February 4, 2009
The Honorable Mayor John J Diamond, Chairman of the Board
Members of the Board of Public Safety
Members of the Glens Falls Common Council
Citizens of Glens Falls
It is again, my pleasure to submit to you the annual report of the Glens Falls Police Department for the year 2008.
As the city, state and country go through a period of economic uncertainty, let me reassure you that the members of the Glens Falls Police Department remain committed to ensuring the safety of the residents we serve.
2008 was another busy year for officers. The department handled 21,093 calls for service. Narcotics are still the primary area of concern. Drug arrests were up significantly. While felony drug arrests were down slightly, misdemeanor and violation arrests were up from 2007.
Last year, we reported an increase in handgun activity. Unfortunately, we continue to come in contact with people possessing illegal handguns.
We are happy to report that there were no homicides in our city last year.
Once again, the men and women of the Glens Falls Police Department continue to do their best for the citizens of Glens Falls. Their commitment to excellence and dedication to this community is second to none. We look forward to being a part of all that Glens Falls has to offer.
2008 saw the retirement of two long time police officers, Jeff Crotty and Jay Wells. We are grateful for their service. This leaves the Police Department staffed at 29 sworn officers. This is the lowest number of officers since the 1960's. We feel it is vitally important that we return to full staff in 2009.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph W. Bethel
Chief of Police
2008
Detective Division
Summary Report
Prepared by Detective
Sergeant Paul R Frettoloso
As with the previous several years, the majority of the investigations and arrests of 2008 were directly related to narcotics. We also handled numerous sexual assault complaints and sexual content complaints. What follows are the highlights of those activities.
A 20-year-old Glens Falls man was charged with the felony of sexual abuse in the first degree after an investigation alleging he subjected a female victim to forcible sexual contact.
Detectives assisted Warren County Sheriff investigators in arresting a 16-year-old Glens Falls boy on three misdemeanor counts of petit larceny for going through motor vehicles and stealing property within. The same boy was then again arrested for burglary in the second degree, a felony and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree, a misdemeanor, for his part in an investigation where the defendant broke into his neighbor’s residence and stole property.
As a result of the above-mentioned investigation a 17-year-old Greenwich teen was also arrested for burglary in the second degree, a felony. The Defendant in this case was also charged with three misdemeanor counts of petit larceny by Warren County Sheriff investigators for his involvement in breaking into parked motor vehicles stealing property.
Detectives arrested a 17-year-old Glens Falls teen for criminal sale of marihuana in the fourth degree, a misdemeanor, after he reported that his residence had been burglarized and suspect(s) stole a quantity of marihuana from him that he had been selling to area youths. As a direct result of this investigation a 21-year-old Queensbury man and a 19-year-old Glens Falls man were arrested for the felonies of burglary in the second degree, petit larceny and giving police a false statement. All defendants in this case were known to each other.
Two Glens Falls teens were arrested for burglary in the second degree, a class c felony and petit larceny after they broke into one of the teen’s girlfriends parents home stealing cash, marihuana and prescription medication.
After numerous thefts from lockers at the YMCA in Glens Falls and the capital district, a multijurisdictional investigation led to the arrests of a 30-year-old Clifton Park man and his associate, also thirty and homeless for burglary, a felony and numerous felony counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree. Both defendants in this case were fueling their heroin addiction by stealing credit cards and fraudulently using them to purchase electronics then trading the stolen merchandise to a fence so they could purchase heroin.
Uniformed division responded to the area of Warren Street for a call of a man in dark clothes carrying a Stewart’s bag exposing himself. A check of the area came up negative in locating the subject. A short time later a human resource’s employee from the Post Star called in a complaint that a male subject had been placing ads in the paper requesting a maid for the apparent purpose of sexual solicitation. Concerns were aroused after a female called the Post Star complaining that she had called the number in the ad and the male wanted sex.
