SHERIFF ROBERT L. LANGLEY, JR. REPORTS LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY CRUCIAL TO DISCOVERY OF TWO VEHICLES REPORTED STOLEN
At approximately 12:17 p.m. on April 8, 2020, Deputy Amanda Collier was on Patrol in the Town of Putnam Valley
when she received a notification that a stolen vehicle was traveling northbound on the Taconic State Parkway.
That notification came as a result of an LPR hit (license plate reader) that generated a notification to law
enforcement agencies. The vehicle was a 2006 grey Acura and was reported stolen out of the Bronx.
Deputy Collier positioned herself on the Taconic overpass located at Bryant Pond Road. Approximately 8 minutes
later, upon seeing the Vehicle traveling in a Northerly Direction on the Taconic State Parkway, the Deputy entered
the Parkway and began traveling behind said vehicle. She observed that the license plate and vehicle were the
same as noted on the alert. Through communication with the Sheriff’s Office Communications desk, she was able
to get a verification from the NYPD that the car was indeed reported stolen.
Subsequent to verifying the information, Deputy Collier activated her emergency lights and sirens as a signal for
the driver of the vehicle to pull over. The vehicle first started to slow down and then moved to the left and sped
away. The vehicle continued traveling northward on the Taconic accelerating to speeds well in excess of the
speed limit. The driver of the vehicle continued to drive recklessly. During this reckless driving the vehicle exited
the Taconic State Parkway, reentered the Taconic and finally ended up on I-84. Still traveling in excess of the
speed limit, the vehicle, while attempting to exit the highway at the Ludingtonville Road exit, went through the
grass, struck the guiderail and flipped three times finally coming to rest on its roof in the right eastbound lane of I-
84.
The driver, Brandon Scott Cohn, 27, of the Bronx, was charged with Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree
(Felony), Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd Degree (Felony), Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a
Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree (Misdemeanor), Reckless Driving (Misdemeanor) and various VEhicle & Traffic Las
charges. He did not appear to have sustained any injuries in the crash. He was arraigned and subsequently
released to appear in Court on a later date.
The only other occupant of the vehicle was 27-year old Toniann Orichello of Scarsdale. Ms. Orichello was
transported to a nearby hospital with what appeared to be non-serious injuries and was given an appearance
ticket to appear in Court on a later date to answer criminal charges.
The owner of the vehicle, a 59-year-old woman from the Bronx, was notified and advised on how to proceed
regarding the accident report and contacting her insurance company.
•••
NEWS RELEASE
On April 6, 2020, Deputy Anthony Tolve was on patrol when he was notified to be on the lookout for a stolen
vehicle following a notification that a License Plate Reader had picked up a reportedly stolen car traveling
northbound on the Taconic State Parkway. Deputies Anthony Tolve and Randel Hill positioned themselves on the
Taconic. A short time later the vehicle was observed and Deputy Tolve pulled the vehicle over. The vehicle was
occupied by a brother and sister. The female advised the deputies that her boyfriend, who was not in the vehicle,
rented the vehicle on her behalf. After an investigation, it was confirmed that the vehicle was a rental car and that
the person who rented the car failed to make a payment and the rental company reported it stolen. Since neither
of the occupants was aware that the vehicle was reported stolen, they were not charged in relation to the alleged
“larceny.” However, a further investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle had a suspended license. He
was issued a traffic summons.
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: Captain
