Police News

Shandaken Police report the arrest Sunday of a Shokan man on numerous felony charges. Martin Sletten, 58, of Twin Oakes Drive was arrested after Shandaken Police received a 911 call for an assault. Police allege that Sletten pushed his way into the residence of a Mt. Tremper man and once in the home displayed a knife in a threatening manner and stole property from the resident.

By Brian Sweeney
An internal investigation by the New York State Police has cleared all troopers of any wrongdoing in the accidental death of Trooper David Brinkerhoff in an April 2007 gunfight at a Margaretville farmhouse. The classified report was obtained by The New York Times under the Freedom of Information Law.
During a gun battle with fugitive Travis Trim, Trooper Brinkerhoff was killed by a shot to the back of the head from fellow Trooper Norville Yearwood. The troopers, part of an Elite Mobile Response Team, had stormed the farmhouse in search of Trim.

The Shandaken Police report the arrest Friday of Ricky L. Williams, 52, of Phoenicia. Police say Williams was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Shandaken Justice Court for an incident that occurred on July 13 in Phoenicia during which Williams allegedly threatened another man with a knife. Williams was charged with one count of second-degree menacing and remanded to the Ulster County Jail.

Megan E. Toohey, 39, of Buffalo, was arrested Monday morning and charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, operating without insurance, and operating with a suspended license and registration following a traffic stop on Route 28 in Margaretville. She was released on recognizance and is scheduled to reappear before the Town of Middletown Court on September 10.

State police arrested a Middleburgh man last Monday after allegedly finding marijuana and open beer containers in his vehicle. Police say they observed a vehicle traveling at 65 mph in a marked 35 mph zone and then located the unattended vehicle at the Grand Gorge Country Store. As they investigated the car, Donald I. Armlin, 23, emerged from the store and attempted to enter the passenger side of the car, claiming he was not the driver. Armlin was issued an appearance ticket for unlawful possession of marijuana and a traffic ticket for an open container in a motor vehicle.

Cars operated by Lisa VanSteenburg of Margaretville and Jordan Soderback, 17, of Arkville collided last week Tuesday on Route 28 in Arkville when an eastbound Soderback turned left off Route 28 toward Church Street into the path of VanSteenburg, who was westbound.

By Julia Green
Beneath an American flag flying at half-mast and a solemn gathering of his fellow state troopers, family members and friends, a dedication ceremony was held Sunday afternoon unveiling a memorial to slain New York State Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff, who was shot to death in the line of duty in Margaretville last April.
The memorial, a five-foot tall jet-black granite stone from India, features Brinkerhoff’s likeness as well as a passage about his life and the events that led to his death. It is located in front of the Middletown Town Hall building on Route 28.

John Mason, 55, of Braehead Road, Town of Kortright was arrested by state police Friday and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment after he allegedly fired a rifle at a motorist whose car had stopped in front of his home. Mason was arraigned in Town of Stamford Justice Court and remanded to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.

A memorial dedication ceremony in honor of the late New York State Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Town of Middletown Town Hall at 42339 State Highway in Margaretville. Trooper Brinkerhoff was killed in the line of duty on April 25, 2007 in a gun battle with fugitive Travis Trim during which Trim and Trooper Brinkerhoff both lost their lives and another trooper, David Mattson, was seriously wounded.

On June 11 Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested and charged a Delaware County Correctional Facility inmate with first-degree promoting prison contraband and tampering with physical evidence, both felonies. Cheryl A. Scarth, 50, of Fleischmanns, is accused of possessing dangerous contraband in the Delaware County Correctional Facility on June 5 and attempting to destroy the contraband to prevent its use as evidence.