On November 18, 2020, Tiquan Underwood, 21, entered a guilty plea in Ulster County Court on the charge of Manslaughter in the First Degree.

During the virtual court proceeding, Underwood admitted that he intended to cause serious injury to Jomar Gonzalez, 24, and caused Gonzalez’s death on December 3. Underwood stabbed Gonzalez during an altercation between the two in a driveway near Route 209 in the Town of Wawarsing at approximately 9 p.m. on that date. 

Gonzalez was rushed to the Ellenville Regional Hospital by friends shortly after the stabbing and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Underwood, a resident of Sullivan County at the time of the crime, called 911 from the scene claiming to have been the victim of an assault involving several individuals, however, Underwood did not have any physical injuries. Underwood was also unable to flee the scene as his vehicle was disabled in a snowbank and police arrived shortly thereafter. The knife used in the stabbing was recovered by the New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit in a snowbank.

Ulster County District Attorney Dave Clegg stated, “The swift response by the New York State Police in recovering and documenting evidence in this case played a significant role in assisting our office in holding Underwood responsible for this senseless killing.”

It is expected that Underwood will receive a sentence of 18 years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced in January 2021

. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Gerard Van Loan and the defendant was represented by Benjamin Greenwald of Chester.

On December 8, State Police Catskill arrested Giovanni Fascella, 53, of the village of Catskill, on the charges of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, both felonies.

According to police, Fascella was found to be in possession of photographs and videos of child pornography. The State Police Catskill Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) were assisted by New York State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (NYSP ICAC), Troop F Forensic Identification Unit (FIU), and the Troop F Computer Crimes Unit (CCU).

Fascella was arraigned in the Village of Catskill Court and remanded to Greene County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash/$10,0000 bond or $20,000 partially secured bond. A preliminary hearing date is set for December 11, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

New York State Police from the Rhinebeck barracks today arrested a 64-year-old Rhinebeck man for Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child, a class E felony.

The arrest followed an investigation by the New York State Police and the Rhinebeck Police Department that determined Daniel P. Shanahan possessed child pornography.

Shanahan was issued an appearance returnable to the village of Rhinebeck Court on January 20 at 4 p.m.

Members of the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) report the arrest of Brian Shultis, 31, and Cody Tompkins, 29, both of Saugerties.

Shultis and Tompkins were both arrested on Wednesday, December 2 after an investigation into heroin and fentanyl trafficking into northern Ulster County. They were taken into custody during a traffic stop in the town of Ulster and were found to be in possession of approximately 800 bags of heroin and fentanyl, according to police. Both were charged with the charges below and released to appear in court on a later date:

• Criminal possession of a controlled substance 3^rd (intent to sell) B felony
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance 3^rd (weight of ½ ounce or more) B felony
• Conspiracy 4^th – E felony

Shultis was subsequently taken into custody on December 7 on an Ulster County bench warrant for a previous felony arrest, in which he violated the terms of a conditional arrest with the new arrest.

The following agencies have members assigned to URGENT: Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, Town of Shandaken Police, Ulster County Probation, Town of Plattekill Police, Village of Ellenville Police and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

Questions or requests for additional photographs may be directed to Detective Lieutenant Abram D. Markiewicz at (845) 514-0847 or amak@co.ulster.ny.us.

Any person(s) charged with an offense or offenses are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Kingston Common Council voted 6-3 to transfer $375,000 to the Kingston Police Department to cover the expense of license plate readers. The system will have cameras, supporting software, server engines that capture license plate information and instantly compares plate numbers to a criminal database . . .

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Members of the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT) report the arrest of Jason T. Pease, 29 and Jennifer Krom, 39, both of Kingston.  

Pease and Krom were arrested during a traffic stop on December 1 in the Town of Ulster, following an investigation into sales and trafficking of heroin and fentanyl into northern Ulster County.  Approximately 200 bags of heroin and fentanyl were found hidden in the vehicle and on both people.

