Sept. 9, 2019

State police, NYSDOT announce crackdown on work zone violations in Onondaga County

The state police and the state Department of Transportation announced the continuation of “Operation Hardhat,” a joint effort to crack down on work zone violations and highlight the importance of safe driving through active construction and maintenance work zones on state highways.

Members of Troop D will patrol active DOT work zones in Onondaga County this week to enforce work zone speed limits and ensure that motorists are obeying flagging personnel. Troopers will also be on the lookout for motorists who violate the state’s Move Over Law, which applies to emergency and work vehicles. During this enforcement effort, it may not be readily apparent to motorists that troopers are present in the work zone.

The state Department of Transportation recently launched a new Public Service Announcement highlighting the importance of moving over in construction work zones across the state.

State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “Law enforcement and other emergency responders, including highway workers, work in a dangerous environment and risk their lives to keep the traveling public safe. It is important that motorists are aware of their responsibility to follow the rules of the road and know that violations of the Move Over Law and work zone intrusions will not be tolerated.”

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Establishing and maintaining a highway work zone helps keep both our workers and the traveling public safe. As our department’s field staff and the state police face increasing dangers from distracted drivers as they work on our state highways, this is an excellent opportunity to collaborate and raise awareness.  I thank the New York State Troopers who will be joining us this week and working towards our shared mission of highway safety.”

During a similar recent joint initiative in work zones in the Rochester area, 112 tickets were issued for a host of violations, including speeding, use of a cell phone while driving and failure to obey a flagger.

Emergency responders and highway workers depend on motorists being aware of their surroundings, using patience and caution. It is critical that motorists pay attention behind the wheel and eliminate distractions, especially on interstates and other multi-lane highways.

New York’s Move Over Law requires motorists to carefully slow down and safely move over when approaching law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks and construction and maintenance vehicles stopped along the roads.

Construction and maintenance crews across the state work alongside fast-moving traffic each day, knowing their lives depend on drivers being alert, patient and cautious. It is critically important that motorists eliminate distractions, pay attention to driving and, on multi-lane highways, move over a travel lane to give highway workers room.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone, and in accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license. Work zone safety tips may be found HERE.

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit 511NY or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York state’s official traffic and travel information source.

Herkimer County man is charged with breaking into a home, dousing it with gasoline and attempting to burn it down

State police arrested Brian D. Talbot, 36, of Little Falls, for first-degree burglary (a B felony), fourth-degree grand larceny (an E felony) and second-degree criminal contempt (an A misdemeanor).

Police say the arrest is the result of an investigation into allegations that Talbot forcibly entered an unoccupied residence located at 148 Tisi Road in Danube; once entry was made into the residence, he allegedly doused the home with gasoline and attempted to burn the house down by utilizing the furnace.

He then went to the residence of a female acquaintance who has an active order of protection against him and advised her that he set the house at 148 Tisi Road on fire.

Talbot then left the residence with the female complainant’s four-wheeler without permission.

Talbot was located a short time later and was taken into custody without incident.  He was arraigned in German Flatts Town Court and remanded to the Herkimer County Correctional Facility on $50,000 dollars cash bail or $100,000 bond.

St. Lawrence County man arrested for stealing merchandise from Hannaford Stores in three counties

State police arrested Brian D. Laprade, 30, of Canton, for first-degree scheme to defraud, a class E felony; and petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor.
Police say on Saturday, Sept. 7, Laprade was caught by loss prevention leaving the Hannaford Store in Watertown with $313 worth of merchandise without paying.  Laprade is also accused of stealing boxes of flea medication from the Hannaford stores in Plattsburgh and in Saratoga, total merchandise valued at $2,359.

Laprade was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Watertown Town Court at 9 a.m. Sept. 19, 2019.

Sept. 11, 2019

Four transported to hospital following multiple-vehicle crash on I-81

On Sept. 10, 2019, at 8:30 p.m., state police responded to Interstate 81 in the village of Pulaski, Oswego County, for a reported three-vehicle crash.

Preliminary investigation revealed a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu operated by Darien H. Hill,  22, of from Watertown, was northbound in the driving lane,  distracted by her cell phone. Police say Hill swerved to avoid striking a 2019 Toyota pickup truck, operated by Joseph F. Thompson, 50, of Coatesville, Pa., lost control of her vehicle and causing her to strike the pickup truck, a guide rail. Hill’s vehicle eventually came to rest facing south in the northbound lane.

Hill was issued three tickets: Operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile telephone, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation. She was not injured in the crash.

A 2017 Subaru operated by Amber L. Mitchell, 21, of Fort Drum, was northbound in the passing lane on Interstate 81, unaware of the Malibu that was involved in the previous crash, which was facing southbound; she struck the vehicle, veering into the driving lane and subsequently striking the rear of a tow truck, which was parked on the east shoulder of the driving lane.

Mitchell was transported by Northern Oswego County Ambulance to SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse with internal injuries.

Two passengers in Mitchell’s vehicle, 21-year-old Maddison A. Johnson was transported by McFee Ambulance to SUNY Upstate Medical University and was treated and released. A 1-year-old child passenger in a child restraint, was transported by McFee Ambulance to SUNY Upstate Medical University Pediatric Emergency Department  in Syracuse for a minor facial injury.

A front-seat passenger in the tow-truck, Mikayla R. Ames, 20, was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse with a minor head injury. She was treated and released.

The investigation continues.

Syracuse man arrested on burglary charges

On Sept. 1, 2019, state police arrested Allan J. Gonzalez, 22, of Syracuse, for second-degree burglary, a class C felony.

Gonzalez is charged with operating a 2003 Audi A-4 on County Route 145 in the town of Adams, Jefferson County, when he exited the roadway and struck a trailer, which was parked a nearby residence.

Gonzalez then forcibly entered the unoccupied residence and invited a third party to the residence where they engaged in sexual activity and drank the homeowner’s alcohol.

Gonzalez was arraigned in Adams Town Court and remanded to the Jefferson County Public Safety Building on $1,000 bail.

Mattydale man arrested on multiple felonies after traffic pursuit

State police arrested Jamal L. Victrum, 28, of Mattydale, on the following charges:

  • Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony
  • Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony
  • Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony
  • Fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony
  • Seventh-degree criminal possession of controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor
  • Speeding and failure to obey a police office, both violations

On Sept. 7, 2019, troopers stopped a 2019 Nissan Altima for speeding.  As troopers interviewed the driver, later identified as Jamal Victrum, they observed marijuana on the front passengers seat and ordered Victrum to exit the vehicle. Victrum then sped away and drove to his residence where he was taken into custody without incident.

A search of the rental vehicle and the path of the traffic pursuit discovered oxycodone pills, marijuana and a stolen fully loaded Taurus .357 revolver.

Victrum was transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center pending centralized arraignment.

Members of the State Police Violent Gang & Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted in this investigation.

Sept. 12, 2019

Watertown man charged with patronizing a prostitute

On Sept. 11, 2019, state police in Watertown arrested Walter H. Vantassel, 75, of 25497 ST-37, Watertown, on two counts of third-degree patronizing a prostitute, a class A misdemeanor.

Vantassel is charged with engaging in sexual conduct with two female victims in exchange for money on several occasions in June 2019 at the Hotis Motel located in the town of Pamelia, Jefferson County.

Vantassel was issued appearance tickets and is scheduled to appear in Pamelia Town Court at 7 p.m. Sept. 26, 2019.

By martha

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