City of Glens Falls

Once again it is our pleasure to present to you the annual report of activities for the City of Glens Falls Police Department for the year 2003.

Violent crime visited the streets of our city in 2003 in an unprecedented fashion. We recorded more robberies in 2003 than in any previous year. There were eight robberies reported with a total of 13 victims. The good news is that all but one case has been closed by the arrest of those responsible. In the one open case there was no weapon displayed. The bad news is that all of the robberies were drug related.

Our grantsmanship has again been very effective. In 2003, Police Officer Steven Huntington was again successful in obtaining a $12,000 grant for our Child Passenger Safety Seat Program. In addition, Captain Stanley Wood was also successful in obtaining $10,453 for Buckle Up New York, our occupant restraint enforcement program. For the first time this past year Detective Sergeant Lloyd Swartz was able to obtain a $2,000 grant from MAGLOCLEN for drug buy money. The unfortunate story on the grant issue is that 2003 was the first year we were not granted any Local Law Enforcement Block Grant money.

In August of 2003, in Lake Placid, New York, I was sworn in by Mayor Robert Regan as President of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. I began serving in that position on January 1, 2004 and will continue through August of 2005. The networking and contacts that are available to us as a result of that position have already proven to be a tremendous benefit. The future benefits of this are sure to prove extremely lucrative.

In May of 2003, we upgraded our computerized records management system to new, modern, windows based system that should serve us for years to come. The transition was not without difficulties but we are making many improvements.

Police Officer Steven Huntington continues to do an outstanding job for us overseeing the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program. We conducted four Child Safety Seat Checks during 2003 and checked a total of 80 seats. The fitting station at Headquarters checked a total of 66 additional seats. We also gave away a total of 22 seats. This was made possible through one of our grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. Also during 2003 we sponsored a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Technician Course. A total of 9 students successfully completed the course. In addition, as a result of participating in the instruction, Police Officer Steven Huntington became a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Instructor. This is truly an outstanding program that we are able to provide to the people of our region at no cost. There is no question that this program is saving lives.

Pursuant to the Sexual Offender Registration Act (AKA Megan’s Law) we continually monitor sex offenders that are assigned to us either by virtue of having been arrested by us or that they reside in Glens Falls. As this is written, we are monitoring 122 sex offenders; 43 of them currently reside in Glens Falls. Sergeant Leroy "Marty" Chittenden oversees this most important program for the Police Department.

In February of 2003 Detective Sergeant Paul Frettoloso graduated from the Adirondack Regional Chambers of Commerce "Leadership Adirondack" program. Sergeant Leroy "Marty" Chittenden began the "Leadership Adirondack" program in October of 2003. It is expected he will graduate in February of 2004. With Sgt. Chittenden’s graduation we are very proud to report that a total of six of our members have completed that program.

The Warren / Washington County Victim Impact Panel continues to have a positive effect on DWI recidivism in our region. A total of 806 offenders attended the Panel during 2003 for an average of 67 attendees per month.

We expanded our Project 21 underage drinking initiative in 2003 to include the use of an underage agent with an undercover police officer. The project was successfully deployed in January at a Rave event at the Civic Center with five arrests and in November in cooperation with the State Police with eight arrests. Hopefully, we are sending a clear message that the sale of alcoholic beverages to those under 21 will not be tolerated.

Counter Terrorism efforts continue to be a focus for law enforcement agencies locally, statewide and nationally. In 2003, I was appointed to the position of Co-Chair of the New York State Executive Committee on Counter Terrorism. This assignment ensures that our region is directly in touch with the terrorism issues that can directly affect us.

In 2003 two members of the Police Department resigned to move on to other opportunities. That left us staffed at 29 sworn officers, a very low number. We continue to see narcotics and violent crime that are unprecedented. We need to be staffed at a level so that we can provide the service that the public wants and expects. The outstanding men and women of the Glens Falls Police Department perform in incredible fashion for the people we serve. The bottom line however is that we would be doing more if we were properly staffed.

