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Heroin Bags, Felony DWI: Repeat Drunk Driver, Drug Suspect Caught In Kent, Cops Say
Two men were arrested in Putnam County following separate traffic stops that led to a repeat drunk driver getting more charges and a man being caught with bags of heroin, police said.
The first arrest happened in Kent on Friday night, June 6, around 8:50 p.m., when officers pulled over a vehicle near Kent Recycling on Route 52 for vehicle and traffic law violations. The driver, 27-year-old Oscar Patino of Carmel, was found to be intoxicated after field sobriety tests, the Kent Police Department said on Friday, June 27.
Further investigation revealed that Patino had a prior DWI c…
Harmful Algae Blooms, Bacteria Close These Putnam County Beaches
Several popular swimming areas in Putnam County have been temporarily shut down due to harmful algae blooms and elevated bacterial levels.
The closures affect a dozen lakes and parks across Putnam Valley, Carmel, Kent, Patterson, Philipstown, and other parts of the county, just as summer heats up and residents seek relief from rising temperatures.
The affected locations include:
North Beach, Lake Peekskill in Putnam Valley – Closed since June 5 due to harmful algae blooms;
Lake Casse Beach, Carmel – Closed June 26 for elevated bacteria;
Patterson Veterans Beach, Pa…
These Westchester Cities, Towns Among Top 10 Safest In NY, New Report Says
If you're looking for peace of mind in New York, the Hudson Valley might be the place to be.
According to a new report by Safewise, several communities in the region were ranked among the 10 safest cities in the state for 2025 based on FBI crime data.
The list includes:
Bedford in Westchester County, ranked at No. 1:
Carmel in Putnam County, ranked at No. 2;
Rye in Westchester County, ranked at No. 3;
Hyde Park in Dutchess County, ranked at No. 5;
East Fishkill in Dutchess County, ranked at No. 6;
Scarsdale in Westchester County, ranked at No. 7;
Yorktown in Westchester County, rank…
$20K Tech Support Hoax: Scammer Busted After Running Into Woods In Croton, Police Say
A man posing as a tech support worker was arrested after allegedly scamming a Westchester resident out of $20,000 and trying to collect even more, police said.
Flushing resident Dengjin Chen, age 44, was arrested on Saturday, May 10, following a coordinated investigation into his alleged scam involving several law enforcement agencies, the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department announced on Tuesday, May 13.
The case began on Friday, May 9, when the victim reported having printer issues and calling what he believed was Hewlett-Packard customer support. The person on the phone co…
2 Neglected Dogs Found Abandoned In Carmel Parking Lots: Woman, 55, Charged, SPCA Says
A 55-year-old woman is facing animal cruelty and abandonment charges after two severely neglected dogs were found separately in Putnam County parking lots earlier this week, authorities said.
The investigation began on Tuesday evening, April 8, around 8:54 p.m., when authorities were called to the parking lot of Saint James the Apostle Church in Carmel. There, good Samaritans discovered a severely emaciated male pit bull mix wandering alone, the Putnam SPCA announced on Saturday, April 12.
The dog, later identified as “Milo,” was immediately rushed to Guardian Veterinary Specialists f…
Longtime Firefighter, Navy Veteran From Lake Carmel Dies: 'His Spirit Lives On'
A longtime firefighter and US Navy veteran who dedicated a half-century to serving his Hudson Valley community has died.
Daniel "Danny" Hill, a lifelong member of the Lake Carmel Volunteer Fire Department in Putnam County, died on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the age of 86, the department announced on Monday, Feb. 3.
Born in Peekskill on Nov. 30, 1938, Hill grew up in The Bronx before spending the majority of his life in Lake Carmel, where he became a staple of the community.
Hill served in the US Navy from 1955 to 1961, before continuing a lifetime of service through the L…
Longtime Putnam Dispatcher, Court Officer Kieran O'Hagan Dies
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of Kieran “KO” O’Hagan, a cherished part-time dispatcher, retired court officer, and dedicated community member whose life touched many.
O’Hagan, a longtime New York Supreme Court officer for more than two decades, died on Friday, Jan. 3 at the age of 64, according to his obituary.
Born to Arthur “Artie” O’Hagan and Bridget “Bryda” O’Hagan in 1960, O’Hagan grew up in the neighborhood of Washington Heights in Manhattan alongside his beloved sister, Kathleen “Kiki” O’Hagan Venedam. Despite a 10-year age gap, th…
Carmel, Yorktown Named Among Safest Towns In Country In New Rankings
If you're looking for peace and quiet, you may want to settle down in one of three Hudson Valley towns named among the safest places in the country in new rankings by MoneyGeek.
In their list of the 25 Safest Small Cities and Towns in the US released on Monday, Dec. 16, the personal finance website ranked towns from Westchester, Putnam, and Orange counties among the country's municipalities with the lowest crime numbers.
The following towns were named:
Yorktown, which took No. 6;
Carmel, which took No. 7;
Wallkill, which took No. 8.
In order to make their rankings, Money…
Driver Rescued After Plunging Into Reservoir In Carmel
A driver was rescued from a partially submerged vehicle in a Hudson Valley reservoir, authorities said.
The incident occurred in Putnam County shortly after noon on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when a vehicle crashed into the West Branch Reservoir near Washington Road in Carmel, according to the Carmel Police Department.
The driver, a 76-year-old Mahopac woman, was unable to exit the vehicle, prompting an immediate response from Carmel Police officers, along with the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department Dive Team, and EMS units.
Upon arriving, Carmel off…
Update: Suspect Nabbed In Putnam Valley After Chase Hit Cars, Fled Into State Park, Police Say
Police have released more details about a Hudson Valley chase that spanned multiple counties, including that the suspect rammed police vehicles, drove through a state park, and narrowly missed pedestrians before being apprehended.
The incident unfolded in Putnam County on Wednesday, Nov. 27, beginning with a reported domestic assault on Stoneleigh Avenue in Carmel, according to the Carmel Police Department.
Earlier Report - Carmel Assault Suspect Leads Cross-County Pursuit In U-Haul Van, Police Say
The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Noel Mendez Jr., of Fairview, New Jersey, …
Carmel Assault Suspect Leads Cross-County Pursuit In U-Haul Van, Police Say
A suspect is in custody following a chase through multiple counties in the Hudson Valley that involved several collisions with police vehicles and was prompted by an assault, authorities said.
New, updated report - Update: Suspect Nabbed In Putnam Valley After Chase Hit Cars, Fled Into State Park, Police Say
The incident began in Putnam County at around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, when a domestic assault was reported on Stoneleigh Avenue in Carmel, according to Carmel Police.
Responding officers, along with units from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, saw the suspect…