Both were charged with the felonies of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (intent to sell) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree (weight more than 1/8 ounce).  Pease was also charged with the misdemeanor of criminal impersonation in the second degree for providing the identity of another person to conceal the fact he was wanted on several outstanding warrants. Krom was additionally charged with the felony of tampering with physical evidence.

Pease was arraigned in the Town of Ulster Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. He was additionally wanted on an Ulster County Superior Court warrant for being a fugitive from justice from the state of Kentucky for an unrelated burglary.  He was remanded without bail on that charge. Krom was released with an appearance ticket to return to the Town of Ulster Court on a later date. 

The following agencies have members assigned to URGENT:  Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, Town of Shandaken Police, Ulster County Probation, Town of Plattekill Police, Village of Ellenville Police and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

Any person(s) charged with an offense or offenses are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A chase across southwestern Ulster County involving multiple police departments ended with a town of Shawangunk man being arrested on a felony charge and issued 39 tickets.

Here’s what happened, according to the New York State Police:

On Saturday, December 12 at 9:26 a.m., a state trooper from the Ellenville barracks traveling eastbound on State Route 52 in the town of Wawarsing observed a U-Haul pick-up truck pulling a trailer traveling westbound on State Route 52 speeding at 80 miles per hour. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle for speeding. The vehicle turned onto Old Greenfield Road and proceeded to travel west. The vehicle came to a stop and the operator of the vehicle, later identified as Matthew Harshner, 49, of the town of Shawangunk, stepped out of the vehicle.

Upon stepping out of the vehicle, Harshner removed his jacket and shouted profanities at the trooper and said, “come and get me,” then got back into his vehicle and attempted to flee the area traveling west. The trooper continued to follow the vehicle with lights and siren activated. The vehicle stopped after traveling one mile and let out a female passenger, later identified as Deborah Decker, 49, ofWorchester, MA, then proceeded to travel west towards State Route 52. The pursuing trooper determined that the passenger was not injured and continued to pursue the fleeing vehicle, which was traveling west on Old Greenfield Road before making a right onto State Route 52 going east.

The operator began driving erratically crossing over into the westbound lane and reaching a speed of 84 mph. The fleeing vehicle again came to a stop. The operator then put the vehicle in reverse and backed into the trooper’s car causing front end damage. Harshner then fled the scene traveling east into the town of Ellenville.

Troopers were assisted by the Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies, who deployed spike strips and disabled the rear trailer’s tires. The vehicle continued east in the village of Ellenville. Harshner proceeded on Route 52, again driving erratically. A Town of Shawangunk police vehicle attempted to stop the vehicle and was struck by Harshner. The collision caused Harshner to veer off of the roadway and destroy a fence at the Mountain View United Methodist Church as well as striking a parked car in the Post Office parking lot before entering the roadway and traveling towards Weed Road in the town of Shawangunk. As Harshner approached Weed Road, a Town of Shawangunk police officer deployed spike strips causing multiple tires to be torn off of the vehicle. The vehicle continued to travel east into the town of Crawford. A third spike strip was deployed causing all of the tires to be destroyed. The vehicle eventually came to a stop on Center Street in Pine Bush. Harshner resisted arrest and was eventually taken into custody.

No law enforcement officials were injured during this pursuit that lasted approximately 18 miles with a top speed of 84 mph.

Matthew Harshner was charged with:

• Criminal Mischief 2nd degree (felony)

and the following misdemeanors:

• Reckless Endangerment
• Obstruction of Governmental Administration
• Resisting Arrest
• Fleeing Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd degree
• Aggravated Unlicensed Operator 2nd degree
• Criminal Mischief

He was additionally issued 39 tickets for various vehicle and traffic law violations. He was arraigned in the Town of Wawarsing Court and released on his own recognizance. He has a return date to the Town of Wawarsing Court on March 12, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.

Deborah Decker was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marihuana 2nd degree a violation and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd degree, a misdemeanor.

A Saugerties man was arrested Sunday after police say he was approached by a woman for not wearing a mask at Dollar General, which touched off a dispute that resulted in the man pushing her into a display and causing her to fall to the ground.

