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Rockland’s top cop is concerned about copycats in the wake of possible hate crimes committed last month in the town of Ramapo. Police there charged four teens earlier this week with hate crimes stemming from two similar incidents involving four local teens allegedly throwing garbage and shooting water pellets from cars at pedestrians as they drove by in Airmont and Montebello. Rockland Sheriff Lou Falco says there’s no reason to get aggressive with people who are just out-and-about, living their lives…

The four were all charged with hate crimes and released without bail. No one was injured in the incidents.

Four teenagers from Airmont, Suffern and Hillburn have been charged with hate crimes in the town of Ramapo, connected to suspicious incidents last month with antisemitic overtones. Ramapo Police say on April 19th, a 17 year-old shot pedestrians walking along Cragmere Road in Airmont with an Orbeez water pellet gun while being driven in a car by another 17 year-old. One victim was struck by the water pellets but wasn’t hurt. Police say the teens yelled antisemitic slurs at them and sped away. Town of Ramapo Chief of Staff Mona Montal says several local incidents, the general tone since the war in the Middle East began, and high-tension rallies across college campuses nationwide, have prompted the Ramapo Police department and a special task force that handles these types of issues, to be on high alert…

In the second incident, a week later, one of the teens was at it again, driving the same car on Oxford Drive in Montebello with two other passengers. One teen threw trash at pedestrians walking in the roadway, striking one on the leg. No injuries were reported. A witness said the occupants of the car shouted antisemitic slurs at them and quickly fled the scene. They were also charged with hate crimes, processed at the Ramapo Police Department and released on a future court date. The charges of Aggravated Harassment for all four and Reckless Endangerment for one of the unidentified teens, did not qualify for bail.

A child was reportedly taken to Westchester Medical Center after being struck by a vehicle in Spring Valley late yesterday. That’s according to News 12. They say it happened at the intersection of Route 59 and South Cole Avenue around 7pm. No other details were immediately available. It’s the fifth similar incident to happen in Ramapo since January.

Boy Reunited with Parent in Suffern
Tense moments last night in Suffern. The Police there said they found an unattended boy between three and five years old in the area of Orange and Lafayette Avenues. Patrol officers brought the boy to the police station and he was reunited with his parent within an hour. Village police are investigating the incident.

Bear Mountain Bridge Road Construction Work Underway
Construction work is shutting down a major roadway in our area creating delays, but just during the nighttime and overnight hours. The state DOT says a portion of U.S. Route 6 and 202 known as Bear Mountain Bridge Road is closed nightly between Route 9D and Route 9 in the Town of Cortlandt over in Westchester. The work began last night and is expected to take place between 8pm and 5am through Wednesday, May 8th, weather permitting. The work does not affect the Bear Mountain Bridge, which will remain open.

No injuries reported after a fire started late Thursday night at an abandoned building on the site of the Spring Valley adult home between Lafayette and Lake Streets where three years ago a resident and volunteer firefighter were killed. Homeless people have reportedly been camping out and drug parephenalia has allegedly been found at the site, though the structures remaining there have no running water or electricity. Rockland’s Director of Fire and Emergency Services Chris Kear says the county is working to have the owner clean the up the property…

Kurt Mulligan is with the Stony Point Fire Department and co-hosts “Who Wants to be a Volunteer” heard here on WRCR, and he says while it might seem simple, there’s a lot that goes into the decision-making process for these situations…

Kear says the incident is under investigation. Rockland County filed suit last month in State Supreme Court to force Evergreen’s owners to demolish the structures, vacate the premises immediately, or bring it up to code. Spring Valley Fire Department Second Lieutenant, 35 year-old Jared Lloyd, and 79 year-old resident Oliver Hueston, both died in the fire in March 2021.

Pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses around the country and in New York City continue despite over 2,000 arrests thus far. City officials said many of those arrested have no affiliation with the schools, but are what they call “outside agitators.” Assemblyman Karl Brabenec of the 98th District, covering western Ramapo and portions of Orange County, says what’s happening on college grounds is disgraceful…

Protests have reportedly now reached a college campus in Westchester. News 12 reports a pro-Palestinian encampment popped up last night at SUNY Purchase. Students there say the school needs to be more transparent about their financial investments and divest from Israel. Police reportedly responded to the campus and removed more than 50 people unaffiliated with the school. In a White House address yesterday, President Joe Biden said the students have a right to dissent, but they don’t have the right to cause chaos.