7 Arrests after Algonquin Barricade Ends: NYSP

CORTLANDT, NY – On Oct. 10, New York State Police responded to 9th Street in Verplanck after receiving a report of protesters at the Spectra Algonquin Pipeline worksite.

State troopers arrived and arrested three protesters who had unlawfully entered the perimeter of the construction site by climbing the security fence.

The three, 73-year-old Judith K. Canepa of New York, NY, Kim A. Fraczek, 41 years old, of Brooklyn, NY, and Judith Allen, 71, of Putnam Valley, were charged with Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree, a Class B Misdemeanor. All three were issued appearance tickets directing them to appear in the Town of Cortlandt Court Oct. 16.

Four additional protesters had unlawfully entered the construction site and gone into a 1,000-foot section of uninstalled pipe, police said.

The protesters refused to exit the pipe until about 11:45 p.m. Oct. 11 when police successfully negotiated with the group’s leader.

Arrested then were Janet Gonzalez, 49, of Yonkers; David C. Publow, age 49, of Troy; Mackenzie A. McDonald-Wilkins, 27, of Rhinebeck; and Rebecca J. Berlin, 23, of Yorktown Heights, police said. They were also charged with Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree. They were issued appearance tickets directing them to appear in the Town of Cortlandt Justice Court Oct. 17.

RELATED: Update: Foes of Algonquin Pipeline Expansion Leave after 16 Hours Inside Pipe Segment

PHOTO/ Erik McGregor