The Honorable Mayor Leroy B. Akins, Chairman of the Board
Members of the Board of Public Safety
Members of the Glens Falls Common Council
City of Glens Falls

Once again it is our pleasure to submit to you the annual report of the Glens Falls Police Department for the year 2006.

The year 2006 was an exciting time for the Glens Falls Police Department. We saw the retirement of Chief Richard P. Carey and my elevation to Chief of Police. I would like to thank the Mayor, the Board of Public Safety and the Glens Falls Common Council for their support during this transition period.

This change, and other retirements, led to several changes in the administration of our fine department. I am glad to report that everyone has enthusiastically taken to their new positions. We also added five new officers to our ranks. Their training is complete and they all serve the city with courage and dedication.

2006 was a very busy year for our police officers. We handled 23,697 call for service. That is an increase of 16.4% since 2005. We are pleased to report that although our call volume was up, 2006 came and went without any murders or fatal vehicle accidents. Our main problem continues to be narcotic related activity. Our officers continue to be diligent in recognizing and evaluating drug activity and strictly enforcing the laws. In one case, a particular bar on South Street was well known for drug sales; an ongoing investigation led to eleven arrests, and the location has been shut down.

Detective Sergeant Lloyd Swartz continues in his assignment to the Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force. The resources gained from this relationship, both human and financial, have proven to be invaluable.

We started several new initiatives last year that have also been very successful. We began an aggressive pedestrian crosswalk enforcement campaign, paid for with a grant from the Governors Traffic Safety Committee. We conducted several sting operations at downtown pedestrian crosswalks and issued of 50 traffic tickets to violators. We believe, and have heard from many downtown residents and business leaders, that this effort has made a difference in pedestrian safety.

In 2006, we started the Glens Falls Police Citizens Police Academy and have had two very successful sessions graduate. One session was for area youth and was very well received. It is our goal to open a better line of understanding and communication between the police department and the citizens we serve.

We continue to expand and develop projects that have proven effective in the past. We conducted multiple Underage Drinking Initiatives. We targeted both business that sell alcohol to minors as well as conducting patrols to locate minors consuming alcohol in residences and public places. This led to the arrest of several sales clerks through out the year, but more importantly, we are finding our underage agents are being turned away more and more.

Police Officer Steve Huntington continues to do an excellent job with our Child Passenger Safety Program. We inspected 151 child seats in 2006. The vast majority of them were found to be improperly installed.

Sgt. Leroy "Marty" Chittenden continues to monitor area sex offenders. It is the police department’s position that constant and close monitoring of these individuals is imperative to the safety of the city’s citizens.

DWI enforcement is a priority with our officers. For two years in a row, the officers of the Glens Falls Police Department have made over 280 DWI arrests, a number that did not go unnoticed. The state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving recognized Police Officer Anthony Lydon as one of only seven officers in the state as a "Top Cop" for his outstanding DWI efforts.

As always, the outstanding men and women of the Glens Falls Police Department continue to set the bar for local law enforcement. We look forward to serving the community in the years to come.

Respectfully Submitted,　

Joseph W. Bethel
Chief of Police

January began with a arrest of a 20 year old male for the felony of criminal possession of a forged instrument and two counts of petit larceny after an investigation into a complaint from his mother that he stole her personal checks.

Detectives arrested a 60 year old man for unlawful imprisonment and criminal contempt in the first degree, a felony, after an investigation that he took his estranged 42 year old girlfriend against her will from a Glens Falls apartment. About five days later she was located in the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. After further interview of female victim, it was determined that she had lied about being taken against her will and that she voluntarily went with the 60 year old man per a money arrangement that she would get a sum of money if she accompanied him. She would use the money to pay off bills, child support and give to her ex-husband so he would not tell police that she was with her ex-boyfriend. She was then arrested for giving a false statement to the police. The investigation was assisted by the New York state police and Warren County District Attorney’s office.

Detectives assisted uniform division and charged a 30 year old male for 2 counts of assault in the second degree, both felonies, after a knife fight between several other persons.

