months-long investigation into the distribution of deadly narcotics, officials announced.
The Orange County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a Liberty Street residence in Newburgh's south end on Wednesday, March 5, uncovering a fentanyl-processing operation, the Orange County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, March 6.
During the search, investigators seized over four ounces of fentanyl, cutting agents, packaging materials, a mechanical mixing device, and what is believed to be a sedative additive…
Violent Gas Station Robbery, Attack On Clerk In Newburgh: Second Suspect Gets Prison Time
A second man involved in a violent armed robbery at an Orange County gas station has learned how much time he will spend behind bars, weeks after his co-defendant received an 11-year sentence, prosecutors announced.
Nasier Codett, 23, of Newburgh, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Orange County Court to 8.5 years in prison in connection with an armed robbery in Newburgh in July 2023, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler.
The robbery occurred on July 1, 2023, when Codett and Shelby cut power to a gas station in Newburgh, plunging the store into darkness b…
Man Stole Car With Victim's Mother Inside, Struck Her In Chester: DA (Update)
A man accused of stealing a car from an Orange County shopping center allegedly did so with the victim's mother still inside the vehicle, whom he struck repeatedly, prosecutors said.
Chester resident Edward Keegan, 34, was arraigned on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with two counts of second-degree robbery, second-degree assault, fourth-degree grand larceny, and second-degree unlawful imprisonment, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
According to Hoovler's office and the Town and Village of Che…
Car Stolen Outside Strip Mall: Suspect Leads Cops On Chase In Chester, Police Say
A man was apprehended after stealing a car at an Orange County strip mall, leading police on a chase through multiple towns, and crashing on Route 17, authorities said.
New, updated report - Man Stole Car With Victim's Mother Inside, Struck Her In Chester: DA (Update)
The incident began just before noon on Friday, Feb. 21, when Edward Keegan, 34, of Chester, allegedly stole a vehicle from in front of Liquor King in The Chester Mall at 78 Brookside Ave., according to the Town of Chester and Village of Chester Police Departments.
Shortly after, police responded to a panic al…
High-Speed Pursuit In Middletown Leaves Officer Injured, Suspect in Custody: Police
A high-speed vehicle pursuit in Orange County ended with the arrest of Alejandro Garcia and minor injuries to a police officer.
The incident began on Thursday, Jan. 9, around 11:35 a.m. on Carpenter Avenue in the Town of Wallkill, when Middletown Police Officers Jason Berman and Nicholas Langford attempted a vehicle stop as part of a narcotics investigation.
According to Lt. Jeffry Thoelen of the Middletown Police, Garcia, age 34, of Middletown, was the subject of a search warrant and charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, suddenly fled the scene, driving over Officer L…
Orange County Raid Nets AR-15, Sawed-Off Shotgun, 1 Arrest: Police
An Orange County man is facing felony charges after police seized multiple illegal firearms, including an AR-15 with a defaced serial number, during a raid in the town of Deerpark, authorities announced.
The City of Port Jervis Police Department, in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, arrested Brian Negrette, age 40, of Huguenot, a hamlet of Deerpark, on Thursday, Jan. 2, on charges of criminal possession of a weapon. He is being held pending arraignment.
According to Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, the arrest followed an investigation that led to executing a sear…
