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The Oneida City Police Department is requesting the public's assistance with identifying and locating the pictured individual regarding an incident that occurred at Lowes in Oneida, on Monday, October 16, 2023, at about 6:10 pm. If you know who the pictured individual is, if you may have witnessed the incident, recognize the vehicle, or have any information regarding this incident, please call the Oneida City Police Department at (315) 363-2323. All calls may remain confidential. The case reference number is 23-ON06347 The case being investigated by Ofc. Lenning and you can e-mail him directly with any information at tlenning@oneidacityny.gov.

PRESS RELEASE On November 1st, 2023, at approximately 4:31 p.m., Oneida City Police were dispatched to a reported robbery in progress at Price Chopper, located at 142 Genesee Street. The subject reportedly stole property from Price Chopper and possessed what appeared to be a handgun. Through investigation, the identity of the subject and the vehicle the subject arrived in were quickly identified. Area checks for the subject continued and were performed by multiple law enforcement agencies. At approximately 8:51 p.m., Oneida City Police Patrol Officers observed the vehicle at a local business. Officers approached the occupants of the vehicle and located the subject in question, JOSHUA PARKHURST, 31, of Oneida. JOSHUA PARKHURST was taken into custody without incident. JOSHUA PARKHURST was found to be in possession of a B.B. gun pistol. Through the investigative process, it has been determined that a petit larceny and menacing took place. Joshua Parkhurst has been charged with Menacing 2nd degree and Petit Larceny. He was released on an appearance ticket.

On November 2, 2023, a rededication ceremony was held at the Route 11 bridge in the village of Philadelphia, Jefferson County in honor of Fallen Trooper Joel R. Davis. Members from the New York State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Park Police, Village of Philadelphia Police Department, and the city of Watertown Police Department, along with elected officials and Davis’s family members, attended the ceremony to honor Davis, who was shot and killed in 2017 while responding to a domestic incident in Theresa. State Police Assistant Deputy Superintendent Lt. Col. Darren S. Pitkin spoke at the ceremony about Trooper Davis’s sacrifice. “Law enforcement is a family with a common shared goal to make the world a better place, and Joel Davis was just that type of person. Joel always focused on the extraordinary. On being an extraordinary trooper, on always doing more than what was expected of him at every turn,” Pitkin said. “It is not how Joel died that made him a hero–but how he lived. When gunfire erupted, Joel ran towards danger and saved the lives of a mother and her two small children. Joel lived to make a difference in this world, and he died as he lived, defending freedom, safeguarding peace, and preserving justice.” “The rededication of this bridge today serves as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that Joel Davis made on the evening of July 9, 2017. Joel might not be here physically, today, but his spirit and memory live on in all of us,” he added. State Assemblyman Scott A. Gray also praised Davis’s outstanding character. “Joel was known for his professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public safety. He stood as the epitome of honor and duty,” Gray said. “Trooper Davis’s legacy extends far beyond his heroic actions on that fateful day. He leaves behind a loving family. His wife Suzanne, and their three children, Trenton, Caden, and Jaila. His parents, Randy and Mary, his brother Josh, and all who will carry his memory in their hearts,” Gray said. “His fellow troopers, law enforcement professionals, and the community he served will always remember him as a remarkable hero with courage and character.” The more than $4 million project replaced the bridge built in the 1950s.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a New Hartford man was sent to the hospital following a three-car Motor Vehicle Accident at the intersection of Chaminade Rd and Old River Rd in the Town of Marcy. Deputies responded to the scene shortly after 4:00 PM. Following the investigation, Deputies determined Dustin Howard (25), of New York Mills, was operating a Black 2024 Chevrolet in a southerly direction on Chaminade Rd, when he failed to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign at the intersection of Old River Rd. Howard proceeded through the intersection without yielding the right-of-way and was subsequently struck by Aaron Smith (19), of New Hartford, who was operating a Gold 2008 Hyundai, in a westerly direction on Old River Rd. After the collision, Smith's vehicle continued westerly before exiting the roadway and striking a third vehicle that was parked unoccupied in a driveway. Smith was transported to Rome Health with non-life-threatening injuries. Howard was not injured and signed off at the scene. Howard was issued a citation for failure to yield at a stop sign, returnable to Marcy Town Court at a later date. Deputies were assisted on the scene by the Stittville Fire Department, Kunkel Ambulance, Cushman's Towing, and Delahunt's Towing. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=715102080652462&set=a.233092632186745

