Town of Carmel Police Department

NOTABLE ARRESTS/INCIDENTS

On 10/5/11 at approximately 1:50 PM an alert homeowner upon returning to her residence on Woodland Court observed a pick-up truck backed into the driveway and a male walking from the rear of her residence.  The male upon observing the homeowner jumped into the pickup and sped out of the driveway.  The homeowner immediately drove to Carmel Police headquarters to report the incident.   Carmel Police units converged on the residence and investigation revealed that the rear sliding glass door was ajar.  Sgt. Gary Johanson and Detective Robert Bagnarol observed a male subject with muddy shoes exiting the woods in close proximity of the residence.  The subject, identified as Paul Plateroti age 23 a Mahopac resident, gave conflicting stories of what he was doing in the area and why he was exiting the woods.  Investigation at the scene revealed muddy footprints in the residence and the owner reported several items missing.  A comparison of Mr. Plateroti's shoes and the muddy footprints in the residence were a match.  Mr. Plateroti admitted to the burglary and implicated a second suspect, Bruce Tebbens age 23 a Mahopac resident.  Mr. Tebbens had fled in Mr. Plateroti's truck upon the arrival of the homeowner.  The pick-up truck was later located at Mr. Tebbens' residence on Miller Avenue and impounded.  A stake out was conducted of the Tebbens residence by the Special Conditions Unit. At approximately 7:10 PM they observed Mr. Tebbens exit his residence and enter another vehicle driven by a third party.  Mr. Tebbens was observed loading the trunk of the vehicle with a big screen television and an Apple IMac computer.  The officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle and placed Mr. Tebbens under arrest.  The items in the vehicle were apparently stolen from another burglary that was taken from a residence on Shear Hill Road on 10/4/11.  A search warrant was obtained for Mr. Tebbens residence and additional items thought to be stolen were secured.  The property taken into evidence included various types of electronic equipment as well as jewelry.  Further questioning of the suspects revealed that they had committed at least three burglaries of residences in Mahopac.  The third residence that was burglarized was located on Ryan Court.  The investigation is continuing by Carmel Police Detective Division regarding other area burglaries.   Both defendants are presently charged with two counts of Burglary 2nd Degree, Grand Larceny 3rd Degree and Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree.  They were arraigned by Town Justice Joseph Spofford and remanded to the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.  They are scheduled to appear in court on 10/24/11 at 6 PM before Town Justice Joseph Spofford.  

On10/9/11 at approximately 12:15 AM Officers Kevin Murphy, Michael Bodo and Sgt. John Dearman responded to a report of a stabbing at a residence on Charles Place.  Apparently there was a dispute between a boyfriend and his girlfriend.  Initially the victim advised the police that he had fallen on broken glass, but other residents indicated that he had been stabbed by his girlfriend.  The girlfriend had apparently locked herself in the bathroom and fled through an open window upon police asking her to exit the bathroom.  She was located a short later in the area of Baldwin Place Road and Myrtle Avenue.  Through investigation it was ascertained that the girlfriend, Victoria Vukel age 21 a Mohegan Lake resident, apparently stabbed her boyfriend in the chest with a letter opener causing an injury to his lung.  The victim, a male 21 year old Mahopac resident was transported to Westchester Medical Center by Mahopac Falls ambulance for treatment.  Ms. Vukel was arraigned by Town Justice Joseph Spofford and remanded to the Putnam County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

On 10/11/11 at approximately 12:15 AM Sgt. Michael Nagle observed two suspicious males sitting in vehicle behind a local tavern on Rt. 6.  Upon approaching the vehicle Sgt. Nagle smelled the odor of marijuana smoke and observed a wooden container used for smoking marijuana in plain view.  Upon questioning the two occupants, it was ascertained that the driver allegedly possessed both marijuana and cocaine.  The driver, Nicholas Petruzzi age 25 an Amawalk resident, was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.  Mr. Petruzzi was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court on 11/14/11 at 6 PM before Town Justice Joseph Spofford.

On 10/14/11 at approximately 12 AM Officer Justin Fisher was dispatched to a report of a car accident in the area of 534 North Lake Blvd.  Upon arriving at the scene he observed male placing items into the trunk of the damaged vehicle.  The 17 year old male Mahopac resident identified himself as the driver of the vehicle.  Upon interviewing the driver and administering field sobriety tests the driver was placed under arrest.   Additionally observed next to the vehicle was a sign which was identified as a being property of the Town of Carmel Highway Department—which had "Christmas Tree Drop Off" printed on it.  The driver admitted to finding the sign on Crane Road last week.  The defendant is charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Driving with More Than .08 Blood Alcohol, Unreasonable Speed, Improper Lane Usage, and Possession of Stolen Property 5th Degree.  He was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court on 10/17/11 at 6 PM before Town Justice Joseph Spofford.