We continued our efforts to seize the assets of those that would sell narcotics in our region. After processing and sharing the funds with our other partners we realized $7,847.65 in forfeited monies during 2003.

One of the services we still offer to the residents of Glens Falls is to check their homes for them while they are away. During 2003 we had 55 house checks at different premises. That only tells part of the story. Officers actually visited those 55 individual locations a total of 886 times.

We consider it our personal honor to serve. We willingly go that extra step to perform in exemplary fashion. The ladies and gentlemen of the Glens Falls Police Department look forward to serving in the year 2004 and beyond with knowledge, courage and integrity.

Respectfully Submitted,

Richard P. Carey
Chief of Police

2003 DETECTIVE DIVISION
Summary Report
prepared by:
Detective Sergeant Kevin Conine
January of 2002

January

The year began with an arrest for Grand Larceny Third degree, after an investigation into a complaint from a City Antiques dealer that a 58 year old Schenectady man had paid for $10,000 worth of Antiques with a useless check.

We arrested a 41 year old Florida man, who is a registered Sex Offender, for Criminal Contempt, after an investigation with the New York State Police into a report that he had been loitering in the area of the Middle School. He was in his car in front of the school at the time of his arrest.

A 25 year old Pennsylvania woman was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance fifth degree, after she sold Ecstacy to an undercover Glens Falls Police Officer at a Rave concert held at the Civic Center. A 21 year old Latham man was charged at the same concert after he sold Ketamine to an undercover Glens Falls Police Officer at the concert. He was also charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance fifth degree.

We charged a 31 year old Glens Falls contractor with Grand Larceny third degree after an investigation into a complaint from a customer of his that they had paid him for materials, which he did not deliver or complete the work as he had agreed to do.

A 45 year old Queensbury man was charged with Reckless Endangerment first degree and Menacing second degree after an investigation into a bar fight at a local bar where the man threatened bar patrons with a loaded handgun during the altercation.

We arrested a 35 year old Fort Edward woman for Grand Larceny third degree and multiple counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument second degree after an investigation into a report that someone had taken an repeatedly used stolen credit cards taken from a pocketbook at the Glens Falls Hospital

A 56 year old Glens Falls man was assaulted with a baseball bat as he was walking into church. After an investigation into the assault with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and the New York State Police, we arrested two 19 year old

Glens Falls teenagers for Assault second degree and Attempted Robbery in the first degree. One of the youths was also charged with another felony assault that occurred in Queensbury prior to this attack. Also arrested was the 41 year old Glens Falls woman the youths were staying with in Glens Falls. She was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the third degree and Conspiracy in the fifth degree, for giving the youth prescription drugs in exchange for him assaulting her ex-husband in the Queensbury attack.

Also in January we arrested two Glens Falls teenagers age 18 and 19, after reports of several cars being stolen. The pair were charged after an investigation into the thefts with the New York State Police and Warren County Sheriff’s Department. The boys were charged with two counts of Grand Larceny fourth degree and one count of Assault second degree and Robbery in the second degree after they stole a vehicle on Broad Street and assaulted the owner. Fingerprints that matched one of the youths were lifted from one of the stolen vehicles by own evidence technicians. There were three cars stolen and they were all recovered.

February

A 19 year old Glens Falls woman was charged with Criminal Nuisance in the first degree, after she was found to be responsible for renting several apartments for out of town "Crack" dealers to conduct business out of.

A 46 year old Glens Falls woman was arrested after an investigation into a report of identity theft. She was charged with Identity Theft in the first degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property fourth degree after we executed a search warrant at her residence and found stolen property that she had charged with a credit information from a victim. A computer was seized, which she had been using to continue to order merchandise in the name of the victim without paying for it.

We charged a 22 year old Glens Falls man with Attempted Robbery first degree, Assault second degree and resisting arrest, after an investigation into a pizza delivery man being assaulted with a baseball bat while making a delivery.

A Glens Falls husband and wife were charged with Criminal Possession of Marihuana second degree, after an investigation with the Drug Task Force into marihuana sales at their home. More than 2 pounds of marihuana and $15,000 in cash were seized at the time of the raids on their property.

