Crews Removing Rubble Of Hartwick Seminary Fire
Crews Removing Rubble
Of Hartwick Seminary Fire
Four Men Arrested In Plot To Bomb Islamberg
4 Men Arrested
In Bombing Plot
Against Islamberg
A group of high school students at Odyssey Academy in Greece, near Rochester, tipped off police that one of their classmates was allegedly part of a plot to bomb Islamberg, the small Muslim community in Delaware County.
Officers with the Greece Police Department Saturday arrested Brian F. Colaneri, 20, and Vincent Vetromile, 19, both of Greece, and Andrew C. Crysel, 18, of East Rochester, as well as a 16-year-old student at Odyssey Academy after the tip, allegedly finding three improvised explosive devices, packed with nails and powder, at the home the 16-year-old suspect.
Police additionally found 23 firearms — a combination of shotguns and rifles — across the suspects’ residences.
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Truck Overturns On I-88 Near Sidney
Truck Overturns
On I-88 Near Sidney
SIDNEY – I-88 is open again following a tractor-trailer accident that left the truck driver injured and fuel and cargo scattered on the roadside.
James E. Witt, 40, Scio was traveling eastbound on I-88 in Sidney when he traveled off the southern shoulder and traveled approximately 500 feet before striking earth embankment and overturning on its side. Unadilla and Wells Bridge Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene at 5:23 p.m. and the Witt was transported to Wilson Hospital complaining of head and rib pain.
Oneonta Police Host Active Shooter Education At Fox
Oneonta Police To Train Public
On Dealing With ‘Active Shooter’
ONEONTA – The Oneonta Police Department this week will host two interactive, discussion-based community-education sessions on what to do in the event of an active shooter in a public place.
The first session will be 11 a.m-1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, and the second 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23. Both will be in Classroom 1 at the Foxcare Center. Both programs are free and open to the public.
30 Accidents Reported Overnight; No Serious Injuries
Slick Roads Cause 30 Crashes;
No Serious Injuries Reported
COOPERSTOWN – Snow and slippery roads caused 30 car accidents overnight throughout the county, according to Robert O’Brien, Director of E-911 Communications.
Though no serious injuries were reported, O’Brien said that Fire and EMS teams responded to seven of the motor vehicle accidents.
Flurries are expected today, but no accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.
Police Seize License Plates After 20-Fatality Accident
Police Seize License Plates
After 20-Fatality Accident
ALBANY — State Police began quietly seizing license plates from unauthorized limousines following the Oct. 6 crash in Schoharie County where 20 people were killed when a stretch limo that was supposed to be off the road careened through an intersection and crashed, the Times-Union is reporting today.
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SHERIFF’S SON RESIGNS JOB, ENDING CASE
SHERIFF’S SON
RESIGNS JOB,
ENDING CASE
Roz Devlin ‘Chose Voluntarily’
To Separate From Department
By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – When Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. took his oath of office last Tuesday, a new term began for him, and a new day for his department.
The allegations against his son, Roz Devlin, were resolved with the younger man’s resignation in December from his correctional officer position, county Board Chair David Bliss said today.
Heller Might Not Have Been Target, Testimony Suggests
Heller Might Not
Have Been Target,
Testimony Suggests
Women’s Apartment Door ‘Covered’
On Floor Below Where Hero Died
By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – A burned spray can was found outside the door of a woman’s apartment at 5 Walling Ave., state investigators told City Judge Lucy Bernier during testimony today.
And the bottom of Heather Engler’s door was “covered,” state Fire Investigator Christopher Lupold testified.
The testimony suggests the woman may have been the target, rather than the man who died: John D. Heller, 38, who was asleep one floor up with his fiancée and his four nephews.
The spray can, burned beyond recognition, was found amid the debris found during the investigation into the fire that killed the former Oneonta firefighter who helped the four boys and fiancée Amber Roe escape before succumbing to the fire.
City Judge Bernier Sends Arson Case To Grand Jury
BULLETIN
City Judge Bernier Sends
Arson Case To Grand Jury
ONEONTA – City Judge Lucy Bernier has just ruled that there is enough evidence to send the Terrence Truitt case to the Otsego County Grand Jury.
Truitt, 34, was charged with felony arson after a fire at 5 Walling Avenue that killed former Oneonta firefighter John Heller.
Detective: Arson Suspect Kept Changing His Story
Detective: Arson Suspect
Kept Changing His Story
In One Version, Truitt Said He Visited
Second-Floor Tenant, Detective Testifies
By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – No motive was specified when Terrance Truitt, 34, accused of arson, first degree, in last Saturday’s fatal fire at 5 Walling Ave., appeared for a felony hearing this afternoon in City Court.
However, Truitt acted suspiciously, testified Oneonta Police Detective Sgt. Branden Collison, who led the investigation. “He was very deceptive in his answers,” said Collison.
The hearing adjourned after one and a half hours, and will be continued, tentatively at 10 a.m. Monday.
Truitt’s Felony Hearing Rescheduled For 1:30 p.m. In Oneonta City Court
Truitt Felony Hearing Scheduled
For 1:30 p.m. In Oneonta Court
ONEONTA – Terrence Truitt, 34, suspected in the arson death of former firefighter John Heller last Saturday in the 5 Walling Ave. fire, had his felony hearing rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. today. He was brought to the city’s Public Safety Center at 8:30 this morning, but did not appear in the courtroom during the regular morning session.
Truitt In Court On Arson Charge
Truitt In Court
On Arson Charge
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ON TODAY’S HEARING
Leads Poured In, Leading To Arrest Of Oneonta Man, 34
TERRENCE TRUITT IN CUSTODY
Leads Poured In,
Leading To Arrest
Of Oneonta Man, 34
Police, Fire Chiefs Detail What’s Known
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – Within hours of Saturday morning’s fire that claimed the life of former Oneonta firefighter John D. Heller, the leads began to pour in.
“We had more than 70 leads,” said Police Chief Doug Brenner an hour ago at a press conference held jointly with Fire Chief Pat Pidgeon. “And the investigation is continuing.”
The men reported Terrence Truitt, 34, Oneonta, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson, which investigators believe started on the second floor of 5 Walling Ave.
Heller and his fiancee, Amber Roe, lived on the top floor, and had their four nephews staying with them that night. Heller and Roe helped the children escape, but then was unable to get out of the building.
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ONEONTA MAN, 34 CHARGED IN FIRE
ONEONTA MAN, 34,
CHARGED IN FIRE
ONEONTA – Terrence Truitt, 34, Oneonta, has been charged with arson in Saturday’s fatal fire where a former fireman died, Fire Chief Pat Pidgeon and Police Chief Doug Brenner report in a press conference earlier this evening.
Three Homes Burn Over New Year’s Eve
PEOPLE SAFE; 2 DOGS DIE
3 Homes Burn
New Year’s Eve
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
COOPERSTOWN – Whipped by high winds, flames destroyed three homes in northern Otsego County overnight – in the towns of Middlefield, Springfield and Otsego.
At 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve, crews from the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department were called to 207 Rezen Road after a passerby called 911 on observing a home on fire.