A Central Nyack teen is dead after reportedly overdosing on drugs following a tense standoff with police that started as a domestic disturbance. Clarkstown Police say they were called to 60 West Broadway where they met up with 19 year-old Sean Harris, his mother and a mental health counselor that had been assigned to him. Police say he had used a metal baseball bat to destroy items in the kitchen area, refusing to talk to the counselor. He came outside, and refused several orders to drop the bat, prompting an officer to use a “less lethal impact munition” to strike him in the lower left abdomen, sending the teen back into his home. Police say he refused to engage them while he was inside the home. Eventually Harris began to speak with the Clarkstown Police Department Negotiator Team, though he allegedly made threats to officers, and said he had a Glock 17 handgun. Negotiations continued for about an hour, then stopped, prompting the Clarkstown Critical Incident Response Team to enter the home. Police found Harris sitting in a bathroom with around two dozen open pill bottles and hundreds of pills. Harris was taken from the bathroom, CPR was performed on him, he was brought to Montefiore Nyack Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The Rockland County Medical Examiner’s office is expected to rule on an official cause of death, and the state Attorney General’s office is expected to conduct an independent investigation of the incident.
Breaking News
Long-Time Clarkstown Justice to Resign at End of June
A long-time Clarkstown town justice has resigned as an investigation into his actions was underway by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct. That’s according to News 12 and The Journal News. Scott Ugell will step down at the end of the month and has agreed to never seek or accept judicial office ever again. His current term would have concluded at the end of 2025. Several complaints were being investigated, including his failure to disclose a professional relationship with an attorney that was in his court on another matter, that he became a candidate for town supervisor without resigning from the bench first, and that he allegedly testified falsely in a lawsuit. In a statement, Ugell’s attorney focused on his 32 years of dedicated public service, and noted he fully cooperated with the investigation, adding there was no admission or concession of guilt, and no finding of wrongdoing.
Former Podiatrist Indicted, Again, for Allegedly Soliciting to Have His Wife Killed
It’s like deja-vu all over again, allegedly. Rockland D-A Tom Walsh says 49 year-old Ira Bernstein of Montebello, was indicted late last week, along with his sister, 40 year-old Jaclyn Goldberg of Bedford, for allegedly soliciting to have his wife, killed, and destroying the evidence showing they worked together last summer to do that. You may recall the former podiatrist has already done time for the same crime. Six years ago, Bernstein and his former girlfriend pleaded guilty to putting up $100,000 to a car salesman to kill his wife, but he was released reportedly in July 2021. Bernstein was indicted by a county grand jury for criminal solicitation and conspiracy, while his sister was indicted on tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy. Both pleaded not guilty. He was reportedly jailed briefly then released late last week. Bernstein faces a maximum sentence of three and half to seven years in prison on the top count.
Federal Judge Likens Rockland’s Plan to Keep NYC Migrants out of Local Hotels Akin to “Jim Crow Laws”
A federal judge called Rockland’s actions to keep the city’s asylum seekers out of the county akin to Jim Crow laws. The Journal News says a hearing was held yesterday on a lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union claiming that executive orders issued by Rockland and Orange counties interfere with immigration matters covered by federal law. They also claim the migrants were targeted because of their race. A decision is expected on Monday.
Spring Valley Man Charged in Hot Car Death of One Year-old Daughter
A 21-year-old Spring Valley man has been charged in connection with the death of his infant daughter who was left in a hot car last month. That’s according to DailyVoice.com. The unnamed man was charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide. The one year-old was found in the car on Ridge Avenue in Spring Valley, she had reportedly been left unattended for several hours. He faces up to four years in prison and possible fines, if convicted.