A 26 year old female was arrested for the felony of grand larceny third and falsifying business records after the investigation that she stole over $40,000 from her place of employment, a business in Glens Falls.

Detectives also assisted the New York State Police in the arrest of a 55 year old man for rape in the second degree, a felony, after an investigation that he engaged in sexual intercourse with his daughter.

A Glens Falls man was charged with rape in the first degree, a B felony, unlawful imprisonment and possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine) after a complaint and an investigation that he forcefully had sexual intercourse with a 26 year old Glens Falls women.

We also arrested 4 adults and 1 juvenile for numerous burglary and other charges after they broke into the Salvation Army on Chester street in Glens Falls and two of them were caught in progress inside building by responding Glens Falls police officers.

Detectives arrested a 19 year old male on Glens Falls City Court arrest warrant for sexual misconduct and endangering welfare of a child for engaging in sexual intercourse with a fourteen year old female child. Defendant was arrested on warrant in Gloversville NY and transported back to Glens Falls city court where he was arrested/arraigned and sent to Warren County jail.

A 22 year old Glens Falls man was indicted in Warren County for his involvement in a burglary, assault and possession of weapon charges resulting from a incident on Washington street in city of Glens Falls.

We assisted the New York State Police in the arrest of a 43 year old man for grand larceny 4^th,, a felony.

Two 16 year old female students were arrested for the sale of Ritalin pills to each other which took place in the Glens Falls High School. Charges brought upon them were criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a felony, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor.

An investigation into a felony grand larceny complaint at 35 E Henry Hudson Townhouses led to the arrest of a 21 year old male who was also wanted by New York State Parole on absconding charges.

Detectives charged a juvenile female for felony of assault in the second degree after she threw a knife at a male which stuck in his shoulder and also cutting his thumb. Injuries needed treatment at the Glens Falls Hospital.

A DWI arrest of a 44 year old Kingsbury man by uniform division led to a investigation that he used a false name to hide that he was a fugitive from justice wanted by the state of New Hampshire for a violation of probation from felony burglary charges. Subject was arrested on numerous felony charges by detectives of forgery, offering a false instrument for filing and being a fugitive. He was also charged with criminal impersonation for giving a false name to the police.

An 18 year old male was arrested for felony criminal mischief charges for throwing a rock into a residence on Sanford Street and causing damage.

A 29 year old Ft Edward man was arrested on felony grand larceny and possession of stolen property after an investigation into stolen brass fittings from a business on Pruyn’s Island in Glens Falls. Property was valued over $5,000 and was taken to a recycling plant in Albany where it was sold for $1.00 a pound.

Detectives also assisted uniform division into the arrest of a Glens Falls juvenile for reckless endangerment and criminal mischief after he fired a .22 round from his Dix Ave home into a home on Auburn Place narrowly missing occupant of that home.

The beginning of March began with the arrest of a 31 year old male for 2 counts of felony assault 2^nd and 2 counts of endangering welfare of a child after he held his girlfriend’s three year old child’s head under water while striking him about the face.

Detectives located a wanted man by Glens Falls City Court after executing a search warrant for narcotics in Ft Edward NY.

Following a home invasion on 12/17/05 a 30 year old man was arrested on multiple felony warrants after he was arrested on unrelated drug possession charges in Plattsburgh NY.

Following another home invasion burglary, in which a robbery with a weapon occurred at 113 B Henry Hudson Townhouses, detectives located and arrested 33 year old male that fled to Manhattan NY to avoid prosecution. At the time of the alleged incident defendant was on New York State Parole which he also absconded from.

Detectives arrested a 22 year old male for four sex related felonies of criminal sexual act third and three counts of rape in the third degree. He was engaging in sexual relations with an under age female.

The arrest of a 19 year old male from Gloversville NY for criminal contempt in the first degree, a felony, was made after he violated a Glens Falls City Court Order of Protection issued by City Court Judge Tarantino directing defendant to have no contact with female victim. Defendant did have verbal contact and displayed a knife to female victim during contact. Victim in this case was one in the same when defendant recently was arrested for having sex with her without her consent due to her being under age.