With the assistance of a female officer from the Glens Falls police department a controlled call was made to the number by the officer. The male was identified by name and address, known to police. It was confirmed that the motive of the ad placed was to get a female over to his house for sexual purposes and he would pay them for services. A meeting was arranged and the subject, a 49-year-old Warren Street male was arrested for patronizing a prostitute in the fourth degree. He was also charged with public lewdness for exposing himself in public to a female.
A man and two women from Ft. Edward were arrested on felony charges of grand larceny and possessing forged instruments after a complaint from Price Chopper on Cooper Street that they have received six checks totaling $1,138.29 which were reported stolen. Investigation by detectives revealed three suspects. They were all located, interviewed and arrested on grand larceny and possession of forged instrument charges, all felonies. Defendants all participated in stealing the checks from their neighbor.
Police received an anonymous call from a man reporting illegal gambling taking place at Mulligan’s Bar in Glens Falls. Caller alleged a large number of people were gambling with upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake. Detectives along with uniformed division responded. Upon arrival, observed a closed bar with patrons inside at tables with basketball tournament brackets and money. There was also an individual that was auctioning teams. A computer was also observed in the corner of the bar that appeared it was being used for record keeping. Auctioneer, owner of the computer and bar owners were identified and interviewed. During interviews of persons in the bar indications were made that this was an illegal operation. At the time the bar was closed and rented out for a private party. In all four persons were arrested for promoting gambling and possession of gambling records. Also, a sum of cash was seized by police.
A 56-year-old Hudson Falls man was arrested on three felony charges of criminal contempt in the first degree. Defendant in this case had been previously charged for stalking a female known to him. He was sentenced to probation and court ordered to stay away from the victim. Defendant failed to do so and after a lengthy investigation using a GPS device, it was determined that the defendant was in fact stalking her.
A 41-year-old Glens Falls man was arrested on felony possession of a forged instrument after he was caught being in possession of counterfeit money.
A 26-year-old Roger Street man was arrested for the felonies of possession of a weapon in the second degree and possession of stolen property after he was found to be in possession of a stolen handgun from Greenwich. Defendant was going to use the weapon to harm himself.
Detectives were advised by the city attorney’s office via e mail of a cat sanctuary located at an Arlington Street residence and being operated by a husband and wife. It was alleged that the sanctuary was housing more than thirty-three cats and the conditions were over crowded, unhealthy and unsanitary. The owners were cited by the city attorney for a violation of the city ordinance and it was left up to them to provide homes for the cats. With the assistance of a member of the peaceable animal kingdom a search for homes began. Unfortunately both husband and wife was charged with an agricultural and markets law misdemeanor count of inhumane treatment. This charge alleged failure to provide necessary medical treatment for one specific tiger cat that was suffering from a very bad infected right ear.
A 21-year-old Glens Falls woman was arrested on numerous misdemeanor counts of sexual misconduct after an investigation revealed that she had been engaging in sexual intercourse and contact with a 15-year-old male known to her.
Police received a report from the Glens Falls Hospital that two males entered and remained unlawfully in the hospital cafeteria and stole ice cream. The males were quickly identified by security cameras and the incident was witnessed by an employee.
Detectives responded to a Ridge Street apartment house, the last known residence of both suspects and located the one 36-year-old male and his girlfriend. Immediate admissions were made and permission to search resulted in located the remainder of the stolen ice cream in the freezer.
As a result the 36-year-old male was arrested on burglary, petit larceny and possession of stolen property charges. His 28-year-old girlfriend was also arrested on possession of stolen property charges as well. The third suspect, a 34-year-old Ridge Street man was located and arrested at his place of employment. He is also facing felony burglary charges as well as petit larceny.
Detectives assisted drug unit commander Detective Sergeant Swartz in executing a search warrant on a Glen Street home after police have fielded numerous complaints about drug activity. A confidential source was utilized to purchase a quantity of heroin, and a search warrant was obtained. The search resulted in the location of heroin, hypodermic needles and a sum of cash. Arrests were made for felony controlled substance possession with intent to sell. The tenant of record, a 47-year-old female, was also arrested for the felony of criminal nuisance in the first degree.
