Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of New Windsor Police Department listed below.
Arrests Made in Illegal Dumping at Former Destinta Theatres Lot
The Town of New Windsor Police Department recently responded to a call of illegal dumping in the area of Forge Hill Road and Butternut Drive. Upon arrival, officers located a pile of construction debris that was dumped in the area of Brewster’s Forge, an Orange County Park and historical landmark.
On January 13th, the Town of New Windsor Buildings & Grounds Department responded and removed all of the garbage from the area of Brewster’s Forge. The next day, members of the Orange County Department of Public Works responded and placed large boulders to prevent vehicles from being able to travel down the path from Forge Hill Road, to Brewster’s Forge. This will hopefully prevent anymore illegal dumping upon this historical site, without preventing residents from parking and accessing the area on foot. The New Windsor Police Department appreciates the assistance of the New Windsor Buildings & Grounds staff and the Orange County Department of Public Works in helping to improve and preserve this historical landmark.
On February 6th, 2025, the Town of New Windsor Police Department, along with the New York State Police, New York State Office of the Professions, and the Town of New Windsor Building Department, conducted an undercover investigation into prostitution and unlicensed/illegal massages being conducted at several locations throughout the Town of New Windsor.
This investigation was initiated after the Town of New Windsor Police Department received continued complaints from local residents and local businesses reporting suspicious activity occurring at these locations.
The following persons were arrested at the following businesses: Vivi Spa – 3141 Rt 9W Suite 600 - Kun Jhao, 37, of Syosset, NY – Unauthorized Practice of a Profession and Prostitution - Hongshuang Yu, 37, of Syosset, NY – Promoting Prostitution 3rd Degree - Nathan Rhodes, 40, of Long Branch, NJ – Promoting Prostitution 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree Sun & Moon Spa – 357 Old Forge Hill Rd Suite 900 - Hongyu Quan, 58, of Flushing, NY – Unauthorized Practice of a Profession and Prostitution A & A Spa – 357 Windsor Hwy - In Ok Smith, 59, of East Haven, CT – Unauthorized Practice of a Profession and Prostitution All defendants were released on appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear in the Town of New Windsor Justice Court on March 11th, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. The Town of New Windsor Building Department shut down the Vivi Spa at 3141 Rt 9W pending compliance with regulations. Building code violations were issued to the Sun & Moon Spa and A & A Spa.
Police Chief Daniel Valeri stated, “We will continue to use all legal remedies available to combat unlawful activities conducted within the town.”
Town Supervisor Stephen Bedetti added, “My message to these illegal businesses is simple. Do not reopen and leave the Town of New Windsor. I have directed the New Windsor Police Department to use every legal path to continually shut down these illegal businesses in our town. Last night, our Police Department and other assisting agencies once again professionally handled this enforcement, a job well done by them."
A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #23-10 Issued on: 06/09/23
On June 8, 2023, The Town of New Windsor Police Department, in conjunction with investigators from the New York State Police, conducted an undercover investigation into prostitution and unlicensed / illegal massages being conducted at several locations in the Town of New Windsor. This investigation resulted in the arrest of three (3) persons, all charged with one (1) count of Unauthorized Practice of a Profession, under the NYS Education Law – Section 6512 (E-Felony) and one (1) count of Prostitution – Penal Law 230.00 (B-Misdemeanor).
None of the defendants held professional licenses, as required by law, to practice the acts, each performed on the undercover officers and each also solicited the officer for sexual acts.
This investigation was initiated, after the New Windsor Police Department received several complaints from residents and local businesses of suspicious activity occurring at these locations.
The following persons were arrested at the following businesses:
A & A Spa – 357 Windsor Hwy, New Windsor: Jung Sook Kim, 62, of Jackson, NJ Sun & Moon Spa – 357 Old Forge Hill Road, New Windsor: Enshu Kim, 49, of Flushing, NY The Massage Spa – 3141 Rt. 9W, New Windsor: Heni Zhou, 41, of New Hyde Park, NY
All three (3) were released on appearance tickets and are scheduled to appear on July 11, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. in the Town of New Windsor Justice Court.