The incident occurred at the Dollar General in the Saugerties Plaza, located at 3139 Route 9W. Upon arrival, officers interviewed a female victim who reported she approached a man in the store for not wearing a face mask She said the man became irate and was verbally abusive toward her, and at one point during the confrontation, pushed the victim with both hands, forcing her into a display, knocking the female to the ground.

Officers located the male, 38-year-old Jona Knox, of Saugerties, who was arrested and charged with Harassment in the 2nd Degree. Knox was processed and released on an appearance ticket to appear in Town of Saugerties Justice Court at a later date to answer his charge.  

An earlier version of this post, based on information from the Saugerties Police that was later revised, stated that the dispute began when Knox approached the woman because she was not wearing a mask. This version has been updated to state that the woman approached Knox because he was not wearing a mask. Other details are the same. 

Detectives from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office report the arrest of Diane J. Maiolo, 35, and Gary L. Hoffman, 30, of Kingston, as well as Jessica M. Henry, 36, of Ulster Park. All three were charged with the misdemeanors of promoting prison contraband in the second degree and conspiracy in the sixth degree.

On November 4, a quantity of Suboxone was discovered by corrections staff secreted in inbound mail. The resulting investigation alleges the three conspired to introduce the suboxone into the jail.

Maiolo and Henry were released with appearance tickets returnable to Kingston City Court on a later date. Hoffman remains in the Ulster County Jail on unrelated charges and will be produced to Kingston City Court on a later date.

Any person charged with an offense or offenses are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A shooting in Kingston last night resulted in the death of a 12-year-old girl and the hospitalization of a 9-year-old boy.

The shooting occurred at about 8 p.m. at 60 Van Buren Street. Upon arrival, officers found a 12-year-old female with a gunshot wound and a 9-year-old male with a gunshot wound to an arm. The 12-year-old female succumbed to her injury. The 9-year-old male was transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for treatment. The 9-year-old male was in stable condition and expected to recover.

The City of Kingston Police Department has asked the New York State Police to take the lead in this homicide investigation. The City of Kingston Police Department will continue to aid and support the New York State Police in this investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the New York State Police at 845-338-1702. All calls will be kept confidential.

Kingston Mayor Steve Noble released the following statement this morning:

The Kingston Police Department reports the arrest of 36-year-old Grant A Shan of Kingston for Arson in the first degree.

On Sunday, December 20 at about 7:50 p.m., members of the Kingston Police Department’s Patrol Division responded to 694 Broadway, Hung Fu Restaurant for a reported disturbance. While responding to that location another call came in for a fire at the restaurant. Upon officers’ arrival to the restaurant, Grant A. Shan was taken in custody after witnesses identified him as the subject that had thrown an incendiary device, a Molotov cocktail, inside the restaurant while he and others were inside the restaurant. The fire was put out shortly afterwards and there was minor fire damage to the interior of the restaurant. No one was injured and the investigation is continuing.

Shan is being held for arraignment.

Robert James and Gilbert Thomas.

Two Kingston men have been arrested in death of a 12-year-old Kingston girl last week.

The New York State Police today announced the arrests of Gilbert Thomas, 24, and Robert James, 46, both of Kingston, for second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and first-degree criminal use of a firearm.

According to police, on the evening of Thursday, December 17, Thomas and James were involved in a shooting into the residence at 60 Van Buren Street in the City of Kingston that ultimately caused the death of 12-year old D’Janeira Mason.

The State Police were assisted in the investigation by the City of Kingston Police Department, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Ulster Police Department.

The case remains under investigation, any persons with information are asked to contact the State Police at (845) 338-1702.  All calls will be kept confidential.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan released the following statement:

As we continue to grieve and mourn, we must at the same time ensure swift and sure justice for this heinous crime. Today’s announcement of an arrest made in connection to this tragedy is welcome news, and I want to thank District Attorney Dave Clegg, the New York State Police, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Kingston Police Department, and the Town of Ulster Police Department for their work leading to this swift arrest. As a community, let us summon the collective will to stop this cycle of violence. We must do better.