A 50-year-old Ridge Street man was arrested for a criminally sexual act in the first degree, a class B felony and incest in the third degree, also felony after an investigation revealed that in the spring of 2002 he did engage in sexual conduct with, at the time, his 8-year-old blood-related niece. The same male was also charged with another felony count of incest for having sexual contact with another blood-related niece whom he resides with.
A male and female duo from Hudson Falls were arrested for a felony count of grand larceny in the fourth degree and misdemeanor possession of stolen property and petit larceny after detectives assisted officer’s from Hudson Falls Police Department in an investigation where the two defendants stole a woman’s purse and contents, including a credit card and used the same throughout the Glens Falls area. The male counterpart is also suspected in several larcenies out of unlocked motor vehicles.
A 52 year old Queensberry man was arrested on felony grand larceny charges after he stole approximately $5,019 worth of silver from his employer, Umicore located on Pruyn’s Island.
Another Hudson Falls man, 17 years of age, was arrested on sexual misconduct and endangering welfare of a child charge, both misdemeanors, after he engaged in sexual intercourse with an under age female acquaintance.
With the assistance of Officer Phil Lindsey, most senior officer of the Glens Falls Police Department, detectives were able to arrest a 19-year-old W. Beacon Street male for the felony of burglary in the third degree and misdemeanor petit larceny after he entered and remained unlawfully in his employers business, Pristine Limousine and stole property within. Also in connection to this case, a 20-year-old Queensbury man was arrested for misdemeanor possession of stolen property for his part in assisting the male above with the stolen property.
Two male teens from Hudson Falls and Glens falls were arrested on felony grand larceny charges for stealing a motor vehicle from the parking lot of the Glens Falls hospital.
Detectives, along with New York State Police Sr. Investigator Thomas Aiken, assisted Hudson Falls Detective Scott Gillis in arresting a 21 year old Hudson Falls man for murder in the second degree after a two year old investigation into the death of his girlfriend’s infant child.
A male duo residing on Ridge Street in Glens Falls were arrested on felony grand larceny and possession of stolen property charges after they stole a $9,000 mahogany tree sculpture and a $120 park bench from a local downtown business.
Detectives along with Glens Fall Police Detective Commander, Captain Kevin Conine, assisted New York State Police in locating and arresting a 40 year old Albany man for robbery in the first degree. Defendant in this case was fleeing after he robbed a bank and was located in the Glens Falls area.
Detectives investigated another robbery alleged to have occurred at a downtown South Street apartment. As a result a 40 year old Glens Falls man was arrested for robbery in the third degree, a felony and misdemeanor petit larceny for forcibly stealing cash and prescription medication from his victim.
Detectives arrested a 27 year old Glens Falls man on burglary and criminal mischief charges, all felonies, after defendant forcibly entered a room to the Queensbury Hotel by kicking in the door, then ransacking the room and damaging property therein looking for his heroin dealer and heroin.
A 22 year old Glens Falls man was arrested on felony sex abuse and unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree by giving a 16 year old female alcohol and forcibly subjecting her to sexual contact.
A 34 year old man from Mohican Street in Glens Falls was arrested on federal parole violations during a joint effort by Glens Falls police detectives, Federal parole officers, Warren County Sheriff investigators U.S. Marshal Service and NYS Police VFW Squad. During the arrest and search of defendant’s apartment, defendant was found to be in possession of numerous consumable food items which he had stolen from a local Hess Mart in Queensbury. Defendant was further charged with felony grand larceny charges as well as misdemeanor possession of stolen property.
In October detectives investigated a reported home invasion on Sanford Street where a 19-year-old male victim reported that four persons, three of whom were known to him, illegally gained entry to his apartment, assaulted and robbed him of cash and personal belongings including an illegally possessed handgun. As a direct result of this investigation, detectives located and arrested three males involved and charged them with multiple felonies of robbery and burglary first and grand larceny.