On 10/18/11 at around 1:30 PM the Carmel Police Dept. Special Conditions Unit, in conjunction with the Carmel Police Dept. Detective Division arrested John Farese, age 62, of Mahopac for allegedly being in possession of five pounds of marijuana with a street value of over $25,000. Information was developed over the course of an investigation that a large quantity of marijuana was to be shipped to a private residence in Mahopac. The shipment arrived at its pre-determined destination, while Special Conditions Unit personnel and Detectives were observing the residence. It is alleged that a short while later, Mr. Farese drove to the residence, picked up the package and attempted to leave the area in his vehicle, when he was apprehended without incident on East Lovell Street in Mahopac. After a subsequent search warrant was executed on Mr. Farese's residence additional quantities of marijuana, scales, packaging equipment and paraphernalia were seized. He was subsequently charged with Criminal Possession of Marijuana 2nd degree (a felony) and Criminal Possession of Marijuana 4th Degree (a misdemeanor). He was arraigned by Judge Thomas Jacobellis and remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 cash. The investigation is currently ongoing.      
               
0n 11/25/11 the owner of a residence on Kennicut Hill Road reports that unknown parties had stolen a stone vase and copper piping which was cut out of the residence from his property.  Officer Richard Rosario canvassed the neighborhood and a neighbor reported observing the larceny.  The neighbor was able to supply a description of the suspects and a detailed description of the vehicle.  The officer advised the owner of the residence of the description of the suspects and vehicle given by the neighbor and he was able to identify the suspects.  One suspect was located and was placed under arrest and charged with Petit Larceny.  He is an 18 year old Mahopac resident.

On 11/27/11 at approximately 10:30 AM Officer Richard Rosario and Detective Joseph LoPiccolo responded to residence on Long Pond Road on a report of a physical altercation between two female roommates.  Apparently the argument started over an alarm clock waking up the other roommate.  The verbal altercation became physical and one of the roommate's boyfriends had to physically separate the two female roommates.  Arrested was Tina Grant, age 37 a Mahopac resident, who was charged with Assault 3rd Degree. Ms. Grant was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court on 1/10/12 at 6 PM before Town Justice Tom Jacobellis.

On 11/30/11 at approximately 5 PM a 44 year old female Mahopac resident responded to Carmel Police Headquarters located at 60 McAlpin Avenue.  She advised Officer Michael Sheil that the previous night she had received an anonymous Christmas card in the mail which contained a white powdery substance.  She advised the officer that while examining the card and envelope she had touched the substance the previous night and again this afternoon and each time she felt numbness to her face and watery eyes.  She was asked to leave the lobby of the police department and place the envelope outside the police department.  Putnam County Hazmat Team and Mahopac Fire Department were requested and responded to the scene.  Also responding to the scene was Postal Police Inspector Joseph Pereira assigned to the Dangerous Mail Investigation Division.  The white powdery substance was tested at the scene and was determined to be Folic Acid which is considered harmless.
The Carmel Police and Postal Inspectors are investigating this incident further.  The Carmel Police Department Communications Division continued to function during this incident—so there was no interruption in emergency communications for the residents of the Town of Carmel.  The scene was considered safe at approximately 7:10 PM.

People receiving suspicious packages or mail with unknown foreign substances should not attempt to transport the substances, but immediately call their police department for further investigation.  The substances should be isolated as best as possible at the location in which it was opened so as not to contaminate other locations and people.  In almost all cases of suspicious substances, the substances are found to be non-hazardous. 

On 12/28/11 at approximately 9 PM Sgt. Michael Nagle observed two vehicles involved in a road rage incident on Rt. 6 in the area of Putnam Plaza.  One vehicle traveled over the double yellow line and cut off the car it was originally following.  The driver of the overtaking vehicle exited his vehicle and approached the other driver.  Sgt. Nagle pulled behind the vehicles and exited the car whereupon the driver, who was walking towards the other car, ran back to his car and attempted to flee the incident.  Sgt. Nagle pursued that vehicle and pulled it over in Putnam Plaza Shopping Center and again tried to flee from the officer.  He failed to comply with the officer's orders and had to eventually be placed under arrest after resisting the officer's efforts to handcuff him.  The driver, Kurt Olsen age 47 a Carmel resident, is charged with Driving While Intoxicated; Driving with More than .08 per cent blood alcohol, Tailgating, Passing over a double Yellow Line, Failure to Comply, Resisting Arrest, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd, Operating Out of Class, and a Parking Violation.  Mr. Olsen was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court on 1/9/12 at 6 PM before Town Justice Joseph Spofford.