March

Three Washington County men were arrested after an investigation into a home invasion. The three were charged with Robbery second degree, Burglary second degree and Grand Larceny third degree. The men went to a home in the City and identified themselves as police officers. When the occupants opened the door, the men, wearing ski masks entered and directed the occupants to comply with their demands at gunpoint. The occupants were then duct taped and left otherwise uninjured after the robbery.

A 46 year old man, who is a registered Sex Offender, was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a child, after an investigation into a report of a 12 year old boy being offered $25 to allow the defendant to have sexual contact with him.

A 21 year old Troy woman was charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing first degree, after a complaint that she had filed a forged Acknowledgment of Paternity form with the City Clerk’s office. It was found during the investigation that the man named as father on the form was incarcerated at the time that she claimed he signed the form, and he did not sign it.

April

After an investigation into a suspicious fire, a 37 year old Hudson Falls woman was charged with Arson in the third degree. The apartment that her boyfriend lived in sustained extensive damage in the fire.A 33 year old Glens Falls man was charged with Rape third degree after a report that he had sex with a 16 year old girl.

May

After an investigation with the Drug Task Force we executed a search warrant at a city home and arrest two Glens Falls men for possession of more than 10 pounds of Marihuana and several ounces of cocaine. Numerous firearms and more than $5,000 was also seized in the raid. The men were charged with Criminal Possession of Marihuana first degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree.

We arrested a 22 year old Queensbury man after an investigation with the New York State Police and the New York State Department of Labor. He was charged with Grand Larceny third degree for taking more than $5,000 worth of unemployment checks that he was not eligible to receive.

Two Hudson Falls residents and a New York City man were arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance third degree and Criminal Nuisance first degree. The arrests came after an investigation with the Drug Task Force into sales of "Crack" cocaine at a local house.

June

We charged a 40 year old Queensbury man with being a Fugitive from Justice from the State of Florida. He was on trial in City Court at the time for Scheme to Defraud and was wanted in Florida for a similar crime.

A 33 year old Washington County man was arrested on South St for Disorderly Conduct by uniformed officers responding to a report of a fight. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of more than a half an ounce of crack cocaine and $12,000 in cash. At the time of his arrest he was the target of a federal drug conspiracy investigation by the Drug Task Force.. He has since pled guilty in federal court and was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and he forfeited the $12,000.

July

After an investigation with the Drug Task Force into reports by neighbors of frequent traffic at a local residence, we arrested a 54 year old City man for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance third degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance third degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree. He was charged after he sold crack cocaine to a police informant.

We investigated a report from Washington County Social Services that a 34 year old Hudson Falls woman had lost her Social Services Benefit Card and that it was then used in Glens Falls. The woman was later charged with Criminal Use of a Public Benefit Card second degree after the investigation showed that she used the card in Glens Falls to pay for crack cocaine.

An investigation into a report of a larceny from a company conducting business on the internet resulted in the arrest of a 32 year old Queensbury woman on felony charges of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. During the investigation it was found that she had been contacted by men in Nigeria who sent her stolen credit card information and had her order more than $50,000 worth of clothing, computer equipment, shoes, toys and other property. She had the items delivered to several locations in Glens Falls and Queensbury, she then shipped them to Nigeria. We assisted State Police in Queensbury executing a search warrant at her residence and recovered a truck load of stolen property valued at more than $50,000. The case is still being investigation by the United States Secret Service.

August

The Drug Task Force arrested 12 people at a crack house in Queensbury after an investigation into frequent traffic at the residence by several sources. More than one ounce of crack cocaine were seized in the raid. The charges against the defendants included Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance third degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree, Criminal Nuisance in the first degree and Loitering in the first degree.

We also arrested a 50 year old city man for Criminal Nuisance in the first degree after an investigation into the report of crack sales taking place in his residence. While executing a search warrant at his residence, we seized more than $12,000 in cash and charged a 25 year old Glens Falls man with several counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance third degree for selling crack out of the home.

