WCDO Radio News

State Police arrested 55-year-old Daniel Erickson of Greene, for 2nd degree Rape with a victim under the age of 15, and endangering the welfare of a child, in Bath New York earlier this year. Erickson previously pleaded guilty in April to luring a 16-year-old child in Broome County after having multiple sexually charged texts, at the time he was the Johnson City Middle School Principal.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 5-29-24

An Otsego County Man is facing charges in Western New York. Bath Village Police Department arrested 35 year old Andrew McCarthy of Otego, for 2nd Degree Attempted Rape, and Attempted Luring a Child, he is accused of of trying to meet a 14-year-old girl, with the intent to take her home with him for a sexual relationship, after Police were called to a Park in Bath on May 25th for a report of an adult male meeting with the teen girl. McCarthy was taken to the Steuben County jail and arraigned on the charges Sunday.

State Police are requesting the public’s assistance in locating a 2019 or newer white Volvo semi-truck with damage to the front passenger side. Police said that 40 year old John Viviano of Sidney was pronounced dead at the scene, State Police at Troop E investigated the fatal car-pedestrian crash that occurred on I-86 near exit 38 in the village of Bath, Police beleive that a westbound vehicle on I-86 struck Viviano between Friday night & Saturday Morning, The vehicle did not stop, and State Police is requesting the public’s assistance to identify the vehicle, which may have significant front-end damage. Anyone with information, please contact the New York State Police at 585-398-4100.

State Police at Binghamton arrested 34-year-old Melissa Ipson of Liverpool for criminal possession of a controlled substance, driving while ability impaired by drugs and possessing a controlled substance in a non-original container. This arrest occurred after a trooper observed Ipson appearing disoriented as she sat in her vehicle at a gas pump and then drove to a parking space at the Mirabito on Castle Creek Road in the Town of Barker. An investigation determined that she was driving while impaired by drugs and unlawfully possessed over 2 grams of cathinone bath salts. Ipson was arraigned & was remanded to the Broome County jail without bail set at this time.

Governor Cuomo is calling for stronger Health Department regulations to combat the sale of synthetic marijuana in New York State, following a dramatic increase in hospital visits and poison control center calls. The sale and possession of dozens of types of synthetic marijuana and bath salts were banned by the Department of Health at the urging of Governor Cuomo in August 2012. These new regulations will expand the existing list of banned substances to include new chemical compounds that drug producers have begun to make since 2012. Residents who are aware of locations where these products are being manufactured, sold, or distributed, please call the Synthetic Drug Hotline at 1-888-99-SALTS.

An increase in the abuse of synthetic marijuana, led to Governor Cuomo issuing a health alert for the state. Cuomo's office stated that there were more than 160 people have reportedly been hospitalized due to abusing the drug, most of the abuse has been by teens or young adults. Cuomo’s banned the selling of Synthetic marijuana & bath salts in 2012.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that his office has secured a settlement with Bed Bath & Beyond, to ensure that applicants for employment are not automatically disqualified based on criminal convictions and without the individualized consideration that is required by New York State law. Under the settlement, the company will ensure that the company complies with state laws; Bed Bath & Beyond operates 62 stores in New York State.

Lawmakers and Upstate Poison Control officials called for the ban of synthetic drugs yesterday in Albany.  Synthetic drugs are mislabeled and sold as products as bath salts, shoe deodorant and incense, but they are intended to provide a high for the user.          The legislation addresses mislabeling, chemical swapping and creates penalties for possessing and selling synthetic drugs equivalent to their “street drug” counterpart.  The bill gives broader power the Commissioner of Health to add synthetic drugs and their chemical compounds to the controlled substance list, more power to the Attorney General to act on complaints that the drugs are being sold in store, who can be penalized for selling the mislabeled products.

Governor Cuomo signed legislation that will expand the ban on the type of chemicals used to make dangerous bath salts. The law comes after several high-profile deaths in New York City this summer involving the synthetic drugs.  The state Legislature in June passed a bill that adds new compounds used to make synthetic drugs to the state’s banned substance list.  The governor last year issued an executive order to ban the sale and possession of synthetic drugs under the state’s public health law.

The husband of a Pennsylvania woman found dead back in July is now charged with involuntary manslaughter. Scott Kunkle, 29, of Monroe Twp., is charged with aggravated assault and involuntary manslaughter in the death of his wife, 28-year-old Patricia Kunkle, in July after Pennsylvania State Police responded to a domestic dispute at the couple's home. An autopsy at Lourdes Hospital ruled Patricia's death a homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and internal injuries. Toxicology reports showed the presence of bath salts in Patricia's system. Kunkle was originally arrested for simple assault and reckless endangerment before those charges were withdrawn Monday morning by the Bradford County District Attorney. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Teen drug use continues to be problematic with new drugs like synthetic marijuana, bath salts, & “Mollies” joining substances like heroin, prescription pain pills, stimulants, cocaine & stronger grades of marijuana in the last year.  Dave Ramsey is the Executive Director of the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County; he mentions some of the changed behaviors that teens may exhibit when they experiment with these drugs:

(Dave Ramsey 6-27-13)

The Drug Enforcement Administration announced 150 arrests yesterday of those who were involved in trafficking bath salts and synthetic marijuana here, DEA officials said that the added problem is that the money from the sale of these drugs goes to the Middle East and the often goes to suspected terrorists groups.

State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has won litigation against retailers selling deceptively labeled designer drugs. The Supreme Court decision holds business owner John Tebbetts responsible for selling deceptively labeled drug products to consumers from his 8 upstate head shops, & for denying that the products were meant for human consumption.    Schneidermann’s lawsuit attempted to stop the sale of “Bath Salts” and “Synthetic Marijuana” in violation of the state's labeling laws.

Police, emergency room physicians, parents and officials with the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County  have seen a dramatic shift from teens of alcohol abuse to the abuse of heroin, prescription pain medications, “Bath Salts” and synthetic Marijuana.  Dave Ramsey of the alcohol & drug abuse council said that parents need to be very observant regarding their teen:

(Dave Ramsey)

Those with questions regarding the current popular abused substances can call the council at 746-8300; additional information can be found at adaconline.org.