WCDO Radio News

Norwich Police Chief Reuben Roach announced that 4 members of his Department were awarded letters of Commendation as well as 2 officers being awarded a Citation of Bravery with a pin of Valor, On April 24th, Officers Scott Laughlin & Tyler King responded to a Trespass in progress call, that turned out to be an ambush and a suicide by cop ploy. Both Officers were awarded Citations of Bravery and pins of Valor. Sergeant Martin was awarded a Citation of Commendation for his leadership during this incident. On May 4th, Officers Taylor Waite & Tyler Dexheimer apprehended an individual who was operating a stolen vehicle from a forcible robbery that had occurred earlier that day in the City of Cortland. Officers Waite & Dexheimer, as well as their Sergeant, Steven Rounds, were awarded Citations of Commendation for their actions.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for missing sex offender Matthew Knapp on an outstanding warrant for violating probation for a Sex Offender Registration Violation. Knapp is a white male 6 foot tall about 250 pounds with brown hair & blue eyes, he was last known to frequent the Upper Court St. area of the Town of Kirkwood. Anyone with information on Knapp is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at gobroomecounty.com or by calling the Broome County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (607) 778-1196.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 2-1-24

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested Steven Baker of Sidney for failure to register with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for the Delaware County Local Law Animal Abuser Registry. Deputies were made aware that Baker had failed to register with the Sheriff’s Office within 5 days of his release from incarceration as mandated in the County Law, Deputies located and arrested Baker Monday for 1 count of violating Local Law Number 15 of 2021, he was transported to the Village of Sidney Police Department where he was processed and released on an appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Delhi Court at a later date.

4 people were injured yesterday when a vehicle crashed into the White Rose day Spa on the Vestal Road Wednesday afternoon. 4 people were taken to area hospitals after the crash with non-life threatening injuries, the vehicle was a courtesy rental from Miller Honda nearby, the investigation is continuing.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for Shaun Putrino on an outstanding warrant for criminal mischief, he is described as a white male, 6'2" 160 pounds with hazel eyes & & brown hair. Anyone with information on the location of Putrino is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at gobroomecounty.com/sheriff/warrants or at (607) 778-1196.

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office arrested 23 year old Steven Osei of Binghamton for 3rd degree Grand Larceny & other related charges for allegedly getting cash by depositing fraudulent checks at an ATM. Osei was processed & issued an appearance ticket for Town of Dickinson Court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 2-9-23

The Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will host a Community Cat Forum Today at 4:00 PM at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street in Oneonta. Susquehanna SPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes told WCDO News that the event is to address the issues of Feral cats in large numbers in many area communities:

(Stacie Haynes 2-9-23)

Haynes said that this event is free and open to the public.

State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 21 year old Judy Benjamin of Nineveh, she was last seen at her residence on Thorn Hill Road in Nineveh on February 5, She was wearing a green sweatshirt and sweatpants. Benjamin is white, 5’4” and weighs approximately 100 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact New York State Police at (607) 561-7400.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that the State Court of Appeals 3rd department upheld a rape conviction of Steven Silva of Johnson City. Silva was sentenced to 4 years in Jail followed by 10 years Post Release Supervision, plus he must register as a Sex Offender, for performing sexual acts with a 14 year old.

The Mid-York Concert Band will present its annual Spring Concert on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at 2:30 PM in the Norwich High School Auditorium.  The ensemble is made possible with public funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by The Earlville Opera House. Contributions are also accepted at the door.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 5-20-22

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 64 year old Sherrie White of Deposit, following an investigation of a domestic dispute. Deputies reported that White was engaged in the dispute with a protected party of an order of protection, Deputies charged White with Criminal Contempt, White was processed and released on an appearance ticket for Town of Deposit Court at a later date.

State Police continue to investigate the November 1983
murder of 19-year-old Bessie Williams of Johnson City, who was reported missing
to the Johnson City Police Department when she did not return home after
picking up her paycheck at the Quality Inn Lodge in Endwell.   On April 11, 1985, State Police responded to
a report of human skeletal remains near King Street in the Town of Barker.    A forensic examination determined the
remains were those of Bessie Williams, and the manner of death was
homicide.  State Police have been attempting
to identify a suspect whose vehicle was towed by citizens in the fall of 1983,
from a field bordering the wooded area where her remains were discovered, he
was described as an intoxicated white male, 25 - 30 years old, 5' 7" to
5'10" with medium build, wearing work boots, jeans and a blue wind
breaker, the vehicle was a late 1970s white hatchback.  Many leads have been followed up, the case is
still open.  Anyone with information is
asked can call State Police at 561-7400.