In June of this year, an unnamed man, “John Doe,” sued William Dederick, a retired Kingston biology teacher and administrator, alleging Dederick sexually abused him while he was a student at Kingston High School in the 1980s. Earlier this month, according to court filings, a second individual joined the suit. The school district was also named as a defendant . . .

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Robert “Nikki” James and Gilbert Thomas 

Gilbert Thomas, 24, and Robert “Nikki” James, 46, both of 49 Franklin Street, were indicted today by an Ulster County grand jury, according a press release from the Ulster County District Attorney’s office.   

Both Thomas and James are accused of second-degree murder for “acting in concert under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life while recklessly engaging in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person and causing the death of that person or a third person.”

The killing occurred on December 17 at approximately 7:59 p.m. The victim, 12-year-old D’Janeira Mason, was inside her home located at 60 Van Buren Street in the city of Kingston when she was struck and ultimately died from a gunshot wound. Bullets entered the home from outside the rear entrance which faces Van Dusen Street.    

Both defendants were charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree assault. James was also charged with second-degree criminal facilitation.

Both defendants were arrested by New York State Police in Kingston last week. Both were arraigned in the Town of Hurley and held without bail. Preliminary hearings scheduled to be held in the City Court of the City of Kingston were not held due to the action of the grand jury.

New York State Police Kingston was assisted by the Kingston Police Department, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Ulster Police Department, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police Major Crime Unit and the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit.

“This investigation could not have proceeded so quickly to the point of indictment without aid from members of the community,” said Ulster County District Attorney David Clegg. “The efforts of those who have provided whatever information they possess are greatly appreciated. We all must support such cooperation in order for our investigative agencies to be successful and justice to be served.”

Clegg also lauded the efforts of all police agencies involved but especially the New York State Police for working through challenging circumstances caused by COVID safety precautions, holiday closures and the snow storm which occurred hours before the crimes occurred which left Van Dusen Street covered in more than a foot of fresh snow.

The case is being prosecuted by District Attorney David Clegg. Thomas is represented by conflict defender Brad White of the Dutchess County Public Defender’s Office. James is represented by MariAnn Connolly, Esq. Both defendants will be arraigned virtually by Ulster County Court in the coming weeks.

A still from the video, posted to Facebook.

A 26-year-old Saugerties woman who was arrested following a traffic stop for failure to signal a turn, part of which was caught on video, said an Ulster County Sheriff’s deputy used excessive force that gave her a concussion, nerve damage in her wrist from the handcuffs, and bruises on her body, putting her out of work for three days. 

Shana Shaw was charged with resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession. She was released with an appearance ticket.

Shaw said she filed a formal complaint and plans to sue the department. 

Related: Ulster Sheriff releases body cam video showing alleged excessive force arrest

The arrest occurred Monday, December 28 at around 3:45 p.m. in the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings on Ulster Avenue in the town of Ulster. The 43-second video, which was posted on Facebook and first reported on by Kingston Wire, was recorded by a bystander who did not give his name. In it, Shaw can be heard saying “you can not legally arrest me, I’m in a parking lot.” The video shows a deputy pulling Shaw out of the driver’s seat and onto the ground and behind another parked car, out of view of the camera person. The camera person then moves to a position where he can see between the cars, and the video shows Shaw with two deputies kneeling over restraining her; they tell her to stop resisting, and she screams “I’m not resisting” twice. At that point, the video ends. 

A release from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office detailing the arrest reads, “Ms. Shaw fought with deputies when they attempted to take her into custody.” 

“A representative from Mrs. Shaw has reached out for a meeting to discuss this incident,” said Sheriff Juan Figueroa in an email on Tuesday, December 29. “There is an ongoing preliminary investigation as this occurred yesterday, no further information is available at this time. A full investigation will be completed,  If there is any wrongdoing on behalf of the members of this office, they will be held accountable.”

