By June Mercer | Sunday, October 18, 2026
No new Dutchess County arrest releases were issued today. Tonight's blotter covers a joint narcotics investigation that resulted in 11 arrests in Newburgh, a Thruway traffic stop in Catskill that produced weapon and DWI charges, and State Police Columbus Day weekend enforcement numbers for Troop K.
Neighboring | Orange County
A joint investigation by the New York State Police, the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the City of Newburgh Police Department, and the Town of New Windsor Police Department resulted in 11 arrests on October 13, 2026, on federal or state felony drug charges. The investigation began in 2025 and focused on suspected narcotics distribution in the city of Newburgh; State Police participants included Troop F's Violent Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team and Community Stabilization Unit.
Eight of those arrested face federal charges. According to a federal indictment and statements made in public court proceedings, Maurice O. Owens, 48, of Rock Tavern; Shaka Eggleston, 28, of Newburgh; Troy Smith, 57, of Cornwall; Robert Morganfield, 57, of Newburgh; Houston Brown, 31, of New Windsor; Walter Herring, 45, of Newburgh; Jason D. Lowe, 39, of Newburgh; and James T. Hayes, 56, of Newburgh, allegedly participated in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine near West Parmenter Street in Newburgh. Investigators conducted more than 60 controlled purchases. All eight were taken into custody on October 13 and arraigned in federal court in White Plains on October 14 on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
Three others were arrested on state charges. Tyrone C. Gantt, 44, of Newburgh, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, both class B felonies; he was arraigned in City of Newburgh Court and remanded to Orange County Jail. Jahlil King, 27, of Newburgh, was charged with the same two class B felonies, arraigned in Town of Goshen Court, and remanded to Orange County Jail. Royan A. Brown, 28, of Newburgh, was charged with two counts each of the same offenses, arraigned in Town of Goshen Court, and released on his own recognizance.
Source: New York State Police, Troop F
Neighboring | Greene County
Shortly before 9:00 p.m. on October 10, 2026, troopers from State Police Kingston stopped a 2015 GMC pickup truck traveling northbound on the New York State Thruway (I-87) in Catskill for vehicle and traffic law violations. During the stop, troopers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
The passenger, Devin Francis Holly, 25, of Cohoes, was identified as the gun's owner and did not possess a New York State pistol permit. Holly was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a firearm, both felonies. He was arraigned in Catskill Town Court and remanded to Greene County Jail in lieu of $3,500 cash bail, a $7,000 bond, or a $15,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in Catskill Town Court on November 12, 2026.
The driver, Kip E. Asmus, 44, of Schenectady, displayed signs of impairment and failed standardized field sobriety tests. His reported blood alcohol concentration was 0.14 percent. Asmus was charged with driving while intoxicated, first offense, a misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle with .08 of 1 percent or more alcohol in the blood, first offense, a misdemeanor; and vehicle and traffic law violations. He was released and is due in Catskill Town Court on November 19, 2026. Both men were transported to State Police Catskill for processing.
Source: New York State Police, Troop T
State Police | Columbus Day Weekend Enforcement
In a release dated October 16, 2026, State Police reported that troopers statewide issued 10,803 tickets and made 200 DWI arrests during the Columbus Day weekend enforcement detail, which ran October 9 to 12, 2026.
In Troop K, which covers Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties, troopers issued 1,123 tickets: 526 for speed, 25 for distracted driving, 56 for child restraint and seat belt violations, and 33 Move Over violations. Troop K also made 19 DWI arrests and 27 total penal law arrests. The 2025 Columbus Day campaign ran five days, against four this year, and produced 13,825 tickets and 191 DWI arrests statewide.
Source: New York State Police
Charges are accusations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