We arrested a 36 year old male on five felonies and three misdemeanors after a investigation into him having a sexual relation with a thirteen year old male victim.

A Glens Falls man was arrested for the felony of rape in the first degree after an investigation that he forcibly raped a female victim.

Detectives with the assistance of uniform division assisted New York State Police BCI Unit in the arrest of a twenty year old South Glens Falls man for the forcible touching of a seventeen year old female.

A 55 year old Corinth man was arrested for the felony of rape in the first degree for allegedly engaging in forcible intercourse with a seven year old female child back in July and August of 2004 at his then Bay St residence.

In the beginning of May detectives investigated the death of a 55 year old Glens Falls woman. After an autopsy, its determined cause was of a natural manner.

Detectives arrested a 23 year old Glens Falls man and a 35 year old man from Denver, Colorado on numerous felony indictments for residential and commercial burglaries in area after a lengthy multi agency investigation between Glens Falls Police, Warren and Washington County Sheriffs Office, NYSP and Warren County District Attorney’s Office.

Detectives arrested a 44 year old transient man for assault third and criminal trespass second degree after he went inside a Bay Street residence and was then confronted by tenant of record out front of apartment and struck him in the face.

After a report of two juvenile males being robbed and assaulted in the Murray Street playground, detectives arrested two adult males, one being 19 from Gansevoort NY and the other being 17 from Glens Falls for robbery second and assault second, both being felonies. Two other juvenile males were involved but at this time gave witness statements.

Detectives and uniformed personnel responded to the Glens Falls Hospital for a report of a male being brought in with a gunshot wound to the leg. Upon investigation it was determined that the incident was self inflicted and occurred on Garner St in Queensbury. New York State Police were called and we assisted them. Of the two males involved, the victim who shot himself was charged with criminal sale of a firearm to a minor, a class D felony, and his brother was charged with felony tampering with physical evidence and possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor.

We arrested a 19 year old Glens Falls man for unlawfully growing Cannabis in his 22 Harlem St apartment.

We also arrested a 31 year old Glens Falls man from Walnut St for identity theft first, a D felony and falsifying business records a misdemeanor after the investigation into that he used his minor child’s name and personal information to obtain National Grid power services deterring the power company from finding out about his past owed debts.

Detective division responded to Dango and Tony’s Restaurant on South St in Glens Falls for a report of the finding of a purse in the basement covered in blood. Upon arrival at the scene, we inspected and observed a large amount of blood at the bottom of the stairs and a purse and a open knife covered in blood. Evidence Tech Officer Steve Huntington dispatched and responded. Investigation later revealed a 26 year old Henry Hudson Townhouse female had gained entry to basement and fell down stairs. She was arrested for criminal trespass.

A 30 year old man from Fredalla Ave in Glens Falls was arrested on three felony charges of grand larceny and possession of forged instruments after he stole several checks, forging and cashing them at a local bank in which he had a account.

A 21 year old Troy female was arrested on a criminal mischief charge. She was later arraigned and released. It was determined after the fact that she had given false personal information to police due to her being wanted on outstanding charges in Saratoga County. Detectives located her in Troy with the assistance of Troy PD and she was arrested on felony impersonation and forgery charges and a misdemeanor of offering a false instrument.

Detectives arrested a 21 year old female, well known for police contact for falsely reporting an incident and giving a false statement after she lied about being the victim of a sexual assault.

We arrested a 28 year old Lake George man for grand larceny second, a felony, after he deposited a counterfeit treasury check in the amount of $68,788.23 into his account then spending same.

Detectives arrested a 37 year old Glens Falls female for felonies of possession of forged instruments as well as misdemeanor larcenies. She altered personal checks given to her as well as stealing a social services check provided to her landlord for rent.

We also arrested a 25 year old North Greenfield women employed as a home health aid for the felony of grand larceny and misdemeanor petit larceny for stealing her client’s credit card number and fraudulently using same to purchase monetary items.

