Putnam Sheriff Deputies Use License Plate Readers To Make Arrests

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — With license plate reader technology, Putnam County sheriff's deputies were able to locate cars reported stolen outside of Putnam County twice in the past two weeks. The first involved a high-speed chase and a highway crash.

Deputy Amanda Collier was on patrol in Putnam Valley at 12:17 p.m. April 8 when she received word that a stolen vehicle was traveling northbound on the Taconic State Parkway. That came as a result of a license plate reader hit that generated a notification to law enforcement agencies in the region.

The vehicle was a 2006 grey Acura and was reported stolen out of the Bronx.

Collier positioned herself on the parkway overpass at Bryant Pond Road. Roughly eight minutes later, upon seeing the vehicle traveling north on the Taconic, she entered the parkway and began following it. She saw 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.

When Collier activated her emergency lights and sirens, the driver started to slow, and then moved left and sped up. The car exited and reentered the Taconic and finally ended up on I-84. Still traveling above the speed limit, the driver attempted to get off at the Ludingtonville Road exit. The car went through the grass, struck the guide rail and flipped three times, finally coming to rest on its roof in the right eastbound lane of I-84.

The driver was identified as 27-year-old Brandon Scott Cohn of the Bronx. He 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 VTL charges.

He did not appear to have sustained any injuries in the crash. He was arraigned and released to appear in Court on a later date.

The only other occupant of the vehicle was 27-year old Toniann Orichello of Scarsdale. 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.

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.

On April 6, 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.

Tolve and Deputy Randel Hill positioned themselves on the Taconic. A short time later they saw and pulled the car over.

It was occupied by a brother and sister. She told 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 were aware that the vehicle was reported stolen, they were not charged in relation to the alleged larceny.

However, a further investigation revealed that her brother, the driver, had a suspended license. He was issued a traffic summons.