A man was arrested over the weekend in connection with an incident that started with a car driving on a sidewalk and striking a building in Nanuet, and ending in West Nyack with a fake gun and thankfully no injuries. Clarkstown Police say the incident unfolded Sunday when a black Acura had had reportedly driven on the sidewalk nearly striking a man near 100 Rockland Plaza, but instead struck a building. That lead to an abandoned car with a heavily damaged front bumper in West Nyack. The suspect was seen nearby by an officer. He exchanged words with and became aggressive toward the officer and lifted his shirt to show a handgun in his waistband. It turned out to be a BB Gun simulated to resemble a Glock handgun. The situation was brought under control without further force, according to police. 39 year-old Michel Ramos was arrested and charged with Menacing, Reckless Driving and several traffic violations. Ramos was issued an appearance ticket for a future court date in Clarkstown Justice Court.
Rockland Sheriff: Gov is Ignoring Law Enforcement Perspective on Public Safety
Rockland’s sheriff says the governor is ignoring the law enforcement perspective when it comes to making change in how policing is done in the state. New York governor Andrew Cuomo Tuesday declared gun violence a public health issue and wants to allocate $139 million dollars in prevention programs to curb gun violence. While he acknowledges changes do need to be made, Sheriff Lou Falco says some changes have gone too far, and state and local agencies deserve to have a seat at the table when final decisions are made on how to go about fighting crime…
The governor also signed legislation Tuesday that prohibits those with an active warrant from buying a gun in New York. He’s also creating a special unit in the State Police to focus on the borders and keep illegal guns from coming in.
Piermont Civic Association Brings Back the Music With Free Summer Concert Series Thursday
The Piermont Civic Association is bringing the music back with their traditional free summer concert series, this year named in honor of a former member who died of COVID last year. Tonight’s event, which was postponed from last week due to the weather, is named after Bob Samuels. Association President Joanne Ottaviano says he, along with his partner, Karen, were among Piermont’s earliest COVID victims…
Tonight’s concert features the Fat Bois Brass Band, a nine-piece New Orleans-style group. The show starts at 7pm at Flywheel Park in Piermont. For more information visit PiermontCivicAssociation.org. Hopefully the weather cooperates.
Storms Rumble Through Rockland Tuesday Afternoon, Knock Out Power, Most Restored
Route 303 in Clarkstown was shut down briefly near Storms Road due to a downed tree during the heavy rains late yesterday afternoon. 13,000 O&R customers overall lost their power yesterday, the majority in Orange County, and all but about 240 had been restored by 7am this morning.
Rockland Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges in Fatal Spring Valley Adult Home Fire, Investigation Continues
A Rockland assemblyman says he is encouraged by the progress that the investigation has made thus far into the fatal Spring Valley fire earlier this year but says it is far from over. Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski says stronger efforts need to be made to make sure fires like the one at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults don’t happen again…
Five people so far have been charged in connection with the blaze that killed a resident and volunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd. Among them, two Spring Valley building department officials and two outside contractors. News 12 says 47 year-old Manuel Lema, an Evergreen employee, pleaded not guilty yesterday to criminal impersonation and obstructing governmental administration charges. He reportedly called the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office to have Evergreen’s fire alarm system taken offline and placed in test mode. An arrest warrant is still out for for the facility’s director, Denise Kerr. Rockland’s Fire and Emergency Services Director Chris Kear says the investigation continues, and he urges people not to jump to conclusions.