Another 30 year old Glens Falls man was arrested on numerous felonies after he stole and forged a number of personal checks from an acquaintance then cashing them for his own benefit.

With the assistance of New York State Parole, detectives arrested a 24 year old Glens Falls man who was on parole for criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, a felony, after a quantity was found in the freezer of his home

August began with the arrest of a 19 year old South Glens Falls man for sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child after an investigation into allegations that he raped a female acquaintance of his.

Detectives assisted New York State Police in the arrest of a 31 year man from Glens Falls for grand larceny 4^th charges, a felony, after it was alleged he stole a sum of money from New York State Department of Labor.

A 52 year old Glens Falls man was arrested for assault third and endangering the welfare of a child after a child abuse hotline report was made for him assaulting a thirteen year old female child known to him.

Detectives assisted Glens Falls Uniform Division in a felony arrest of a 26 year old Queensbury female for assault second and criminal possession of a weapon after an altercation in Hotshot’s Bar on South Street where she assaulted another women with a bottle.

A 49 year old Gansevoort man was arrested for grand larceny second degree and falsifying business records, both felonies, after it was alleged he stole $115,000 dollars from McPhillips Insurance, his place of employment, while employed there as a bookkeeper.

Detectives arrested a 38 year old Rhinebeck NY woman for identity theft and petit larceny, both misdemeanors, for assuming another’s identity and using the victims credit card number to obtain $318.74 worth of services from a dating service.

A 17 year old Glens Falls teen was arrested for petit larceny and possession of stolen property after an investigation into a larceny complaint alleging that he stole items consisting of an I-pod and a digital camera from the inside of a motor vehicle.

Detectives arrested a 18 year old South Street female for assault third, menacing second and possession of a weapon after a domestic between her boyfriend and her in which she threatened to use a knife during the dispute.

Detectives assisted New York State Parole and New York State Police in the search for a parole absconder. Wanted parolee well known to police was wanted by our department for multiple vehicle and traffic violations after uniformed personal attempted to stop a car he was driving resulting in the wanted fleeing the moving occupied car crashing it into a house. Wanted was eventually apprehended after police received a tip that he was at a location in Myrtle Beach, SC. He was arrested and produced to Glens Falls City Police where he was arrested and arraigned on outstanding charges.

Detectives arrested a 22 year old Glens Falls man for the felony of grand larceny in the fourth degree after he stole a car and sold it for cash at a Kingsbury junk yard.

A Glens Falls women was arrested for misdemeanor possession of forged instrument charges and petit larceny after she possessed a stolen forged check in the amount of $145.72 and had an acquaintance cash and deposit said check in his account and profit from same.

A investigation into the damage to newly erected fountain in Crandall Park as well as other mischief in park resulted in the arrest of three persons, an 18 year old South Glens Falls man for felony criminal mischief and two juveniles, one from Glens Falls and the other from Queensbury both charged with felony criminal charges as well.

In response to the recent rise of larcenies from motor vehicles, detectives arrested 17 year old Glens Falls resident for misdemeanor counts of possession of stolen property and petit larceny after investigation into several related thefts.

Detectives also assisted Det Sgt Swartz and the DEA Task Force in the execution of a search warrant for marijuana in a Glens Falls home. Search resulted in the arrest of a 34 year old Walnut St Glens Falls resident for possession fourth, having more than two ounces of marijuana.

We arrested a 36 year old Whitehall women for felony identity theft and two misdemeanor counts of forgery after she used her out of state niece’s name to obtain medical services at the Glens Falls Hospital.

Another 18 year old Glens Falls teen was charged with misdemeanor possession of stolen property after the investigation of many thefts from motor vehicles.

A 25 year old Staten Island, NY man was arrested for five felonies stemming from unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, three counts of possession of a weapon and possession of controlled substance after he was stopped while driving a rental car and ticketed and bailed to appear on 4/25/06. Car was towed and it was later discovered that there was a hand gun in the trunk.

