Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Robert Noble, Chief of the Yorktown Police Department, announced that PERRY FREEMAN was charged today with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim and illegally possessing ammunition. FREEMAN was arrested and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Perry Freeman sold fentanyl to a victim who died a horrific death shortly after taking the drugs. Investigators concluded that the victim parked his car and, with his foot on the gas, passed out from ingesting lethal levels of the drugs allegedly provided by Freeman. The engine sparked a fire that engulfed the vehicle and burned the victim’s body. We also allege that Freeman regularly sold fentanyl to a confidential informant and warned the informant to be careful with the drugs, indicating he knew how unsafe his product was. This Office will not rest until those who peddle this poison have been brought to justice.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Data doesn’t lie, and law enforcement continues to track fatal fentanyl poisonings to the person responsible. This arrest is an example of DEA and our law enforcement partners’ efforts to thwart more drug poisonings and bring to justice those responsible for causing the most harm to our communities. I commend the men and women of the Yorktown Police Department, the DEA’s Westchester Resident Office’s Tactical Diversion Squad, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their tenacious work on this investigation.”
Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble said: “It is good for our community to see their local police department request assistance from federal agencies like the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and have it culminate with the arrest of an alleged dangerous drug dealer. I commend the determination, intelligence, and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation. Yorktown is a law and order community. We’ll continue to work hard, share information, and work shoulder to shoulder on our streets with all of our partners in law enforcement to keep it that way.” As alleged in the Complaint:[1] On or about November 10, 2021, FREEMAN sold fentanyl to his victim. Shortly thereafter, the police responded to a report of a burning car in a parking lot in Mohegan Lake, New York, approximately a three-minute drive from FREEMAN’s apartment building. They found a Ford Focus on fire; the victim was in the driver’s seat with his foot on the accelerator pedal. After the fire department put the fire out, the victim, declared dead, was pulled out. Investigators determined that the car caught on fire after overheating while the accelerator pedal was depressed for an excessive period and the car was in park, i.e., while the victim was passed out in the driver’s seat with his foot on the pedal. The Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is part of the Westchester Department of Laboratories and Research, performed an autopsy on the victim. According to a report prepared by the Department of Laboratories and Research, as well as a conversation between a law enforcement officer and a member of the Medical Examiner’s office, the victim had lethal levels of both fentanyl and norfentanyl, a metabolite of fentanyl, in his blood and there was some darkening of his lungs, which indicated smoke inhalation before his death. Moreover, the victim’s cause of death was certified as both acute fentanyl intoxication and accident. * * * FREEMAN, 37, of Mohegan Lake, New York, is charged with one count of fentanyl distribution resulting in death, which carries a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the DEA and the Yorktown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Maimin and Ben Arad are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Yorktown Police report the arrest of the above 24-year-old Yorktown, NY, resident who is charged with the following 3 felonies: Burglary 3rd Degree, a Class “D” Felony (1 count) and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree, a Class “E” Felony (2 counts).
On November 19, 2021, at 08:17 AM, Yorktown Police received a report of a damaged window and unlawful entry at the Service Building at Sparkle Lake. Detective Sage was assigned the investigation. On January 9, 2022 at 12:18 PM, Yorktown Police received a report of a damaged window at the same location. Detective Noone was assigned the investigation. Evidence collected from both crime scenes lead Police to the same unknown/unidentified suspect. Then, on April 16, 2023 at 01:29 AM, Yorktown Police received a third report of damaged windows at the Service Building. Following this investigation, Police allege the defendant broke the windows by throwing rocks at them. The defendant was located and arrested on May 6, 2023 for the 2023 incident. Evidence and information gathered from the 2023 arrest was processed and allegedly linked the defendant to the first two incidents in 2021 and 2022; those investigations continued. On November 16, 2023, as arranged through his attorney, the defendant surrendered himself to Detective Sage and Officer Delgado at the Yorktown Police Department where he was arrested for the 2021 and 2022 incidents. The defendant was processed on the above charges and arraigned before the Honorable Judge Aviah Cohen-Pierson who released the defendant on his own recognizance. The defendant is due to reappear in the Yorktown Justice Court on December 14, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Updated Narrative, 11/17/2023 1:30 PM: Yorktown Police wish to clarify the earlier media release distributed regarding this Juvenile arrest. The “weapon” recovered in this incident was in fact a BB gun recovered in an inoperable state. The Yorktown Police Department does not believe either of the youths referenced in this media release ever possessed a firearm on school grounds or anywhere else. We apologize for any confusion and or concerns this may have caused. Original Narrative:
Yorktown Police report the arrest of a 14 year old and a 13 year old, both Yorktown Heights, NY residents, who are charged with Juvenile Delinquency with the underlying charge being Unlawful Possession of Weapons Under 16. According to Police, on October 18, 2023, at approximately 10:00 AM, Yorktown Police responded to Yorktown High School (2727 Crompond Road) to investigate a report of a weapon that was observed in school. The subsequent investigation led to two suspects being identified and subsequently arrested for the incident. After contact was made both Juveniles voluntarily turned themselves in with a parent present. After processing was completed the defendants were issued appearance tickets for the above charges. The defendants were both released on their own recognizance, to a parent and are due to appear in the Westchester County Department of Probation on 11/21/23 and 11/22/23, respectively, at 09:00 AM Yorktown Police report the arrest of a 71-year-old Yorktown resident, who is charged with Attempted Murder 2nd Degree, a Class "B" Felony and Assault 2nd Degree, a Class "D" Felony.
According to police, on October 16, 2023 at approximately 05:56 PM several Yorktown Police Officers were dispatched for a report of an assault in progress involving a knife. Officer Campion arrived first on scene and encountered the suspect, who complied with his verbal commands and was quickly taken into custody without incident. Additional officers arrived, commenced an investigation and rendered emergency medical treatment, applying direct pressure to a victim and were fortunately able to control the bleeding until EMS could arrive on scene. Yorktown Police allege the suspect, identified as the defendant, attacked both victims without warning as they were entering an apartment. Using a kitchen knife, he allegedly made multiple attempts to stab one victim, causing several knife wounds and knocked an older victim to the ground-then kicked that person in the chest, causing injury to a person over 65 years of age-while being more than 10 years younger than the victim. The defendant was placed under arrest and transported to Yorktown Police Department for processing. Both victims were taken to an area hospital and are in reported to be in stable condition. The defendant was processed at Yorktown Police Headquarters and later arraigned by the Honorable Gary Raniolo, who issued Orders of Protection for the victims and ordered the defendant held on $500,000 bail. The defendant was unable to post bail and was turned over to Westchester County Corrections Officers who brought him to the Westchester County Jail. The defendant is due to re-appear in the Yorktown Justice Court on October 24th, 2023 at 6:00 PM. The Yorktown Police Department is currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian that occurred in the area of Old Yorktown Road and Strang Blvd at approximately 6:54 AM on 10/18/2023.
Yorktown Police, along with Empress EMS, Lake Mohegan Fire Department, Lake Mohegan Volunteer Ambulance Corp, responded to the motor vehicle accident scene involving a pedestrian on Old Yorktown Rd at the intersection of Strang Blvd. A 58 year old resident of Yorktown, NY, who was the pedestrian involved in the motor vehicle accident, was declared deceased at the scene. A 66 year old Yorktown, NY resident who was the operator of the vehicle, was traveling southbound on Old Yorktown Road in a 2023 Audi when the collision occurred. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending next of kin notifications. Investigation into the crash is being conducted by the Town of Yorktown Police Department Accident Investigation Unit, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Accident Investigation Unit. |
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