State Police Investigating Fatal Two-Vehicle Crash on Taconic State Parkway

The New York State Police are investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Clinton, Dutchess County.

On May 4, 2025, at approximately 9:36 a.m., Troopers from the Poughkeepsie barracks responded to a two-vehicle collision involving a northbound 1994 Ford Mustang and a southbound 2006 Toyota Corolla.

The investigation revealed that the Toyota Corolla, operated by Jhonny L. Polanco, age 19, of Bloomingburg, NY, left the southbound lane, crossed the median, and struck the Ford Mustang head-on before overturning. The Ford Mustang was operated by Robert B. Clark Jr., age 70, of Wappingers Falls, NY.

Mr. Clark was entrapped in his vehicle, and Mr. Polanco was ejected from his. Both operators were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigation are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Liberty Man Employed by School District Arrested on Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

On May 5, 2025, the New York State Police arrested Christopher A. Dedonato, age 26, of Liberty, NY, on multiple felony charges related to the possession and promotion of obscene material involving children. Dedonato was a math teacher employed by the Liberty School District in Sullivan County.

He is charged with the following:

• Seven counts of Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 17 Years of Age – Class D Felony
• Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 16 Years of Age – Class E Felony

Dedonato is accused of possessing and promoting images consistent with child sexual exploitation. The investigation was initiated following a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led to the execution of a search warrant at Dedonato’s residence in Liberty, NY, on April 22, 2025.

This arrest is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the New York State Police Troop F Computer Crimes Unit, the Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at Liberty, Troop F Violent Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team, Troop F Community Stabilization Unit and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Dedonato was arraigned in Thompson Town Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000 cash, $50,000 secured bond, or $100,000 partially secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Liberty Court on May 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

The New York State Police ask that anyone with additional information related to this case contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at (845) 344-5300 and reference case number NY2500299403.

Bombay male arrested for CPW 3rd and reckless endangerment 1st

On May 3, 2025, members of the State Police arrested Shane D. Dustin, age 35, from Constable, NY, on five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The arrest followed a report of gunfire on River Road in the town of Bombay on May 2, 2025, at approximately 10:15 p.m. During their investigation, Troopers discovered that Dustin had possessed a handgun and fired rounds at a residence while people were inside.

Fortunately, no one was injured during this incident.

Troopers located Dustin arrested him and transported him to the State Police barracks in Malone for processing. He was arraigned in the Town of Westville Court and subsequently remanded to Franklin County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or a $50,000 bond.

State Police arrest three following Clifton Park traffic stop

On May 2, 2025, State Police, with the assistance of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, arrested:

Jahzayn Dejesus, 20, of Schenectady, NY, for two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree.

Colby English, 46, of Crown Point, NY, for two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled substance in the seventh degree.

Omarion D. Skipwith, 21, of Schenectady, NY, for two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Criminal Possession of a Controlled substance in the seventh degree, and Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.

On May 1, 2025, at about 11:46 p.m., Troopers stopped a vehicle on I-87 in Clifton Park, NY, for a Vehicle and Traffic Law violation.  The driver was identified as Skipwith. The passengers were identified as Dejesus and English. During the investigation, with the assistance of a Saratoga County Sheriff’s K9 unit, felony-weight narcotics and a large amount of U.S. currency were located in the vehicle. All three individuals were taken into custody, at which time English was found to possess a smoking device containing drug residue. Prior to being taken into custody, Skipwith allegedly tried to destroy and conceal a controlled substance he possessed by stepping on it.

Skipwith, Dejesus, and English were all transported to SP Clifton Park for processing. All three were issued appearance tickets returnable to the Clifton Park Town Court on May 7, 2025. Dejesus and English were then released. Due to an active unrelated warrant, Skipwith was turned over to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

State Police Investigating Fatal Head-On Crash on U.S. Route 6 in Central Valley

On May 6, 2025, at approximately 5:12 p.m., the New York State Police responded to a report of a serious motor vehicle crash on U.S. Route 6 in the town of Woodbury, Orange County. The incident involved a head-on collision between two vehicles, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.

Preliminary investigation determined that a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, operated by Noely Rafael Vargas, was traveling eastbound on U.S. Route 6 when it crossed over the double yellow line and struck a westbound 2016 Honda Civic CRX head-on. The Honda was operated by Samantha Lezin, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Lezin was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Traveling behind the Honda was a 2018 Jeep Wrangler operated by Kiley Genevieve Metcalf, with passenger Anthony A. Bolivar Sanchez, both of whom were uninjured.

The operator of the Dodge Ram, Noely Rafael Vargas, sustained multiple leg injuries and was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown by Kiryas Joel EMS.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene to assist, including Woodbury Police Department, Woodbury Fire Department, West Point Fire Department, Woodbury EMS, and Mobile Life Support Services.

The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the State Police Monroe Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) at (845) 344-5300.