WCDO Radio News

Federal Prosecutors last month announced charges against three members of the Sex Money Murder gang of the Bronx, which included Corey Brown, Josnel Rodriguez & Christopher Canada, for racketeering, firearms charges, & for the murder of Vincent Davis in July of 2012. Rodriguez & Brown were brought into court, but Canada was on the run from law enforcement, until he was apprehended by US Marshals & Oneonta Police in a Division Street Apartment yesterday afternoon. Canada was apprehended without incident & was returned to New York City to face prosecution.

State Police responded to a car & tractor trailer fatal crash on State Route 90 in the Town of Homer. A 61 year old Cortland man was driving a Subaru southbound, he drifted into the northbound lane and struck a tractor trailer driven by 48 year old Michael Gross of Norwich. Police said that the Subaru spun off the southbound shoulder and came to rest, the tractor trailer crossed over the southbound lanes and came to rest in a swamp, diesel fuel spilled onto the roadway, and the tractor began to burn. The unidentified Cortland man was declared dead at the scene, Gross was transported to Upstate Medical for non-life threatening injuries. The deceased driver’s name is not being released pending family notification.

The 3rd Annual Franklin Volunteer Fire Department open house & Public Safety day on Sunday form 12:00 Noon until 3:00 PM. A variety of activities & demonstrations are scheduled, at the Franklin Fire House.

State Police arrested 19-year-old Jason McCrady of Greene, for 3rd degree Assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment. This arrest occurred after troopers. McCrady is accused of punching, shoving & choking his girlfriend, causing injuries, he was also wanted on a bench warrant for aggravated harassment by State Police in Homer. McCrady was arraigned in the Town of Greene court and was remanded to the Chenango County jail on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 property bond, pending court action on July 12th.

The City of Oneonta Fire Department will be conducting a community risk assessment over the next few months. Department members will be walking through neighborhoods, checking out building exteriors & properties, they will be in uniform, will have Id's & they will not ask to enter a residence. More Information is available by emailing risk assess@oneonta.ny.us.

The Village of Sidney Police Department announced the Main Street railroad crossing will be closed to traffic today for repairs. Reopening of the railroad crossing is expected on Tuesday, Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.

The State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, State Troopers and Oneonta Police Department executed a search warrant at 510 Main Street in the City of Oneonta, following an investigation into heroin sales. Troopers seized 110 bags of heroin, $343 in cash, digital drug scales, 22 marihuana plants, 5 shotguns, 4 rifles, ammunition, 3 daggers, and marijuana cultivation equipment. 29 year old Tadd Sherwood of Oneonta was arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Weapon by a felon, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Unlawfully Growing Cannabis. The Endangering Welfare of a Child charge is the result of a 5 year old child and 4 week old infant living in the residence where narcotics were found. Sherwood was arraigned in the Town of Milford Court and remanded to the Otsego County Jail without bail.

46-year-old Cindy Fortner of Homer is expected to plead guilty in Broome County Court this afternoon to Conspiracy, in connection with the abduction of her teenage daughters, Shaeleen & Kylea Fortner, from the Town of Binghamton. Prosecutors accused Fortner of arranging her daughters April 2015 abduction and was an accomplice along with 29-year-old Amanda Hellmann of Vestal, who already pleaded guilty to kidnapping & will serve 10 years in prison.

The Sidney High School Visual Arts Department Exhibit at the Harrington Gallery on Cartwright Avenue, will be on display through tomorrow at 4:00 PM. The exhibit can be seen between 11:00 & 4:00 on Saturday

The Village of Sidney Police Department announced that on Monday, the Main Street railroad crossing will be closed to traffic for repairs. Reopening of the railroad crossing will be sometime on Tuesday. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s department responded to a burglary in progress at 268 Round Pond Road in the Town of Smithville Thursday morning. A Sheriff’s Deputy and members of the Greene Police Department discovered a male suspect in the residence, at 11:15 AM, officers noticed smoke coming from the rear of the residence and called for fire department response. The suspect jumped through a window at the rear of the residence in an attempt to escape & suffered injuries. 26-year-old Adam King of Smithville was transported to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City; he was released to the custody of the Sheriff's department. The fire was caused extensive damage to the residence, & is considered to be a total loss. King was charged with 2nd degree Burglary, Arson & Criminal Mischief, and he was arraigned this morning in the Town of Smithville Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Jail on $100,000 cash bail.

The American Red Cross will hold another Blood Drive today in West Oneonta, from 1:00 to 6:00 PM at the West Oneonta Fire Department. Appointments are made by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.