The day after the incident, Shaw told Hudson Valley One that she filed a complaint against the deputy who pulled her out of her car, whom she identified as Officer Woltman. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department confirmed that the deputy in the video is Deputy Brian J. Woltman. 

Shaw said she also plans to sue the police department.

“I’ve been targeted by the police for a while, so this isn’t nothing new to me,” said Shaw. 

She recalled what happened before and during the arrest.

“I’m a nursing assistant – I’ve worked all day and I was picking up food, something I do regularly,” said Shaw. “I pulled into the parking spot and out of nowhere an unmarked SUV was behind me.”

She said she was already parked and was “confused” to see deputies pull up behind her. 

“Then he asked if my name was Shana,” said Shaw, which she didn’t say yes or no to. “He knew who I was already. He proceeded to say step out of the car. In my head I don’t have enough information and he knows who I am so I felt uncomfortable…I am an African-American and cops are shooting us in the head and killing us.”

She then pulled out her own phone to start recording the situation because she “didn’t know what was going to happen” next, considering she’s seen “many people get beat up by cops.”

“I am terrified by them,” said Shaw. “I don’t even want to leave my house after this.”

Shaw said the deputy “immediately became aggressive” after she pulled out her phone to record him.

“This all occurred because of [my suspended license] I guess,” said Shaw, who also refuted the claim that the officers found marijuana in her car. 

She said she asked for legal representation as soon as she was handcuffed. 

“I feel fully taken advantage of,” said Shaw. “I don’t think there needed to be two male officers to yoke up a girl that is 130 pounds, in her scrubs from work, and I’m an essential worker.”

“Even if I broke a law, that was still excessive force,” said Shaw. 

She’s calling for any previous complaints about the deputy to be revealed and for the topic of police brutality to be addressed. 

“I want to feel comfortable where I live,” said Shaw. “I shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not I’ll come home.”

A still from the body cam video.

The Ulster County Sheriff released the body cam footage yesterday from the arrest of a 26-year-old Saugerties woman that led to claims of excessive force following a traffic stop in the town of Ulster. 

Shana Shaw of Saugerties was arrested December 28 around 3:45 p.m. on the charges of resisting arrest, driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession. Shaw posted a 43-second video recorded by a bystander the same day, which showed her being pulled from her car and handcuffed on the ground by two officers. She told Hudson Valley One that she believes the deputy used excessive force, resulting in a concussion, nerve damage in her wrist from the handcuffs, and bruises on her body, which put her out of work for three days. She said she made a formal complaint and planned to sue the sheriff’s department. 

The 8-minute 39-second body cam video sheds more light on the interaction between Shaw and Deputy Brian Woltman that unfolded that afternoon in the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot. The video begins with Woltman approaching Shaw’s vehicle. She asks why she was pulled over. The deputy responds: “you cut me off without signaling back there on 9W,” and “your license is suspended.” Shaw responds that she did signal and says she just cleared the suspended license but the paperwork was at home. 

Woltman replies, “that stinks.”

Shaw then suggests having someone pick up the car and explains that she’s there to meet a friend. Woltman then asks her to “hop out.” Shaw complies, and then asks why she had to get out of the vehicle. Woltman replies that it’s because she’s being placed under arrest for driving without a license. 

At this point, the tone of the interaction changes.

“Let’s not make things difficult,” says Woltman.“Let’s make this very easy.”

Shaw says the deputy can follow her home to see the paperwork for her license and that she can prove it. 

“No, I’m not following you home,” says Woltman. 

“So you’re going to arrest me after I just left work, and I’m a nurse?” says Shaw, who said earlier this week she is a nurse assistant. 

Woltman asks Shaw to step closer to him. She says no and gets back into her car, saying she was going to call her lawyer.  

Deputy Woltman follows her, standing in front of the driver’s side door and calling for backup. He then grabs her arm and tells her she’s under arrest. 

For around the next six minutes, Deputy Woltman and Shaw go back and forth, saying “you’re under arrest, stop resisting,” and “I’m not resisting.” At one point, Woltman says “I’m going to taze you if you don’t get out of the car.”