Both American Hackers in Scheme Also Plead Guilty Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and John Gay, the Inspector General of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (the “Port Authority”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging ALEKSANDR DEREBENETC, a/k/a “Sasha Novgorod,” and KIRILL SHIPULIN, a/k/a “Kirill Russia,” with two counts of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions. The Indictment charges that DEREBENETC and SHIPULIN hacked the electronic taxi dispatch system (the “Dispatch System”) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK”). Taxi drivers are required to wait in a holding lot at JFK before they are dispatched to pick up a fare. A computer system ensures that taxis are dispatched in the order in which they arrived. DEREBENETC and SHIPULIN conspired with DANIEL ABAYEV and PETER LEYMAN to hack the Dispatch System and move certain taxis to the front of the line in exchange for payment. ABAYEV pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, and LEYMAN pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions on October 4, 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the indictment, these four defendants conspired to hack into the taxi dispatch system at JFK airport. Cyber hacking can pose grave threats to infrastructure systems that we rely on every day, and our Office is dedicated to pursuing criminal hackers, whether they be in Russia or here in New York.” Port Authority Inspector General John Gay said: “The significant charges in this alleged hacking conspiracy show that the Port Authority takes seriously our obligation to safe and equitable operations across our facilities. As alleged, this brazen scheme corrupted a system that hard-working taxi drivers rely on to earn a living, all so the defendants could make some extra cash. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.” As alleged in the Indictment:[1] From at least September 2019 through September 2021, DEREBENETC and SHIPULIN, who are Russian nationals residing in Russia, and ABAYEV and LEYMAN, who are U.S. citizens residing in Queens, New York, engaged in a scheme (the “Hacking Scheme”) to hack the Dispatch System at JFK. At all relevant times, taxi drivers who sought to pick up a fare at JFK were required to wait in a holding lot at JFK before being dispatched to a specific terminal by the Dispatch System. Taxi drivers were frequently required to wait several hours in the lot before being dispatched to a terminal and were dispatched in approximately the order in which they arrived at the holding lot. Beginning in 2019, DEREBENETC, SHIPULIN, ABAYEV, and LEYMAN explored and attempted various mechanisms to access the Dispatch System, including bribing someone to insert a flash drive containing malware into computers connected to the Dispatch System, obtaining unauthorized access to the Dispatch System via a Wi-Fi connection, and stealing computer tablets connected to the Dispatch System. The members of the Hacking Scheme also sent messages to each other in which they explicitly discussed their intention to hack the Dispatch System. For example, on or about November 10, 2019, ABAYEV messaged the following to DEREBENETC in Russian: “I know that the Pentagon is being hacked[.]. So, can’t we hack the taxi industry[?]” At various times between November 2019 and November 2020, DEREBENETC, SHIPULIN, ABAYEV, and LEYMAN successfully hacked the Dispatch System. They used their unauthorized access to alter the Dispatch System and move specific taxis to the front of the line, thereby allowing drivers of those taxis to skip other taxi drivers waiting in the line. ABAYEV and LEYMAN charged taxi drivers $10 each time they were advanced to the front of the line and transferred part of their profits to SHIPULIN and DEREBENETC. ABAYEV and LEYMAN’s scheme resulted in large numbers of taxi drivers skipping the taxi line. Over the course of the scheme, they enabled as many as 1,000 fraudulently expedited taxi trips a day. * * * DEREBENETC, 30, of Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, and SHIPULIN, 30, of Moscow, Russia, are each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. ABAYEV, 47, and LEYMAN, 49, both of Queens, New York, each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. LEYMAN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crotty on January 11, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., and ABAYEV is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Crotty on February 12, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. DEREBENETC and SHIPULIN remain at large. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Port Authority Office of the Inspector General. Mr. Williams also thanked Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Steven J. Kochevar are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation. ContactNicholas Biase (212) 637-2600 Updated October 30, 2023

