Troop D – Oneida
05 October 2019
State Police and NYSDOT announce 20 tickets resulting from Operation Hardhat in Herkimer County
The New York State Police and the Department of Transportation today announced that 20 tickets were issued this week during “Operation Hardhat” operations in Herkimer County, a joint initiative that featured State Troopers dressed as highway workers to crackdown on work zone violations and highlight the importance of safe driving through active construction and maintenance work zones. Based on the continuing success of the initiative, plans are in place to roll out additional operations in the coming months.
Members of the New York State Police Troop D patrolled active DOT work zones along Route 5S in the Town of Frankfort, and Route 49 in the Town of Marcy. State Police issued tickets for violations, including speeding and seat belt violations.
Troopers were 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.
“Distracted driving and excessive speeds are unnecessary dangers that both law enforcement officers and highway workers now face while working to keep the traveling public safe,” State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said. “Motorists must understand their responsibility to follow the rules of the road and be aware of their surroundings by eliminating distractions while behind the wheel.”
“The success of Operation Hard Hat is imperative – it protects our transportation workers and raises awareness to the serious issue of work zone safety,” State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said. “I’d like to thank the dedicated New York State Troopers who took the time last week to patrol our work zones. This is an important partnership that we need to continue to further promote our shared mission of highway safety.”
Similar joint initiatives resulted in 102 tickets in Onondaga County, 112 tickets in the Rochester area and 136 in the Albany area for a variety of traffic violations, including for speeding, use of a cell phone while driving and failure to obey a flagger.
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.
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.
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.
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 can be found at https://www.ny.gov/programs/work-zone-safety-awareness.
For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.
05 October 2019
State Police seek public assistance with locating owners of stolen items; items taken from unlocked vehicles in the town of Clay
State Police in North Syracuse is attempting to locate the owners of several items that were discovered in the possession of two 18-year-old teens who were arrested in August on petit larceny charges after they were caught stealing items from unlocked cars in the Wild Creek Way development in the town of Clay.
If anyone recognizes an item that was stolen, they are asked to contact State Police in North Syracuse at (315) 455-2826 or Troop D Headquarters (315) 366-6000.
Please refer to case # 9046558.
08 October 2019
Rome Woman arrested on Animal Cruelty Charges
State Police arrested Alycia M. Clark, 29, of Rome, for New York Agriculture and Markets Law §353: Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance, a class “A” misdemeanor, and NYS Agriculture and Markets Law §356: Failure to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal, an unclassified misdemeanor.
On Oct. 7, 2019, State Police responded to 6451 Andregg Drive in the town of Lee for a report of an abandoned dog. When Troopers arrived, they discovered a black and tan German Shepherd dog in the garage with obvious signs of malnourishment.
The dog was brought to Rome Animal Hospital where it was treated for chronic malnourishment.
Clark was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Lee Town Court Oct. 16, 2019, at 4:30 p.m.
09 October 2019
Hannibal Woman charged with 33 counts of Animal Cruelty
State Police arrested Amy M. Grandazzo, age 43 from 205 Martville Road in Martville, for (32) counts of NYS Agriculture and Markets Law §353: Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance (class “A” misdemeanor) and (1) count of §357: Selling or offering to sell or exposing diseased animal (unclassified misdemeanor).
On Sept. 4, 2019, State Police responded to 205 Martville Road to interview the complainant, who traveled from Rochester, regarding the purchase of an 8-week-old puppy, (half-Dalmatian and half-pitbull), from Grandazzo. She was also concerned about the health of the other dogs at that residence. The complainant stated that she took the puppy to the vet and the puppy tested positive for a highly contagious and potentially fatal canine disease, Parvo. The puppy was also diagnosed with roundworms, easily spread from dog to dog and harmful to their health.
On Sept. 13, 2019, State Police, along with the town of Hannibal Animal Control Officer, executed a search warrant at 205 Martville Road and seized 21 dogs of numerous ages and breeds from the residence. Nine tortoises and two prairie dogs were also seized. All animals were seized without incident and were turned over to Animal Control Officer Theresa Penfield for medical treatment and veterinary care.
On Sept. 27, Amy Grandazzo was charged with 32 counts of animal cruelty and was released on an appearance ticket to appear in Hannibal Town Court Oct. 8 at 6 P.M.
