Woman breaks up fight using Big Wheel

May 14, 2008 (Ulster County Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- -- Police throughout Ulster County were busy this week as a woman in Kingston breaks up a fight using a Big Wheel and a pedestrian is struck and killed while crossing the street in New Paltz.

--Kingston -- A quick thinking woman using a toy Big Wheel broke up a fight between two men on Foxhall Avenue. Detrell Pittman, 28, and Jonathan Stevens, 34 were involved in a fight on May 3 at 3:15 a.m. A man who lived in a house where the fight was taking place out on the sidewalk, pulled out a shotgun and fired into the air hoping to stop the fight. Ignoring the shotgun blast, the two men battled on until a woman grabbed a child's Big Wheel and began to beat both men. They stopped fighting, the cops showed up and they were both charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

--Kingston -- Members of the county's URGENT task force arrested Wayne J. Ferraro, 49, of Downs Street and charged him with possession of drugs after a motor vehicle stop on Lucas Avenue, May 2. Police said they spotted Ferraro take part in a drug transaction. They pulled over his car and Kingston's Police K-9 "Dexter" was brought to the scene. The dog sniffed out 10 grams of cocaine on Ferraro. He was also found to have $900 in his possession. He was taken to the Ulster County jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $10,000 property bond.

--New Paltz -- A 72-year old Rosendale man was struck and killed by a motor vehicle as he attempted to cross busy Route 299 by the Stop 'n Shop, May 2 at about 10 p.m. State Police from the Highland Station said Terry E. Laguna of Hunter was driving west on Route 299 when her vehicle struck and killed pedestrian John Ricci Jr. who for an unknown reason walked in front of her car. Ricci was pronounced dead at the scene, while Laguna was taken to Vassar Brother's Hospital.

--Saugerties -- Ulster County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Saugerties man May 4 after they received a report that he assaulted his girlfriend while the two were on his boat in the Eddyville section of the Rondout Creek. The alleged incident occurred on April 19. Vincent P. Banks, 42, of Glenerie Boulevard allegedly punched his girlfriend several times in the face and fracturing her nose.

--Wawarsing -- State Police from the Ellenville Station have arrested William T. Cathcart Jr., 38, of 42nd Street, Kerhonkson and charged him with sexual abuse, forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Police said that Cathcart allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with a 13-year old boy and a 14-year old boy. He was lodged in the Ulster County jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $20,000 property bond.

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