PRESS RELEASE Somers, New York – On October 30, 2023, the New York State Police began investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash on Route 100 south of Route 35 in the town of Somers. Initial investigation determined a 2020 Honda CRV was headed north in the southbound lanes operated by Junior Polanco Brito, age 36, of North Brunswick, NJ, while working as a Lyft driver, and struck a southbound 2015 Mack sanitation truck, operated by John M. Paolucci, age 45, of Harrison, NY. Junior Polanco Brito was pronounced deceased at the scene by responding emergency medical paramedics. Polanco Brito’s passenger, a seventeen-year-old, was severely injured and transported to Westchester Medical Center and listed in critical condition. This investigation remains ongoing. https://www.nyspnews.com/fatal-crash-in-somers.htm

PRESS RELEASE Marcy is attempting to locate a 2021 black Voyager trailer along with seal coating equipment that was stolen on October 23, 2023, at 12:30 PM after the driver/owner was driving west on Route 8 in Deerfield and had a flat tire. The driver pulled over in a gravel parking lot near Route 12 to change the tire. He needed a jack to fit under the trailer, so he dropped the trailer and drove to Tractor Supply and when he returned the trailer was gone. If anyone has any information or has seen the stolen trailer, they are asked to contact State Police at (315) 366-6000. https://www.nyspnews.com/state-police-seek-public-assistance-with-stolen-trailer-investigation-1.htm

PRESS RELEASE State Police in Marcy is investigating a fatal ATV crash that occurred on October 27, 2023, on Domser Road in the town of Boonville, Oneida County. The preliminary investigation has determined that at approximately 8:30 p.m., a 2006 Polaris Sportsman 700 ATV, operated by Andrii Yavorskyi, age 30 from Norwalk, Connecticut was traveling west on Domser Road when he lost control on a sharp curve in the road, drove off the roadway overturned. Yavorskyi was ejected from the ATV and pronounced deceased at the scene. Troopers discovered that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. https://www.nyspnews.com/connecticut-man-killed-after-atv-crash-in-oneida-county.htm

PRESS RELEASE On October 21, 2023, New York State Police at Homer arrested George G. Middleton, age 51 of Rochester, NY for two counts of the class “D” felony of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the second degree. A trooper observed a vehicle with vehicle and traffic infractions while on Interstate 81 in the city of Cortland and initiated a traffic stop. The Trooper observed was that the vehicle had a temporary paper license plate from Indiana, which upon investigation revealed that the paper license plate was fake. A further investigation also revealed that Middleton had fraudulent insurance documents for the vehicle and that Middleton has a revoked driver’s license. He was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Sources: https://www.nyspnews.com/traffic-stop-results-in-trooper-finding-fake-temporary-plate.htm