September

We obtained an arrest warrant for the 25 year old Glens Falls man mentioned above who was in possession of more than $12,000 at the time of his arrest. During the warrant investigation with the Drug Task Force, he was located hiding in the ceiling of a home in Washington County. During that arrest he was in possession of more that $5,000 in cash. A small amount of marihuana and a .40 caliber handgun were also seized. His 21 year old girlfriend was arrested for Hindering Prosecution for hiding him in the house.

A 25 year old Glens Falls man on Parole was arrested for Forcible Touching, after an investigation into a report from the mother of a 15 year old girl that the man had sexual contact with her daughter.

We arrested two Glens Falls women for Grand Larceny third degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument second degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property fifth degree, after an investigation with the New York State Police at Queensbury, into the pair cashing more than $10,000 worth of checks that had been stolen from a business in Queensbury. One of the women was on parole at the time of her arrest.

October

A 22 year old Glens Falls woman was arrested after an investigation into a report from Warren County Child Protective Services and the District Attorney’s Office. The woman had been involved in a fight and was taken to Glens Falls

Hospital. At the time, she was 8 months pregnant and gave birth to a premature baby. At the time of the birth, the woman’s blood alcohol level was .28 percent. The baby was born with a blood alcohol level of .18 percent. If a persons blood alcohol level is more than .08 percent in New York, the law considers them to be intoxicated and cannot operate a motor vehicle. The woman was charge with Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

After investigating the report of a stabbing at a local bar, we charged a 23 year old Queensbury man who was on parole at the time. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the fourth degree and Assault in the second degree. The victim was stabbed in the back and has since recovered.

The Drug Task Force arrested a 43 year old South Glens Falls man after an investigation into reports that he had been selling cocaine. He was charged with multiple counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance third degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance third degree after he sold cocaine to an undercover Glens Falls Police Officer.

We arrested a 79 year old Lake George man for Forcible Touching after an investigation into a report from a local man that he had been molested while in the mens’ room of a local establishment.

November

After an investigation with the Glens Falls Fire Department into an Arson fire at Henry Hudson Townhouses, we charged a 33 year old Fort Edward man with Arson in the second degree, Making a Punishable False Statement and Criminal Contempt in the first degree. The defendant was charged with starting two separate fires in the apartment of his estranged girlfriend. At the time of the fire there was an active order of protective issued, barring him from having any contact with the victim. He initially gave investigators a false statement during the investigation.

We assisted New York State Parole in a warrant investigation and arrested a 23 year old Brooklyn man at the Henry Hudson Townhouses. He was charged with Violating his Parole after he absconded from a work release program. He has since been sent back to prison.

A 16 year old Queensbury youth and a 17 year old Massachusetts youth were charged after an investigation into 3 armed robberies that happened in October in Glens Falls on the same night. The two robbed 3 separate people at gun point while they were walking on different streets in Glens Falls. They stole a total of $3 cash and a cellular phone. We were assisted in this investigation by the New York State Police, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield, Massachusetts Police.

December

A 34 year old Glens Falls man was charged with Reckless Endangerment in the first degree, after an investigation with the Glens Falls Fire Department into a fire that heavily damaged an apartment house on South Street. At the time the fire started there were 15 people in the building.

We arrested a 46 year old Glens Falls man after an investigation with New York State Insurance Fraud investigators into the man filing false compensation claims that he was unable to work. He was charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing first degree, Insurance Fraud third degree, Workers Compensation Fraud, Fraudulent Insurance Practice, Grand Larceny in the third degree and Perjury in the first degree.

Two Glens Falls men were charged with multiple counts of Robbery in the first degree, after an investigation into a report that two men wearing masks robbed 5 people in an apartment in Glens Falls. One of the men was armed with a sawed off shotgun during the robbery. The victims reported that cash, wallets, a camcorder and marihuana was taken in the robbery.

The Drug Task Force consists of investigators from Glens Falls Police, the New York State Police, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Hudson Falls Police Department, New York State Division of Parole and the Drug Enforcement Administration.