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School Resource Officer Instrumental in Burglary Arrest
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a sixteen-year-old Garrison youth after being accused of committing a residential burglary at a neighbor's home.
On April 30, 2008, the Sheriff's Office received a complaint from a Garrison resident reporting that her Aqueduct Road home had been entered and a laptop computer and Apple Ipod were stolen from within. Investigator Robert Ferris of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation was assigned to the case.
On May 6, as Investigator Ferris was continuing his probe into the burglary, Trooper Philip Russo, the school resource officer assigned to the Walter Panas High School in Westchester County, developed information regarding the break-in. A student at the high school contacted Trooper Russo and provided the officer with information leading to the suspect involved. Trooper Russo contacted Investigator Ferris, who then responded to the high school.
Trooper Russo and Investigator Ferris conducted interviews which resulted in the arrest of a sixteen-year-old from Garrison. Investigator Ferris charged him with Burglary in the Second Degree, a class "C" felony. He was arraigned before Philipstown Town Justice Allen Steiner and released without bail to the custody of his mother. The Philipstown youth is scheduled to appear in court on May 14, 2008.
The stolen property has been recovered by police.
A conviction of Burglary in the Second Degree may result in a sentence of imprisonment as determined by a court for up to fifteen years in a New York State correctional facility.
Sheriff Smith commended the cooperative effort and outstanding working relationship that existed between his investigator and Trooper Russo leading to the successful closure of this case. "This is another example illustrating the value of the School Resource Officer program. In this case the SRO at Walter Panas High School was approached by a student and offered valuable information which led to the suspect of a crime which was committed in a different county. Indeed, School Resource Officers are an important asset to the schools they protect, as well as, the entire community," concluded Sheriff Smith.
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