Troop D Oneida
Jan. 2, 2020
Baldwinsville man charged in shooting incident outside an apartment complex in Oswego County
State Police in Fulton arrested Bennie L. Jackson, 30, of Baldwinsville, for first-degree assault, a class B felony.
On Dec. 27, 2019, at 4:23 a.m., state police responded to SUNY Upstate Medical University for a reported 22-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim reported he was in the Champlain Commons Parking Lot when Jackson pulled out a handgun and shot him several times.
Investigators began to search for Jackson.
On Jan. 1, 2020, investigators observed a vehicle parked in a driveway on Seneca Street in Fulton with several individuals sitting inside. As investigators began to speak with the occupants, a back seat passenger, later identified as Jackson fled from the vehicle on foot.
Troopers searched the area and, with assistance from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office AIR 1 helicopter, located Jackson along the Oswego River and taken into custody without incident.
Jackson was processed at SP Fulton and transported to the Oswego County Public Safety Building for centralized arraignment.
State police were assisted at the scene by the Fulton Police Department, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office AIR1 and the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office.
Jan. 3, 2020
Traffic stop on I-81 leads to two men arrested on multiple charges
On Jan. 2, 2020, at approximately 11:25 a.m., troopers conducted a traffic stop on I-81 in the town of Cicero. The vehicle, a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, was stopped for hauling an unregistered trailer.
The driver, later identified as William P. Northup, initially gave a false name and identity to the trooper. He was subsequently arrested, charged with second-degree criminal impersonation and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both class A misdemeanors; and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, an unclassified misdemeanor.
When troopers approached the passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Montra Hodge, Jr., he fled on foot toward the grassy area and fence line adjacent to the highway. As troopers pursued Hodge, he began to physically resist and after a brief struggle, was taken into custody.
During a search, troopers discovered Hodge had a loaded .22 caliber handgun secured in his waistband.
Hodge, 56, of Syracuse, was arrested and charged with the following:
- Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony;
- Second-degree assault, class D felony;
- Resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor;
- False personation, class B misdemeanor; and
- Fugitive from justice, wanted in Alabama for a parole violation.
Hodge was remanded to the Onondaga County Justice Center to await extradition back to Alabama. Northup was released on appearance tickets.
Jan. 6, 2020
State police investigate a personal injury crash between a tractor trailer and snow plow on I-90, in the town of Dewitt
On Jan. 5, 2020, at approximately 11:05 p.m., state police responded to a crash on I-90 eastbound, in the area of mile marker 276.5 in the town of Dewitt. Investigation determined the driver of a 2009 Freightliner tractor trailer was traveling eastbound in the right lane when it rear-ended a state Thruway Authority snow plow, also in the right lane.
The driver of the tractor trailer, Miroslaw Skoczylas, 59, of Whitby, Ontario, then lost control, struck several delineators and left the roadway.
The impact of the crash caused the plow to rotate, facing the wrong direction. Thruway employee Leanard M. Cage, 61, of Cicero, suffered non-life threatening injuries to his arm and leg.
Skoczylas suffered non-life threatening facial injuries and was issued vehicle and traffic violations.
Both drivers were transported to SUNY Upstate Medical University. State Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the scene to assist with fuel and oil spill clean-up.
Jan. 7, 2020
Troopers investigate a car/pedestrian crash in Oswego County
State police in Hastings are investigating a car/pedestrian crash that occurred Monday, Jan. 6, on Sand Ridge Road in the town of Schroeppel, Oswego County.
Investigation revealed a 2019 Subaru operated by Benjamin S. Taylor, 23, from Syracuse, was traveling south on County Route 10 in the town of Schroeppel when he struck 30-year-old Samantha R. Wightman, who was walking in the roadway attempting to remove her dog, that was just struck by another vehicle, from the roadway.
Wightman was transported to SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and is listed in serious condition.
Jan. 13, 2020
Troopers locate fugitive from justice
On Jan. 11, 2020, troopers assigned to SP Fultonville and members of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation assigned to SP Fonda arrested 20-year-old Luis A. Flores-Jimenez of Worcester, Mass. Flores-Jimenez is a fugitive from justice out of Pennsylvania.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. Saturday, state police stopped a vehicle traveling on I-90 in the town of Glen for a traffic infraction. Flores-Jimenez was found to be wanted by the state of Pennsylvania for criminal attempt-criminal homicide.
Flores-Jimenez was taken into custody without incident.
He was arraigned in Glen Town Court and remanded to the Montgomery County Jail without bail. He is currently awaiting extradition proceedings.
Jan. 16, 2020
Tenant is arrested after suspicious apartment fire in Alexandria Bay
On Jan. 15, 2020, at approximately 8:20 a.m. the Alexandria Bay Fire Department and the state police responded to a reported structure fire at 2 Washington St., Alexandria Bay.
Subsequent to a joint investigation into the cause and origin of the fire by the Alexandria Bay Fire Department, the Alexandria Bay Police Department, state police, the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control and the Jefferson County Office of Fire and Emergency Management Office, the sole occupant of the upstairs apartment, 29-year-old Nicholas F. Leeson was arrested for second-degree arson, a class B felony.
Leeson was arraigned Alexandria Town Court and remanded to the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.
Jan. 19, 2020
Rome man arrested following a two-month-long investigation into stolen auto parts
On Jan. 17, 2020, state police in Oneida arrested 26-year-old Richard D. Tennant, Jr., of Rome, for second-degree auto stripping (a class E felony), second-degree criminal mischief (a class D felony) and fourth-degree grand larceny (a class E felony).
Tennant is accused of damaging several vehicles and stealing their catalytic converters and selling them to scrap yards. Troopers had been searching for Tennant following a two-month investigation; he had been evading law enforcement due to multiple warrants for his arrest.
He was found to be a passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop in the town of Marcy. In addition to the charges above, Tennant had outstanding warrants from Utica, Rome and the city of Oneida.
Tennant was transported to Oneida County Centralized Arraignment Court and held on $1.00 bail, due to his outstanding warrant from Madison County. He is due back in Rome City Court at a later date.
Jan. 22, 2020
Trooper injured while investigating Salina crash
State police are investigating a two-vehicle crash involving a state police patrol vehicle that occurred at approximately 8:20 a.m. on the Onondaga Lake Parkway (State Route 370) in the town of Salina.
Investigation revealed a state police patrol vehicle was parked along the eastbound shoulder of Route 370 with the emergency lights activated, investigating a separate two-car property-damage car crash when a 2010 Ford van operated by Jessica M. Reidy, 38, of Skaneateles, struck the rear of the patrol car.
The trooper was transported by ambulance to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Syracuse with minor head and back injuries, where she was treated and released. Reidy was issued a ticket for failure to move over for an emergency vehicle, a violation; she was not injured in the crash.
The Onondaga Lake Parkway was closed for several hours while the crash was investigated. State police were assisted at the scene by the state Department of Transportation and the Liverpool Police Department.