WCDO Radio News

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office concluded the death investigation in the Town of Conklin that has been ruled a murder-suicide stemming from an ongoing family dispute. On Friday, August 22nd, 65 year old Michael Shuta of Conklin was found deceased in Montrose, Pennsylvania, Shuta’s death was ruled a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Police in Pennsylvania and New York believe that Shuta shot his nephew, 41 year old Matthew Slavetskas of Conklin, who was found dead by Officers at his Brady Hill Road residence. Detectives reported that both pistols used in the murder and the suicide were registered to Shuta.

Broome County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol responded Saturday to a report of a burglary on Boswell Hill Road in the Town of Union. The homeowner spotted 2 individuals with flashlights inside his house with his home security camera system and called 911. Deputies, with State Police, located the 2 suspects, they fled into a wooded area, but were apprehended. Arrested were 43 year old Matthew Ortloff of Chenango Forks, & 45 year old Jeremiah Johnson of Endicott. The pair were charged with Burglary, Conspiracy, Possession of burglar tools, criminal mischief, along with seve4ral other related charges, they were arraigned and remain in custody at the Broome County Correctional Facility.

Norwich Police have arrested 38 year old Matthew Lamb of Norwich, on charges of 4th degree arson, criminal mischief, & reckless endangerment, for allegedly using a blow torch to kill insects at his apartment at 12 State Street in Norwich Monday Night. Firefighters from the Norwich Fire Department, & the North Norwich Fire Department responded, no injuries were reported.

Cooperstown Firefighters responded to a blaze on Hooligan Hill Road Monday Afternoon. Investigators believe that a lawn mower caught fire in a garage after use & spread through the whole structure. The home was completely destroyed, the unidentified resident escaped without injuries.

On Wednesday afternoon, members of the Delaware County
Sheriff’s Office, Franklin 1st responders were dispatched to a single vehicle
roll-over accident, involving serious personal injury, on Dunk Hill Road in the
Town of Franklin.  The driver, 41 year old
Matthew Baxter of Franklin was entrapped and partially ejected from the
vehicle.  Life Net helicopter air-lifted
Baxter to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, a dog riding in the truck
was not injured.  The Investigation
revealed that Baxter lost control, struck a culvert, became airborne and
over-tuned before striking a tree with the roof of the vehicle, preliminary
investigation indicates excessive speed was a contributing factor.

32 year old Matthew Jones of Greene will spend 7 1/2 years
in prison, for pleading guilty to 2nd degree Burglary & 3rd degree Grand
Larceny.  Jones was arrested after
allegedly burglarizing Homes in Greene in May, & stealing cash, credit
cards, gasoline & other items.

State Police at Troop C responded to a report of a child
struck by a vehicle on Anderson Hill Road in the town of Candor.   The investigation revealed two children were
playing and took keys to a Dodge Caravan.
One child started the vehicle and shifted it into gear when a second
child fell out of the car and was struck by the vehicle.  The child was transported to Upstate Medical
Center in Syracuse by Guthrie Life Flight.
The child is listed in serious but stable condition.   The investigation continues into the
incident.

The State Police CNET Team, State troopers, Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and State DEC executed a search warrant at 163 Sherman Hill Rd in the Town of Afton, following an investigation into the sale of methamphetamine. 36-year-old Matthew Mazepa, & 21-year-old Taylor Quackenbush of Afton were arrested for criminal possession of a controlled substance. Officers seized crystal methamphetamine, marihuana, Digital scales, drug packaging material cash & cell phones. Mazepa was arraigned in Afton Town Court and remanded to the Chenango County Jail without bail. Quackenbush was issued Appearance Tickets for Afton Town Court and released.

Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a one-car roll over with property damage on Case Hill Road in Treadwell on November 6th. Deputies determined that William Rathbun’s vehicle left the roadway, entered into a ditch & rolled over and stuck a utility pole, which caused a minor power outage. Rathbun was ticketed for failure to keep right, speed unreasonable and prudent, & possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. Rathbun will appear in the Town of Franklin Court at a later date.

State Police and Broome County SIU Task Force executed a search warrant at 475 Popple Hill Road in the Town of Lisle as a result of an investigation into the sale and manufacturing of methamphetamine. Police seized items associated with one pot meth manufacturing, Arrested were Matthew Crowningshield, Heather Clark, Scott Doty & Andrew Kuhr. They were charged with Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance and Unlawful Manufacturing Methamphetamine; they were arraigned and were remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail.

Delaware County Sheriffs Deputies arrested 25-year-old Matthew Stevenson of Manorville, for DWI, after Deputies responded to County Highway 18 for a reported 1-car roll over motor vehicle accident. Deputies charged Stevenson with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle & several other traffic infractions. Stevenson was released with appearance tickets to the Town of Delhi Court at a later date.

State Police reported that 46-year-old Paul Schwartfigure of Whitney Point has been located and is in good health. He was located in the area of Ford Hill Road and was returned to his family. Schwartfigure was reported missing January 10th, while riding a bicycle in Whitney Point.

Oneonta Police responded to a possible drug overdoese death on Orchard Street on Tuesday. 45 year old Matthew Hill was found deceased in his apartment where drugs were located, he had been arrested in August by Oneonta Police on drug charges.

2 Oneonta residents were arrested Thursday as Oneonta police confiscated 78 bags of heroin. Oneonta Police served a search warrant with assistance from State Police at 1A Orchard Street in Oneonta. Police arrested 54 year old Laura Pepper and 45 year old Mathew Hill on drug charges, both were held at the City of Oneonta Police Department pending arraignment in the City of Oneonta Court.

Friday, State Police CNET members executed a search warrant at 221 Oak Hill Ave, in the Endicott, they Seized 40 expended "one-pot" methamphetamine labs, 3 ounces of methamphetamine oil, paraphernalia for smoking methamphetamine, and a pill bottle with suspected methamphetamine residue. Police arrested 29 year old Matthew Morrissey of Endicott for Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine; he was arraigned and was remanded to the Broome County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail / $2,000 property bond.

State Police from Oneonta arrested 19-year-old Matthew Hill Jr. of Oneonta for 3rd degree Assault.  Troopers responded to a report of a dispute at a residence on Orchard Street in Oneonta, where Hill is accused of injuring the victim.  Hill was issued a ticket returnable to the Town of Oneonta Court on June 17th.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies assisted by K-9 “Ozzie” executed a Search Warrant in the Town of Franklin Thursday, at Snake Hill Road.  A search of the property led to the seizure of 7 marihuana plants, several drying marihuana plants, approximately one ounce of processed marihuana, a quantity of hashish, drug paraphernalia and several long guns.   Deputies arrested 33-year-old Lee March of Otego for Criminal Possession of Marihuana and Unlicensed Cultivation of Marihuana; he was arraigned in the Town of Hamden Court and was released on recognizance pending further court action.

Delaware County Sheriff Deputy’s investigated a one-car roll over motor vehicle accident on State Highway 97 in the Town of Hancock.  Deputies arrested 36-year-old Matthew Buehler of Olympia Washington For Aggravated DWI, as Buehler registered a BAC of .22%. Buelher was also ticketed for speed not reasonable and prudent, he was released & will appear in the Town of Hancock Court on October 7th.