Troopers locate Long Island man wanted by Suffolk Police Department for murder in Pawling
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Robin H. Benziger
Troop K Commander
PRESS RELEASE
Pawling, New York – On October 6, 2015, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the New York State Police from Troop K were contacted by the Suffolk County Police Department who were requesting assistance with locating a homicide suspect who maybe in the area of the Appalachian Trail in the Town of Pawling.
The homicide suspect was identified as Paul Leitgeb, 49, of Lake Grove, New York.
A search of the area was conducted by State Police including their Bloodhound Unit and State Police Aviation. Additional assistance provided at scene by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and Metro North Police.
Leitgeb was subsequently located in a densely wooded area near the Appalachian Trail by State Police Bloodhound “Darby”. The suspect, who was armed with a box cutter and threatening to harm himself and police, was taken into custody after a prolonged stand-off with Troopers. He was then turned over to the custody of the Suffolk County Police Detectives who were on scene and transported by ambulance to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, New York with self-inflicted lacerations.
K-9 Darby with Trooper Hobson