County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. announced today that Oneida County has awarded $250,000 to assist in the construction of a skatepark in Rome dedicated to the memory of a young man who was passionate about the sport and his city. “The passing of Stone Mercurio was a tragedy felt not just in the City of Rome, but all throughout Oneida County,” Picente said. “Together with the Board of Legislators, we are proud to provide this funding to help keep his memory alive and greatly enhance the lives of those who share his passion for skateboarding. This skatepark will be a tremendous asset to community youth, giving them a productive place to spend their time and a safe environment to raise awareness of mental health.” The SFM Skatepark Project’s goal is to construct one of the largest destination skateplazas in New York State. It will consist of a 30,000-square-foot, modern, concrete skatepark and civic plaza located on the waterfront at Bellamy Harbor Park. The project is fully-designed, and will be broken into two phases. Oneida County’s contribution, which Picente allocated from American Rescue Plan Act funding, will go to Phase 1, known as the "Street Phase." It is estimated at $1.5 million and planned for spring/summer 2024 construction, with Phase 2 —the "Flow Phase"— planned for construction in 2025. In addition to the main skate area, which will also support bikes, scooters, rollerblades and wheelchairs, and feature a 450+ foot paved pump track that would be one of the largest in the state, the park’s civic plaza component will incorporate much-needed space for youth programming, live music and food trucks. The SFM Skatepark Project is an all-volunteer, youth-driven organization consisting of 12-15 core team members and more than 1,100 supporters in the Rome community. The group was formed following the death of Rome native son, Stone Mercurio, who was an avid skateboarder, snowboarder, soccer player, diver and outdoors enthusiast. Within a week of Stone's passing, his friends and family committed to building a free, safe, accessible, and dynamic modern skatepark in downtown Rome for all ages, abilities and backgrounds. “We aren’t here just to build a skatepark, we are here to transform lives,” said Christian Mercurio, Stone’s father. “We are here because of the hard work and dedication of Stone’s friends and young people in our community who want to make a difference. Stone was such a positive force in so many lives, and his spirit will live on through this project and the generations of kids to come. I can’t begin to describe the depth of our gratitude to County Executive Picente and the Board of Legislators for helping us break the stigma of mental illness and raise awareness for suicide prevention by providing a safe, welcoming, accessible place for teenagers at such a tender, critical age.” “The SFM Skatepark will not only be a skatepark, but a place where kids of all backgrounds can go to feel safe and have fun,” said Oneida County Legislator Brenda McMonagle, R-12, Rome. “When all phases are complete, this community hub will incorporate accessible features, partnerships to provide supportive services for teens and families, free skateboarding clinics and opportunities for all kinds of community-based programming. It will be able to be used year-round, for many years to come. I’m very proud to help secure county funding for this amazing project.” The Rome Community Foundation is the non-profit partner of the SFM Skatepark Project, responsible for the stewardship of all proceeds from fundraisers, donations and sponsorships. The City of Rome is also a project partner, that will own and operate the waterfront skateplaza at Bellamy Harbor Park. More information on the SFM Skatepark Project and donation opportunities can be found at: https://sfmskateparkproject.com/. Oneida County NEW YORK https://ocgov.net/news/rome-skatepark-project-receives-250000-from-oneida-county/

Today, we remember and honor the life of Detective Wallie Howard Jr. Detective Howard was shot and killed in the line of duty 33 years ago today, on October 30th, 1990. Detective Howard was a nine-year veteran of the Syracuse Police Department. He was the recipient of three bureau commendations as a result of several undercover drug investigations. While Detective Howard was assigned to the CNY/DEA Task Force, he was conducting an undercover operation when he was shot and killed in the line of duty. In honor of Detective Howard's outstanding work in drug investigations and his duty to service, the 'Wallie Howard Award' was created in his honor, and is awarded annually at the Syracuse Police Medal Awards ceremony. Detective Wallie Howard, is gone, but never forgotten. Syracuse Police Page: https://www.facebook.com/SyracusePolice/posts/pfbid0t4ohe1SVgrwpdBS9SzoDosRGQRhpvkU8o35jpiuigyiEtGf5zJFQQTCi4hs4vK7hl

On October 23, 2023, the New York State Police Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative in Rochester attempted to conduct a traffic to stop a 2014 Dodge Avenger on Hudson Ave at Clifford Ave in the city of Rochester for traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle failed to comply with police and traveled to Rochester General Hospital, where it is stopped. The operator was found to be intoxicated and possessing an illegal 9mm Glock handgun with four high-capacity magazines loaded with 88 rounds. The operator, James A. Johnson Jr, age 22, of Hazlehurst, Georgia, was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd (C Felony), four counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd (D Felony), and Driving While intoxicated. He was taken to the Monroe County Jail for CAP arraignment. https://www.nyspnews.com/a-georgia-resident-is-facing-gun-charges-in-rochester..htm