Four Arrested After Liquor Store Robbery in Highland, NY — Children Found Inside Getaway Vehicle

Highland, NY — A robbery at a local liquor store in Highland led to a dramatic arrest on Wednesday night, involving multiple suspects, a physical altercation with police, and the shocking discovery of two children inside the getaway vehicle.

Robbery Report Sparks Pursuit

At approximately 8:40 PM on July 30, 2025, New York State Police responded to a reported robbery at a liquor store located on Route 9W in Highland. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect vehicle, which was later identified as a Nissan Murano. Troopers quickly located the vehicle traveling westbound on Route 44/55 and initiated a traffic stop.

Inside the Nissan, troopers found four adult suspects and two children. The individuals were later identified as:

Selena Fonda Bressendorff, 24, of Wallkill
Jahnya Bressendorff, 22, of Wallkill
Jennifer Robertson, 20, of Wallkill
An unnamed 18-year-old

Authorities have not released the identities of the children or the 18-year-old due to privacy considerations.

Physical Altercations During Arrest

According to police, Selena Bressendorff became combative during the stop and physically assaulted a responding trooper. Further investigation revealed that all four suspects were involved in the robbery. One of the suspects, Jennifer Robertson, allegedly fought with a store employee during the heist before fleeing the scene with the others.

Following the arrest, the suspects were taken to State Police Highland (SP Highland) for processing.

List of Charges Filed

The group now faces a variety of serious felony and misdemeanor charges.

Selena Fonda Bressendorff:

Robbery in the Second Degree
Assault
Conspiracy
Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Petit Larceny
Criminal Possession of Stolen Property
Obstructing Governmental Administration

Jahnya Bressendorff, Jennifer Robertson, and the 18-Year-Old:

Second-Degree Robbery
Conspiracy
Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Petit Larceny
Criminal Possession of Stolen Property

In addition, Jennifer Robertson was also charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence due to attempts to conceal or dispose of items linked to the robbery.

Children Taken Into Protective Care

The two young children found in the suspect vehicle were not harmed and have since been placed into the care of a third party, according to authorities. The relationship between the children and the suspects has not been publicly confirmed, though charges of child endangerment suggest at least some of the adults may have been guardians.

Court Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation

On July 31, 2025, all four suspects were arraigned in Ulster County Jail CAP Court and subsequently remanded to Ulster County Jail.

The New York State Police were assisted by the Marlborough Police Department and the Town of Lloyd Police Department during the investigation and arrests. Officials say the case is still under active investigation, and further charges or arrests could be pending.

Residents with any additional information about the incident are encouraged to contact the New York State Police at Highland.

This case underscores the potential dangers of violent crimes involving children and the importance of swift law enforcement response.