Detectives arrested a 34 year old homeless man for felony sexual abuse in the first degree after an investigation into defendant subjecting a 26 year old South Street women acquaintance to sexual contact.

We also arrested a 39 year old Queensbury man for 3 felony counts of possession of forged instrument in the second degree. It was alleged that he stole checks from a acquaintance and passed them at Hotshot’s Bar in Glens Falls.

A 46 year old Glens Falls women was found in the woods behind the YMCA highly intoxicated. It was unclear if she had been a victim of a crime or not. With the assistance of the New York State Police extensive search of the scene did not reveal anything. Victim was transported to the Glens Falls Hospital where she underwent a sexual assault exam as well. A later interview of victim after she was well enough to talk resulted in her stating that she had been living in woods for past few days drinking and that she was not victim of any crimes.

A 36 year old Salem, NY women who was an absconder from New York State Parole was arrested for felony possession of a forged instrument second degree and petit larceny. She had forged a check and tried to pass it to the TD Banknorth drive thru on Maple St in Glens Falls.

Detectives arrested a 18 year old Locust St Glens Falls teen for the misdemeanor of unlawfully dealing with a child 1^st for hosting an underage drinking party at his apartment. Also stemming from same investigation another 18 year old Queensbury teen was arrested for giving the police a false statement reference to this case.

We also arrested a 24 year old mentally challenged Glens Falls man for sex abuse in the first degree, a D felony. It was alleged he had forcible sexual contact with a female acquaintance at the Glens Falls Library.

A 30 year old Glens Falls man was arrested for 2 counts of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child following an investigation conducted by Glens Falls Detective Division and the New York State Police. Three teens came forward alleging inappropriate sexual contact done to them during the summer of 2006. Defendant was a Probation Officer assigned to Warren County at the time of the arrest. He was also previously employed as a Warren County Child Protective Case Worker. Another youth came forward after defendant’s initial arrest alleging sexual abuse done to him as well by defendant at his home during a visit by defendant acting in his official capacity as a case worker for Child Protective Services. Defendant was subsequently charged with felony sex abuse, endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct.

We also arrested a 31 year old Queensbury man for robbery first, a felony and possession of a weapon after he held up a male victim via knife point taking a sum of cash in the parking lot of Burger King in Glens Falls.

Detectives also made a multiple number of warrant arrests and assisted other local and state agencies in the apprehension of wanted individuals as well.

As mentioned in previous reports, this task force is regional, and I cannot be in Glens Falls as much as I would like. However, I and the supervisors at the task force have been working on solutions that will keep me in Glens Falls more often. Our agency is unique in that we have only one individual assigned to full time narcotic investigations. All of the other parent agencies who have members assigned to the task force have narcotics "units" comprised of investigators who, in the absence of the assigned task force member, continue to investigate narcotic violations in their respective jurisdictions. We do not. I believe that the assignment of one additional member to the Detective Division, assigned to narcotic investigation, would greatly enhance our ability to investigate narcotics in this City and would compliment the efforts made by the existing Detective assigned to the regional Drug task Force. Our efforts have been great and our successes have been many. However, I trly believe there is still room for improvement. As our City grows, so to does its problems. Some of the Capital District cities have received Federal resources in the form of a program called IMPACT to deal with a drug problem just shy of epidemic proportions. These financial resources have enabled cities like Schenectady, Albany and Troy to blanket their respective cities with additional manpower to deal with the problem. And they have made significant progress in dealing with drug dealers in their area. Unfortunately, their success becomes our problem. As those cities make progress, many of the drug dealers simply move and take up residence elsewhere. As we have seen many times in the past, our area is ripe for dealers who are looking for the most bang for their buck. The fact is that drug prices in the Glens Falls area are among the highest in the State of New York. It only makes sense that dealers have and will continue to relocate to this area to avoid the IMPACT areas established in the Capital district and for the increased financial gain.

Below is some of the statistical data compiled during the past year. These numbers represent arrests and seizures by the Capital District Drug Task Force. These particular arrest numbers and seizures are not part of but in addition to the Glens Falls Police Department Annual statistics.