In December, the fourth defendant, a 28-year-old Glens Falls man from Union Street was located and apprehended in Rochester. With the assistance of the New York State Police violent felony squad, defendant was arrested and transported back to the Albany area where detectives then transported him back to Glens Falls to arrest him. Defendant was remanded to the Warren County jail.
2008
Narcotics Report
Summary Report
Prepared by Det. Sgt. Lloyd J. Swartz Jr.
In 2008 we saw how a failing economy affects not only legitimate business in our region but also the business of illegal drug sales. Dealers, whose profits plunged from lack of customers and higher wholesale prices, guarded their wares in ways not commonly seen in Glens Falls. The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the year.
Early in 2008 Detectives developed information during the arrest of one crack cocaine dealer, which indicated that other individuals involved in the drug trade were on their way to Glens Falls. Detectives were able to quickly establish enough information to locate and intercept a vehicle in which three individuals from Schenectady were traveling. As a result of a vehicle stop Glens Falls Police came into contact with Kassun Brown, Marion Underwood and Jasmine Bass were stopped. During the stop it was found that Brown was in possession of more than 20 grams of crack cocaine and a loaded .22 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Glens Falls Detectives later learned from Schenectady Detectives that Brown and another man were involved in shooting and killing a man in Schenectady. The Schenectady Detectives also believed that the gun located on Brown during his arrest by Glens Falls Police had been used during the murder in Schenectady. Working together, law enforcement and prosecutors from Warren and Schenectady Counties were able to convict Brown in both counties and send him to State prison.
Daily Gazette article
Friday, January 23, 2009
http://www.dailygazette.com//news/2009/jan/23/schenecdtady-teen-gets-12-years-prison-his-role-fa/By Steven Cook
SCHENECTADY — The "wheel man" in a 2007 Schenectady killing was sentenced this morning to 12 years in state prison on weapons and drug counts.
Kassun Brown, 17, of Mynderse Street, admitted earlier to possessing a gun with intent to use it at the time and location of the Sept. 13, 2007, killing of Hassan Rainey at Craig Street and Duane Avenue.
Brown had initially been charged with murder, along with 21-year-old Craig Thompson. But prosecutors concluded Brown was the driver and wasn't the trigger man.
Thompson was sentenced last month to 28-years-to-life after being convicted in Rainey's killing.
As part of Friday's proceedings, Brown asked Schenectady County Court Judge Karen Drago to grant him youthful offender status, something that could have wiped the conviction from his record in the future.
Drago, however, denied that request. She noted that it was offered in an earlier drug case, but Brown went on to get rearrested twice, once related to the Rainey killing and again on a weapons charge in Warren County.
Friday's sentence is to run concurrently with one from Warren County.
Drago, noting that Brown was the "wheel man" in the killing, the driver, told Brown: "You need to be removed from the community. You are a danger."
Brown has expressed a desire to reform himself. and Drago said she hoped he was sincere about that.
Brown pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon in June. A jury convicted Thompson in October.
Prosecutor Matthew Sypniewski said a feud between Thompson and Rainey led to Rainey's death. It began with Thompson assaulting a woman and grew into a battle over drug turf. It escalated into open gunfire, Sypniewski said, when Rainey fired on Thompson and two friends the night before Rainey was killed. Rainey hit one of Thompson's associates in the shoulder.
But Thompson didn't go to the police, Sypniewski said. Instead, he found Rainey the next day and killed him.
Then, early in February 2008, Detectives identified another group of individuals in Glens Falls, here solely for the purpose of profiting from illegal drug sales. Acting on this information, Glens Falls Police stopped a car on Warren Street on February 6, 2008. Located in the vehicle at the time of the stop was an individual named Jason Morgan. It was determined that Morgan was wanted by Nassau County Police Department and he was taken into custody by Glens Falls Police. During his arrest Police found a loaded .380 caliber handgun in Morgan’s pants pocket. Morgan was then transported to the Glens Falls Police Department where Police then found more than 20 grams of crack cocaine also on Morgan’s person. Morgan was charged with the weapons and crack cocaine possession and ultimately convicted by the Warren County District Attorney’s Office.