State Police arrested 45 year old Steven Whitehead of
Unadilla for DWI, after a trooper observed Whitehead’s vehicle with an
equipment violation while on Interstate 88 in the town of Sidney.  A traffic stop was initiated on River Road,
Whitehead was arrested & was released on appearance tickets for town of
Sidney court on April 25th, and he was turned over to the village of Sidney
Police Department where he was wanted on a warrant.

State Police responded to a report of an assault Friday in the Town of Lisle, where the victim suffered a serious injury. Troopers said that the alleged assailant is 26 year old Thomas Sessions of the Whitney Point. Sessions is described to as 6 feet tall, approximately 240 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes; he was left the scene in a white pick-up truck with oversized tires and a loud muffler. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Thomas Sessions is requested to contact the State Police at 775-1241, email at Crimetip@troopers.ny.gov or by the State Police Facebook site.

35 year old Steven Knauff of Oneonta faces numerous charges including criminal contempt, menacing, and criminal mischief & resisting arrest, for allegedly brandishing a kitchen knife. Oneonta police used a Taser to subdue Knauff following the report of a domestic dispute on March 8th. Knauff was arraigned & was sent to the Otsego County Jail Tuesday.

Norwich Police & Chenango County Sheriff's deputies arrested 3 people on various charges after the execution of a "no-knock" search warrant at 29 Silver Street Tuesday. Arrested were 50-year-old Alan Banks of Norwich for Criminal sale of a controlled substance & Criminal nuisance, 31-year-old Steven White of Norwich for Criminal sale of a controlled substance & 29-year-old Amanda Strozier of Norwich for Criminal nuisance. Banks and White are accused of selling cocaine; while Banks and Strozier are accused of allowing people to sells drugs at their Norwich apartment. Banks and White were sent to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $10,000 bail each, while Strozier was sent on $5,000 bail. All 3 will appear in Norwich City Court Thursday.

Delhi University police announced that they are searching for 21 year old Steven Sutliff, who told his roommates on Saturday afternoon that he was heading to Oneonta, and would return on Monday. Sutliff was reported missing on Tuesday evening. Sutliff is described as a 5'9" white male, weighing about 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on Sutliff's whereabouts are asked to contact SUNY Delhi University Police at 607-746-4700, or New York State Police at 607-561-7400.

State Police are continuing their investigation into the fatal motor vehicle accident on April 1st on State Route 17 in the Town of Kirkwood. The driver of a pickup truck that was heading the wrong direction died after the truck collided head-on with a marked New York State Police patrol vehicle. The driver of the pick-up truck has been identified as 66-year-old John Roote of Morris. Police stated that an autopsy on Roote was conducted at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, the Cause of death was determined to be multiple internal injuries, and the Toxicology result is pending. The Trooper involved in the accident is identified as Zone Sergeant Steven Meyer, who suffered minor injuries in the crash.

State Police responded to Sunday’s accident on I-88 westbound, in the Town of Maryland, which involved 15 vehicles, including 3 tractor-trailers and 1 bus. The accident started when a SUV struck a tractor-trailer due to white out conditions and very strong winds. Both vehicles came to rest in the driving lane and northern shoulder. An Adirondack Trailways bus, carrying 20 passengers, then collided with the tractor-trailer and came to rest in the driving lane. A second and third tractor-trailer then struck the bus causing damage and a large debris field on the Interstate. Several additional passenger vehicles then collided with the vehicles involved. Several passengers on the bus as well as a tractor-trailer operator were transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

a Town of Otselic resident was arrested by Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for Criminal Possession of Controlled Substance and Promoting Prison Contraband.   30 year old Steven White was found to be in possession of controlled substance while being booked into the Chenango County Jail, he is scheduled to appear in the Town of Norwich of Court at a later date.