Police Chief Dan Valeri stated, “I anticipate additional undercover operations and inspections of these types of massage parlors in the future. Let this be a warning to those who operate these types of illicit businesses and to those individuals who visit them. We will not tolerate this type of activity in this town.”
Supervisor George Meyers added, “If this activity doesn’t cease, we will be monitoring the license plates of those that patronize these businesses.”
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #22-03 Issued on: 06/13/22 @12:30 p.m.
On Thursday, June 9, 2022, the New Windsor Police Department conducted an underage alcohol sale enforcement detail at 23 businesses in town that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages. The below businesses and associated employees did sell alcoholic beverages to an underage person during this detail: 1. QuickChek – 170 Windsor Hwy. – Fabrizio A. Rimac, 18 years old of Newburgh, NY. 2. Preet Liquors – 1035 Little Britain Road – Ms. Teresita P. Garcia, 70 years old of New Windsor, NY. 3. Citgo Food Mart – 1069 Little Britain Road – Mr. Lalith S. Udamadura, 56 years old of New Windsor, NY. 4. Wine O’Clock Liquor Store – 436 Blooming Grove Tpk. – Ms. Sanghee Sayed, 64 years old of Newburgh, NY. Each employee was charged with Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the First Degree (Penal Law 260.20-2) – a class AMisdemeanor. All four employees were processed and released on an appearance ticket to appear back in Town court on 6/28/2022. The Police Department will also send a written violation notice to the New York State Liquor Authority for each business involved. The businesses will then face a hearing with the New York State Liquor Authority for the violations and a severe penalty can be imposed upon the businesses themselves. Police Chief Robert Doss commented, “The sale of alcoholic beverages to a minor is one of the most serious violations of the Alcohol Beverage Control Law. It should be known that in the weeks prior to conducting this detail, we first visited each of these 23 locations to discuss the seriousness of underage alcohol sales and we warned them that we would be planning enforcement details in the upcoming weeks. These four businesses clearly did not heed our warnings. I can ensure the community that further enforcement efforts will take place in the very near future.”
Four time Felon for DWI Arrested again for Felony DWI
New Windsor Police Department arrested Michael R. Burgher age 54 of Washingtonville NY for Felony DWI on September 12, 2020.
Mr Burgher has 4 prior Felony DWI convictions (and 2 prior Misdemeanor convictions for DWI). He was arraigned before Judge Calderin and because of his multiple Felony convictions he was sent to Orange County Jail without bail.
Since the Labor Day weekend New Windsor Police has made 12 DWI related arrests.
2 Were Felony DWI arrests (Mr. Burgher above) and:
Andre Mcleod age 39 of Highland Mills NY
5 were for Misdemeanor Alcohol DWI arrests:
Randy Montero De Oleo, age 33 of New Windsor NY
Corazon Martinez-Garcia, age 45 of Newburgh NY
Danny Feliciano, age 43 of Cornwall NY
Francis Jaca, age 22 of Cornwall NY
Henry Cuatecoreyes, age 23 of Newburgh NY
2 arrests were for Misdemeanor Driving while Ability Impaired By Drugs
Maryann Williams, age 36 of Highland NY
Robert Gerbino, age 33 of New Windsor NY
One other arrest is pending awaiting Lab results
2 arrests for driving with Licenses suspended for DWI offences:
Sean Eusty,Age 33 of Newburgh NY
Joseph Pan, Age 42 of Wappinger Falls NY
Orange County News For Immediate Release Contact: Christopher Borek November 6, 2020 845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c
District Attorney Hoovler Announces Murder Charges
In Death of Missing City of Newburgh Woman
Man Indicted for Murdering 36-Year-Old Woman
Victim Missing Since November 3, 2019
Body of Victim Not Recovered
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Friday, November 6, 2020, that Matthew Mercado, 37, of Newburgh, was arraigned before Orange County Court Judge William L. DeProspo on charges including Murder in the Second Degree, in connection with the death of 36-year-old Jessica Lopez, a City of Newburgh woman who was last seen on November 3, 2019, at the Windsor Motel in the Town of New Windsor.
