Troop D – Oneida
Troopers investigate head-on crash on Route 690 in Van Buren
State police in Lysander are investigating a three-vehicle crash that occurred on State Route 690 southbound in the town of Van Buren, Onondaga County.
On Sept. 12, 2022, at 12:20 p.m., a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck operated by Heather J. Wills, 38, of Syracuse, was northbound on State Route 690 when she struck a guard rail, drove through the median and entered the southbound lane where she struck a 2019 Dodge Caravan head-on.
Wills was transported to SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital with internal injuries; she was listed in stable condition.
The operator of the Caravan, Russell A. Baker, 43, of Baldwinsville, and a 15-year-old passenger were transported to SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A 2019 Nissan Rogue operated by Dorinda D. Justiniano, 61, of Baldwinsville, was following the Caravan and was unable to avoid striking the rear of the Caravan. She was not injured in the crash.
Charges against Wills are pending for DWAI-drugs once she is released from the hospital. A state police drug recognition expert determined she was under the influence of drugs just before the crash.
State police were assisted at the scene by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation continues.
UPDATE: State police investigating shooting in Forestport
UPDATE: Troopers are attempting to identify the individuals in the photos above in regard to the shooting incident on August 27th. These individuals are not suspects. Investigators are looking to interview these individuals who were in the area at the time of the shooting incident.
If anyone has any information or recognizes anyone in the photos above, they are asked to contact State Police at (315) 366-6000.
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ORIGINAL: On Aug. 27, 2022, at 4:37 p.m., troopers responded to State Route 28 in the area of Bear Creek Road in the town of Forestport for a reported road rage incident.
When troopers arrived, they discovered the male driver of a Chevrolet Impala suffering from a gunshot wound following a road rage incident with several motorcyclists. The victim was transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital with a non-life threatening injury.
Investigators ask anyone who may have witnessed this incident, stopped at the scene or has further information to contact the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 315.366.6000.
The investigation continues.
Sackets Harbor man arrested for falsifying business records
On Sept. 13, 2022, troopers arrested Errol Oskay, 36, of Sackets Harbor, on one count of first-degree falsifying business records, a class E felony; and one count of petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor.
Oskay is charged with purchasing a child’s riding toy at Walmart Sept. 12 in Watertown and returning the item the next day. Walmart asset protection notified police after they discovered the box contained an older, much-weathered model of the riding toy inside.
Oskay, an off-duty state trooper, has been suspended while an internal investigation is conducted. He was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in Watertown Town Court Oct. 3, 2022.
Troop D Violent Gangs and Narcotics Unit
State police launch “Operation Vaporizer” to target sales of flavored nicotine vapes to minors
In August 2022, the State Police Troop D Violent Gangs and Narcotics Unit launched Operation Vaporizer in Oneida and Herkimer Counties.
The operation targeted the sales of flavored nicotine vapes to minors.
As a result of receiving countless complaints from school districts and parents, several law enforcement agencies worked together to attempt to curb such sales. The investigation and arrests encompassed the last several weeks.
Troopers were assisted by the following agencies: Rome Police Department, Yorkville Police Department, New York Mills Police Department, Boonville Police Department, Herkimer Police Department, Frankfort Police Department, Ilion Police Department, Mohawk Police Department and the City of Little Falls Police Department.
This is a reminder to all smoke shops in New York State that the legal age to purchase tobacco products or nicotine vapes is 21 years of age.
As a result of the initiative, the following locations were checked and found to be in compliance:
Herkimer County
- R&B Tobacco, 147 Main St., Frankfort
- Zoomin Smoke, 58 Colonial Circle, Ilion
- East Main Deli and Convenience, 6 E. Main St., Ilion
- Herkimer Tobacco Shop, 301 S. Washington St., Herkimer
Oneida County
- Yorkville Smoke Shop, 200 Oriskany Blvd., Yorkville
- West Dominick Market, 418 W. Dominick St., Rome
- Iron Lung, 8863 Turin Road, Rome
- Camden Gourmet Deli and Smokeshop, 54 Main St., Camden
The following individuals face charges of endangering the welfare of a child (PL260.10) after their respective locations were found not to be in compliance with the laws dealing with the sale of nicotine vapes to persons under the age of 21:
Herkimer County
- Hesham A. Albaadani, 35, of Ilion (Liberty Smokeland, 62 Central Ave., Ilion)
- Sultan M. Shami, 33, of Utica (MK Smoke Shop, 4 W. Main St., Mohawk)
- Amadou C. N’Diaye, 35, of Herkimer (AMS Smoke Shop, 107 N. Prospect St., Herkimer)
- Haroun F. Ali, 23, of Utica (Sam’s Deli & Grocery, 275 N. Main St., Herkimer)
- Nooh S. Alomari, 31, of Little Falls (Sam’s Deli & Grocery, 15 Furnace St., Little Falls)
Oneida County
- Yousef M. Alaodyi, 18, of Rome (Rome Mini Mart, 1327 Floyd Ave., Rome)
- Ezzaddin A. Al-Ahmar, 44, of Rome (Rome Dairy Money Mart, 603 N. James St., Rome)
- Marie T. Mitchell, 69, of Rome (CK Smoke Shop, 5819 Rome Taberg Road, Rome)
- Aadil Tahiri, 38, of Boonville (NC Smoke Shop, 13187 State Route 12, Boonville)
- Adnan H. Almahen, 28, of Rome (Z1 Smoke Shop, 13410 State Route 12, Boonville)
Additional arrests are pending.
Troop T – Thruway
Utica woman charged with DWI; BAC more than three times legal limit
On Sept. 10, 2022, at approximately 11 a.m., troopers stopped a vehicle at the toll entrance to I-90 in Utica for a vehicle-and-traffic violation. The driver, Brenda M. Evans, 56, of Utica, was found to be intoxicated; she was taken into custody, transported and processed at SP Schuyler, where her blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.25 of 1 percent.
Evans was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor, and was released to a sober third party with appearance tickets returnable Oct. 18, 2022, in Utica City Court.