When Shaw says someone is filming the interaction, Woltman replies he is also recording the situation. Eventually, another officer approaches from the passenger side, trying to calm Shaw down. He can be heard saying, “look at me, just listen to me for a second.”

Following that, the body cam video reaches the point at which the bystander video began: Deputy Woltman pulls Shaw out of the vehicle, and she can be seen handcuffed while laying stomach-down on the pavement. She yells “I’m not resisting” and “Ow, you’re hurting me.”

Shaw was then brought to the back of the police vehicle. She yells,“I fell on my fucking head,” before an officer shut the door with her in the back seat. The video ends shortly after that.

The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook post with the body cam footage has been viewed almost 300,000 times and led to over 4,000 comments.

In a post accompanying the video, Sheriff Juan Figueroa explains why it was released. 

“I found it prudent to release the body camera footage of the event that occurred on December 28, 2020 in a parking lot in the Town of Ulster, as this event has already garnered community attention. Encounters with law enforcement can be unpredictable, and although this is not to say one way or the other that anyone is at fault, this will at least shed light on the event as it occurred in real time. Like all technology, devices such as body cameras, cell phones and similar devices are machines with limitations.  This complaint remains under investigation.”

Saturday afternoon at approximately 2:20 p.m., state police from the Ellenville barracks responded to Whitfield Avenue in Accord for a report of a car/pedestrian hit and run.

Upon arrival, troopers observed an unconscious man, later identified as George Barley, 62, of Accord, laying approximately eight feet off of the west shoulder off the roadway. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Accord Kerhonkson First Aid Squad and the Accord Fire Department. Barley, who was unconscious and breathing, was transported to Westchester Medical Center via helicopter.

According to police, Barley was walking with his wife when she observed a gray sedan driving south on Whitfield Road at a high rate of speed. The vehicle struck her husband and continued on without stopping.

State police are asking anyone who was in the area at that time and may have witnessed the accident or the vehicle before or after the accident to contact the state police at Ellenville at 845-626-2800.

Detectives of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office report the arrest of a 17-year-old male from Port Ewen for the felony of first-degree assault and the misdemeanor of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

On Saturday, January 2, at about 7:30 p.m., police responded to a residence in Port Ewen for a report of a stabbing victim, following a domestic dispute with his son. The victim was treated at the scene and later transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The teen was located shortly thereafter and taken into custody. He was arraigned virtually at the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center in Kingston and released to reappear in Ulster County Family Court on a later date. His name is currently being withheld due to possible eligibility for “Youthful Offender” status.

Also responding to the scene were New York State Police in Highland, Town of Esopus Volunteer Ambulance Service and Mobile Life Support Services.

On January 7, 2021 Saugerties Police arrested and charged 26-year-old Donovan W. Price of 36 McEntee Street, Kingston, with the felonies of second-degree burglary and first-degree grand larceny.

Price was arrested following a burglary investigation conducted by the Saugerties Police Department which began on December 3, 2019 when a village of Saugerties resident returning home from a trip found that someone had entered and burglarized their home while they were away. Detectives worked the case for over a year, finally making a DNA match on evidence they secured during their investigation.

Price, who has a previous felony conviction, was remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail.

State Police in Ellenville arrested Brysen R. Tota, 24, of Kingston, in connection with a hit-and-run accident that injured a 62-year-old pedestrian in Accord on January 2.

During the course of the investigation, troopers determined that Tota was the driver of a 2010 Gray Audi A4 that struck Accord resident George Barley and then fled the scene.

Tota was charged with:

• Leaving the Scene of an Accident involving serious injury (felony)
• Tampering with Physical Evidence (felony)
• Assault 2nd degree (felony), Aggravated Unlicensed Operator 2nd degree (misdemeanor)

He was arraigned in front of Town Justice Shaheen and remanded to Ulster County Jail in lieu of $7,500 cash/and $15,000 unsecured bond. He has a return date on January 15 at 10 a.m. in the Town of Rochester Court.