By DON LEHMAN
GLENS FALLS -- A four-time felon was arrested with a loaded handgun and 20
grams of crack cocaine during a traffic stop Wednesday, police said.
Jason L. Morgan, 24, of 18 Rogers St., Glens Falls was arrested after Glens
Falls Police Officer Joseph Boisclair pulled over a car he was riding in for
having an expired registration, said Glens Falls Police Capt. Kevin Conine.
Police asked Morgan and another passenger for identification during the stop,
and found he was wanted by police in Nassau County for aggravated unlicensed
operation of a motor vehicle, Conine said.
When officers took the hulking, 280-pound man into custody on that charge, they
found a loaded semiautomatic, .380-caliber handgun in one of Morgan’s pants
pockets, Conine said.
A further search of him at the city police station yielded a package of crack,
police said.
Glens Falls Police Detective Sgt. Lloyd Swartz, head of the department’s drug
unit, said Morgan has been in the area for several months and police believed
him to have been involved in the drug trade.
"He told us he’s been up here looking for work," Swartz said.
Morgan was charged with two felony counts of third-degree criminal possession of
a controlled substance, a felony charge of second-degree criminal possession of
a weapon and a non-criminal charge of unlawful possession of marijuana.
Conine said police are trying to determine from where the unregistered gun came.
Morgan cannot possess a firearm because of his criminal record, he said.
Morgan got out of prison in March after serving a 1-1/3 to 4-year sentence in
state prison for four stolen car convictions in New York City, state corrections
records show.
The woman who was driving the car, Kristin A. Crandall, 24, of Glens Falls, who
police said is Morgan’s girlfriend, was ticketed for driving an unregistered
vehicle.
A second passenger, Jolaenna Y. Arroyo, 23, of Albany, also was charged with
unlawful possession of marijuana.
Morgan was arraigned in City Court and sent to Warren County Jail for lack of
bail. Crandall and Arroyo were released pending prosecution in City Court.
Man takes plea deal in gun case
QUEENSBURY — A four-time felon who was arrested in February with a loaded
handgun and a bag of crack cocaine pleaded guilty Monday to a felony charge on
the eve of trial.
Jason L. Morgan, 24, of Glens Falls, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal
possession of a weapon, a felony, for having a loaded, .380-caliber
semiautomatic handgun during a traffic stop in Glens Falls on Feb. 6.
He likely faces 10 years in state prison, followed by five years on parole,
when he’s sentenced next month by Warren County Judge John Hall.
His plea came before a pretrial hearing that was to be held Monday that would
have focused on whether the police legally stopped the car Morgan was in before
the gun was found.
Morgan was to stand trial in the case next week and could have faced up to 15
years in state prison if he didn’t cut a plea deal.
Morgan was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for having an expired
registration, and police found Morgan was wanted by police in Nassau County for
aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
A search resulted in seizure of the gun, as well as 20 grams of crack cocaine,
police said.
Morgan is being held in Warren County Jail pending sentencing.
These two cases illustrate the kinds of individuals in the drug trade whom Glens Falls Police identified in the City during 2008. Although the guns above were the only two recovered during the commission of a drug offense, intelligence information indicates that other crack dealers in this area have or still do possess illegal firearms.
Crack cocaine remains the drug most associated with violent crime in this area and there appears to be no shortage of individuals willing come here to fill the shoes of those arrested. Drug arrests in Glens Falls rose for a second straight year and 2009 looks to be falling in line with that trend. As the economy and unemployment rise, so do the crimes associated with drug offenses. As individuals addicted to crack cocaine and other illegal substances lose legitimate sources of income through unemployment, etc. they seek out alternative monetary sources to fuel their addiction through illegal means. The individuals here selling the illegal substances have compounded the problem by inflating the cost of illegal drugs such as crack cocaine and heroin. Addicts in Glens Falls have always paid higher than average prices due to the unique geographic location of the City. Users need to travel to the Albany / Schenectady area to purchase their drugs or pay the inflated price to those who deliver to this area. Dealers take advantage of those unwilling or unable to travel to those metropolitan areas. As a result, competition among dealers has increased due to fantastic financial gain available to those who take the risk. That type of competition is what drive dealers to protect their product and profits, at all costs, including the carrying of weapons.
