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Thursday, may 15
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Kathy Reakes
Reporter
kreakes@dailyvoice.com
Kathy Reaks has worked as a reporter in the local news business since 1984, starting as a news clerk and working her way up. She spent 17 years at Florida Today in Melbourne, Florida as a general assignment reporter, crime reporter, entertainment reporter and restaurant critic. She worked four years at Hometown News as a general assignment reporter, then another two years at Spacecoast Daily in Cocoa Beach, Florida. She attended Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida.
Motorcyclist Hits 100 MPH In Taconic Parkway Police Chase, Police Say
A 36-year-old motorcyclist who tried to outrun Yorktown Police attempting a to stop him for speeding was eventually nabbed after police had to call off the chase.
The chase took place around 5:52 p.m., Saturday, March 27, when a Yorktown Police officer attempted to stop Kafian Gooden, of East Hartford, Connecticut, for speeding on Crompond Road, said the Yorktown Police.
But, instead of stopping, Gooden fled onto the Taconic State Parkway at speeds exceeding 100 mph while unsafely passing other motorists and committing numerous traffic violations, police said.
Because of the high spe…
Westchester Man Killed In Single-Vehicle I-684 Crash
A Westchester man was killed during a single-vehicle crash on I-684 in the town of North Castle.
John M. Saunders, 74, of Mamaroneck, was killed around 7:20 p.m., Sunday, July 28 while traveling southbound on the highway, said Trooper AJ Hicks, spokesman for the New York State Police.
An initial investigation found that Saunders was driving a 2014 Dodge Charger, in the center lane when he veered right, and then veered across the center lane into the left lane for an unknown reason, Hicks said.
The vehicle then struck the center guard rail and rolled over into the median.
Saunders was trea…
Man, Woman Nabbed With Loaded Firearm During Town of Poughkeepsie Traffic Stop, Police Say
A man and a woman one who tried to flee from police were arrested following a traffic stop for alleged criminal possession of a loaded weapon.
The incident took place around 12:45 a.m., Friday, July 26, when Town of Poughkeepsie Police officers stopped a vehicle on Main Street, said the Lt. Michael O’Dowd.
During the stop, officers located a loaded firearm inside the vehicle and arrested Shaquille D. Heirs, 25, and Angelica D. Scott, 28, both of Poughkeepsie, O'Dowd said.
Heirs attempted to flee from officers on foot but was caught a short time later.
Both were c…
Dutchess County Man Killed In CT Crash
A 53-year-old Dutchess County man was killed over the weekend in a motorcycle crash in Connecticut.
Jon Morey, of Amenia, was killed around 6:37 p.m., Saturday, July 27, after failing to negotiate a turn on Mitchelltown Road in the town of Sharon, said the Connecticut State Police.
According to a state police investigation, Morey was ejected from his motorcycle and hit a wire rope guardrail.
His passenger, Tanja Kraft, of Pine Plains, received minor injuries.
Morey was transported to Sharon Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The crash is currently under investigation. Anyone wi…
Man Becomes Irate, Hostile After Approaching Officer During Spring Valley DWI Stop, Police Say
While Spring Valley police were arresting a local resident for DWI, another man approached the officer and became irate and hostile, which also landed him in cuffs.
The strange incident took place around 3:50 a.m., Sunday, July 28, when a Spring Valley made a traffic stop at 150 LIberty Parkway for a driver that had allegedly committed numerous traffic violations, said Officer Matthew Galli.
During the interview and investigation handled by the officer, Jerry Blanc, 29, of Spring Valley, was found to driving at more than double the legal limit at 0.18 percent, said Galli.
Blanc was ar…
Community Shows Sympathy In Fundraising Effort For Area Dad Who Forgot Twins In Hot Car
The family and friends of a New City man who allegedly left his year-old twins in his vehicle when he went to work and later found them dead have created a GoFundMe page to help the family deal with the tragedy.
The family of Juan Rodriguez, 39, who has been charged with two counts each of criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter, are standing behind, what they call "a loving father and dedicated husband," following the horrible incident, the group said on the GoFundMe page.
According to officials, Luna, a girl, and Phoenix Rodriguez, a boy, were left in a Honda Accord vehicle a…
Motorcyclist, 41, Killed In Westchester Crash
A man was killed in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on the Bronx River Parkway in Westchester.
The crash happened around 6:20 p.m., Saturday, July 27, near the Wakefield overpass in Yonkers, said Kieran O'Leary, spokesman for the Westchester County Police.
According to an investigation Rafael Rodriguez, 41, of the Bronx, was traveling northbound when he lost control and struck a concrete barrier and a light pole, O'Leary said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The northbound lanes were closed for several hours as a result of the accident and subsequent investigation.
The…
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