Mercado had previously been indicted on charges including Burglary in the Second Degree for breaking into room 32 of the Windsor Motel on November 3, 2019, at about 1:35 AM, and stealing two bags from the three young woman who had been sleeping in the room at the time. Mercado has been continually incarcerated since his arrest on November 6, 2019, in connection with those charges. The District Attorney’s Office superseded that case in the Grand Jury and asked the Grand Jury to consider additional evidence concerning the disappearance of Jessica Lopez, who had been staying with Mercado in room 33 of the Windsor Motel the night of Saturday, November 2, 2019, into the morning of Sunday, November 3, 2019. The Grand Jury indicted Mercado for Murder in the Second Degree for intentionally killing Jessica Lopez in room 33 of the motel as Ms. Lopez was attempting to leave the motel at approximately 5:00 AM on November 3, 2019. The Grand Jury also indicted Mercado for a separate count of Murder in the Second Degree for having killed Ms. Lopez during the commission of a robbery or kidnapping of her. Robbery under the law is forcibly stealing property. Mercado is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for having stolen Ms. Lopez bank card and stealing approximately $1,500 from her account, most of which was taken out in ATM withdrawals starting at approximately 9:00 AM on November 3, 2019.
Mercado is also charged with three felony counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence. One count alleges that he removed Ms. Lopez’s body from room 33, placed her in the trunk of her car, drove the car to an unknown location and concealed the body. Another count alleges that he deleted text messages between her cellular telephone and his cellular telephone, messages that were sent at about 5:30 AM on November 3, 2019. The third count of Tampering with Physical Evidence alleges that he disposed of Ms. Lopez’s cellular telephone so it could not be used as evidence.
The Grand Jury indicted Mercado again for Burglary in the Second Degree for breaking into room 32 and stealing bags from the three young woman, and added a charge of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree for Mercado having told the three young woman that he would not give their bags back and that he was an undercover police officer.
Bail was set in the amount of one-million dollars cash, or three-million dollars secured bond, or ten-million dollars partially secured bond. The case is next scheduled for a virtual conference in County Court on December 2, 2020. Mercado faces up to twenty-five years to life in state prison on the charges of Murder in the Second Degree and up to an additional fifteen years in state prison on the charge of Burglary in the Second Degree.
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigation and unceasing efforts in the case, as well as the many law enforcement agencies that aided in the investigation, including the Town of Newburgh Police Department, the City of Newburgh Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, and the New York State Police, as well as the civilian volunteers who have searched for Jessica Lopez.
“By all accounts Jessica Lopez was a remarkable young woman and her loss is being severely felt by her family, friends, and many of her former students,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “While recovering her remains will continue to be a high priority for us, we are fully prepared to litigate this case even without her body being recovered. Murder convictions without bodies are permissible under the law and in fact such convictions have occurred before here in Orange County. My heartfelt condolences go out to Ms. Lopez’s family, and my office will do everything in our power to see that the person responsible for her death faces just punishment.”
Chief Robert Doss of the Town of New Windsor Police Department said, “I would like to thank every member of the New Windsor Police Department that worked so diligently on this investigation. It is because of their hard work, along with the assistance of all the other police agencies, that made a difference in this case. I also want to thank District Attorney David Hoovler and his staff for their unwavering support through the process. We will never forget the family of Jessica Lopez, who have been without her in their lives for over a year now. Her mother, father and brother, all live with the constant pain of her loss. I speak for every member of Law Enforcement that worked on this investigation when I say that we stand with them and we will continue to fight for Jessica every day until justice is brought in this case. Our hearts go out to her family and we will continue to pray for them. It is my hope that the news of this indictment will at least begin the process of closure to Jessica’s family and everyone that knew her.”
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelle Grimmer.
Jessica Lopez