Southeast Man Faces Multiple Traffic Misdemeanor Charges
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the recent arrest of a Town of Southeast man on a multitude of traffic misdemeanor charges following two recent incidents in the county.
On January 21, 2016 at approximately 1:00 a.m., while patrolling southbound on Route 22 in the Town of Southeast, Deputy Sheriff Kevin Radovich observed the driver of a white BMWperforming “donuts” in the roadway. As the deputy approached, the driver of the BMW accelerated northbound on Route 22 past the deputy at a high rate of speed. As the deputy activated his emergency lights and performed a u-turn, the suspect driver increased his speed to 70 mph in a 45 mph zone, turned right onto Doansburg Road, and reached speeds estimated to be in excess of 100 mph in a 40 mph zone, and reached a speed in excess of 130 mph in the 30 mph zone in the vicinity of the Green Chimneys School. The deputy discontinued pursuit and advised the New Fairfield, Connecticut Police Department to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle.
On January 30, 2016, the deputy was contacted by New York State Troopers Guido and Hernandez and was advised that the troopers had arrested Thomas P. Maloney, 18, of 22 Ivy Hill Road, Southeast and charged him with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana after investigating a complaint of a driver in a white BMW performing donuts on Route 22 at Doansburg Road. During the arrest process, Mr. Maloney stated to the troopers that he “ran” from a Putnam County Deputy Sheriff the week prior to the arrest. The troopers forwarded a photo of the white BMW to the deputy, who positively identified it as the suspect vehicle from the previous incident. The deputy applied to the Town of Southeast Justice Court for an arrest warrant for Mr. Maloney on misdemeanor charges of Reckless Driving, Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree.
On February 15, 2016 at approximately 1:30 a.m., while on patrol on Route 22 in the Town of Southeast, Deputy Radovich observed a white BMW travelling northbound with no front license plate and bearing unauthorized colored lights. While approaching the vehicle, the deputy paced the vehicle at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone, and the suspect driver increased his speed to 120 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy stopped the vehicle on Route 22 north of Ballyhack Road and identified the driver as Thomas Maloney. There were also four teenage passengers in the vehicle whose identities are withheld. The deputy arrested Mr. Maloney and charged him with Reckless Driving and with four counts of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, misdemeanors, as well as several traffic violations and the misdemeanor charges that resulted from the incident on January 21. The defendant was processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and held pending arraignment.
If found guilty of the misdemeanor charges, the defendant could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.00 for each charge.
