Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith has called for a change in New York State law that would permit the use of electronic court appearances in Putnam County.

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of two local men accusing them of selling powdered cocaine from their apartment, located in Village of Brewster.

Undercover members of the Sheriff's Narcotics Enforcement Unit developed information that two men were trafficking powered cocaine from their Center Street apartment. During the two-month investigation, investigators were able to infiltrate the operation and identify the individuals responsible for selling the contraband.

Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the recent arrests of motorists for driving while intoxicated.

On October 11, 2008 at 3:36 a. m., while on patrol on Route 22 in the Town of Southeast, Deputy Sheriff Kevin McManus stopped a motorist for a traffic violation. The deputy determined that the driver, Pablo Ramirez, 37, of 81 Peaceable Hill Road, Brewster was intoxicated. The deputy arrested the driver and charged him with Driving While Intoxicated, a misdemeanor. The defendant was later released pending a November 5, 2008 appearance in the Town of Southeast Justice Court to answer the charges.

Safety Tips For Halloween

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reminds all Putnam County residents to be especially careful during the evening hours of October 31st, as many of our young people throughout the County will be out and about celebrating Halloween or Harvest Fest. Parents are urged to follow the following safety tips:

1. Costume Tip:
   
   
   
   • Face Paint is safer than a mask – and it's more fun!
     
   • If your child does wear a mask, make sure it has adequate holes for proper respiration and peripheral vision.
     
   
   
2. Trick or Treaters should:
   

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that scam artists using the name and good reputation of Publishers Clearing House are trying to deceive county residents.

Recently, a Lake Carmel resident contacted Sheriff Smith reporting that she had received an authentic-looking letter purporting to be sent from Publishers Clearing House notifying her that she was a third place winner in their contest thus winning one million dollars. The fraudulent document and a fake check payable in the amount of $5,340, was sent to the complainant. The document gave instructions to the recipient asking her to contact her “representative without delay BEFORE depositing this check and for further information on this prize. ”

Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Town of Southeast woman after she damaged a man's car and threatened to kill the man and another person.

On September 15, 2008 at 9:00 p. m., Deputy Sheriffs Timothy Keith and Daniel Hunsberger were dispatched to a report of a disturbance at 340 Tonetta Lake Road, Brewster.

Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Town of Patterson man and a City of Poughkeepsie woman on a felony larceny charge as well as a variety of drug-related charges.

Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Danbury, Connecticut man on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the graduation of Sergeant Francis P. Christian from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia on September 12, 2008.

Sergeant Christian, who supervises the Sheriff's Office Operations and Communications Section, was among two hundred-fifty law enforcement officials hailing from forty-nine states and the District of Columbia, three branches of the United States military, two federal civilian agencies, and twenty-four foreign countries who attended the 234th Session of the Academy. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, presented diplomas to the graduates at a September 12th ceremony at the Virginia campus.