We will remain vigilant in 2009 as we work closely with law enforcement agencies in Warren and Washington Counties. As drug dealers see no boundaries, we in Narcotic Enforcement have learned to work together to accomplish our common goal.
| 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Felonies | 289 | 409 | |
| Misdemeanors (including DWI) | 1129 | 1125 | |
| Violations (including Other) | 891 | 456 | |
| Warrants | 615 | 536 | |
| 196 | 351 | ||
| Total | 3120 | 2877 |
| Felonies | 72 | 60 | |
| Misdemeanors | 67 | 94 | |
| Violations | 112 | 158 | |
| Total | 251 | 312 |
| Traffic Tickets | 4205 | 3684 | |
| DWI Arrests | 293 | 245 | |
| Total | 4498 | 3929 | |
| % DWI Felonies | 11.6% | 11.8% |
| Tickets Issued | 4205 | 3684 |
| Fines Collected (parking) | $78,765 | $82437 |
| ccriminal & traffic | $109434 | $92950 |
| Total | $188199 | $175387 |
| Fatal | 0 | 0 | |
| Personal Injury | 81 | 64 | |
| Property Damage | 688 | 726 | |
| Total | 769 | 787 |
| 2007 | 2008 | ||
| Total Lockups | 843 | 998 |
SEX OFFENDERS
| Residing in Glens Falls | 54 | 57 | |
| Total Monitored (regardless of address) | 220 | 237 |
| Total Alarms | 562 | 503 |
| Locations | 44 | 30 | |
| Visits | 1763 | 1199 |
| Total Doors | 52 | 64 |
| Total Complaints | 22460 | 21093 |
| Trucks Inspected | 223 | 202 | |
| Tickets issued | 409 | 401 |
LOCKOUTS
| Total Lockouts (locked out of cars) | 365 | 358 |
| MILES PATROLLED | |||
| 2007 |
2008 |
||
| Car 10 | Det. Division | 22,830 | 14,980 |
| Car 10A | Det. Division | 13,468 | 13,390 |
| Car 10J | Det. Division | 13,415 | 12,834 |
| Car 11 | Chief | 6,847 | 5,385 |
| Car 13 | Sergeant | 13,739 | 13,510 |
| Car 14 | D.W.I. | 24,152 | 17,163 |
| Car 15 | Patrol | 10,007 | 20,766 |
| Car 16 | Patrol | 23,727 | 19,246 |
| Car 17 | Patrol | 31,478 | 25,204 |
| Car 18 | Patrol | 20,108 | 17,282 |
| Car 19 | Patrol | 16,910 | 27,995 |
| Car 20 | Patrol | 25,638 | 11,359 |
| Total | 232,057 | 209,846 | |
| Total Hours | 7,546 | 8,279 |
| Total Hours | 3,680 | 1858 |
| SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS |
| There are fourteen intersections covered by School Crossing Guards. |
| The cost to the City for salaries amounted to $77,161.09. |
| TITLE | NUMBER OF POSITIONS | SALARY SCHEDULE |
| Chief of Police | 1 | $70,635 |
| Captains | 2 | $53,505 to $56,053 |
| Sergeants | 5 | $50,786 to $53,330 |
| Detective Sergeant | 3 | $52,145 to $54,692 |
| Police Officers | 20 | $37,277 to $50,147 |
| Secretary to Chief | 1 | $40,997 |
| Desk Officers | 4 | $34,569 to $38,002 |
| Traffic Aides | 1 | $32,136 |
Previous Annual Reports
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