09 October 2019
Canastota man arrested following a domestic dispute
State police arrested Ryan Zophy, 21, of Canastota, for second-degree menacing, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors; and second-degree harassment, a violation.
Zophy is charged with pointing and threatening the use of a handgun at a 25-year-old female acquaintance during a domestic dispute in the village of Canastota. He was processed at State Police Headquarters in Oneida and arraigned in Chittenango Village Court where he was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to appear in Canastota Village Court at 9 a.m. Oct. 24, 2019.
10 October 2019
Florida man arrested following a traffic stop on I-81
On Oct. 9, 2019, a member of the State Police Traffic Incident Management Unit stopped a 2011 Volvo tractor-trailer on Interstate 81 in the town of Onondaga for a state tax law violation, no highway use tax sticker which is required on certain motor vehicles who operate on New York state public highways.
A DMV inquiry on the driver, identified as Joel Arpon, revealed that he was operating in a disqualified CDL driver’s license status. During the course of an impound inventory, troopers discovered a plastic bag containing 31 gift cards that were partially secreted in a storage area inside the cab area. The investigation determined the gift cards had been in the name of 31 different individuals and the driver couldn’t explain how he came to possess them.
Troopers charged Arpon, 45, of Miami, Fla., with 31 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument (a class D felony); he also was issued traffic tickets for unlicensed operator, improper license plate and no HUT sticker. Arpon was transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center for centralized arraignment and was remanded on $15,000 cash bail / $25,000 secured bond.
12 October 2019
Liverpool man arrested on burglary and sex abuse charges
On Oct. 12, 2019, state police in Lysander arrested Joseph D. Williams, 36, of Liverpool, for second-degree burglary (a class C felony – sexually motivated offense), first-degree sex abuse (a class D felony), and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance – cocaine (a class A misdemeanor).
An investigation conducted by the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation has revealed at approximately 4:50 a.m., Williams entered the victim’s residence through an unlocked door and made his way past two sleeping children into the back bedroom where the victim and her boyfriend were sleeping and began to have sexual contact with her. Williams was last seen running from the residence.
Williams was located a short time later by Troopers and taken into custody without incident. He was arraigned at the Onondaga County Centralized Arraignment Court and was remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center on $10,000 cash bail / $15,000.00 bond.
The investigation continues.
16 October 2019
Town of Minoa man arrested on sex abuse charges
State police arrested Trystan S. Chartier, 23, of Minoa, for second-degree sex abuse, forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.
Chartier is accused of trying to meet up with a 13-year-old girl for sex. Chartier was using a social media app to have a conversation with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl; however, the girl’s mother had noticed the conversation on a shared cell phone. The mother took over the conversation and agreed to meet Chartier at a market on Kirkville Road in the town of DeWitt. Chartier arrived and was confronted by the child’s mother. Trooper Shaun Smith was flagged down by the mother and advised Chartier was attempting to meet up with her 13-year-old daughter.
Chartier was subsequently arrested. Further investigation revealed that on a previous occasion, Chartier had smoked marijuana and had prior sexual contact with the juvenile.
Chartier was arraigned at Onondaga County Centralized Arraignment by Judge Cognetti and was released. He is scheduled to appear in Dewitt Town Court Oct. 22, 2019, at 6 p.m.
Anyone with information regarding Chartier is asked to contact Inv. Patrick McCormack at SP North Syracuse BCI (315) 455-2922.
Troop T – Thruway
07 October 2019
Ohio man arrested for weapons possession and DWI with a B.A.C. over three times the legal limit following a traffic stop on the Thruway
On October 5, 2019, at approximately 4:03 p.m., State Police stopped a vehicle on I-90 in the village of Canastota after receiving reports from the toll collector at the Canastota exit, of a possible intoxicated operator who had insufficient funds to pay the toll. Investigation revealed the driver of the vehicle, Joel H. Morris, 34, of North Olmstead, Ohio, was found to be intoxicated. During a vehicle inventory, a 40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun was located in the trunk of the vehicle, which Morris illegally possessed in New York.
Morris was taken into custody, transported, and processed at SP Syracuse where his blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.25%. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon (firearm) in the 4th degree; a class A misdemeanor and aggravated driving while intoxicated; an unclassified misdemeanor.
Morris was arraigned before the Village of Canastota Court and remanded to the Madison County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash or bond. A return court date of October 24, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. has been set.