Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter June 26: Ravena man arrested for check fraud at local bank

Pioneer freezes accounts before money is released

GLENMONT – Bethlehem police responded to the Pioneer Bank on April 1 for a potential incident of forgery and fraud.

According to reports, about two hours before from Thomas Mason Jr., 31, of Ravena, called the branch requesting to cash a $20,000 check issued by an insurance company. The employees told Mason that the check could be deposited and cleared before it could be cashed.

A short time later, he showed up at the branch with a check for $15.797.75 made payable to him and Mason deposited it in his account.

The employees checked the bank where the check originated and it had funds, but then contacted the company the check was from. The company said that the amount was correct, but it was not made payable to Mason. It was supposed to be made out to a vendor in Maryland.

The bank then froze Mason’s account and debit card.

On May 23, Bethlehem detectives applied for and received a warrant for Mason on May 28. He was arrested by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office on June 13 and charged with possession of a forged instrument -third degree and grand larceny – third degree, both felonies, and possession of a forged instrument – second degree, a misdemeanor.

Mason was arraigned by Bethlehem Town Judge Andrew Kirby and released under the supervision of probation. He is scheduled to return to court on July 2.

DWI on Delaware Avenue

DELMAR – A Bethlehem police patrol unit observed a gray Kia Sportage make a right turn out of CVS onto Delaware Avenue on Wednesday, June 12 at 2:19 a.m. without signaling and also fail to stay in its lane when on the road.

According to reports, the officer initiated a traffic stop near 50 Delaware avenue and spoke to the driver, a 25-year-old woman from Rensselaer. The officer observed that the woman had watery and droopy eyes and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.

She was given and failed some field sobriety tests, tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device and taken into custody.

At the police station, she was given a breath test that returned a .08 percent BAC. An inventory of the car also revealed three empty White Claw cans on the passenger seat and one empty Truly can on the driver’s seat.

The woman was charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, and ticketed for traffic infractions.

She was released with an appearance ticket for Bethlehem Town Court on June 18.

Warrant

DELMAR – Bethlehem police responded to the Stewarts on Delaware Avenue on Wednesday, June 12 for a check a person complaint.

According to reports, the staff reported that an older male was not acting right in the store and left a cell phone that he said was found on the street in Albany.

Upon investigation, Stephen Budesa Jr., 66, of Albany, had multiple warrants out for his arrest. He was transported to meet troopers from the State Police.

Felony DWI

DELMAR – A 55-year-old Texas man was taken into custody for Felony DWI on Thursday, June 13 after an investigation revealed three prior alcohol-related arrests in three different states.

According to reports, Bethlehem Police responded to the parking lot of the American Legion on West Poplar Drive at approximately 5:07 p.m. for a report of black Volkswagen GTI playing loud music.  When officers arrived they observed the car exit the parking lot, drive a short distance on West Poplar Drive and back into the parking lot.

Officers approached the car and made contact with the driver, Eric Gross. The officer observed that Gross had bloodshot and glassy eyes and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He said that he drank three 12-ounce cans of beer.

Gross was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device. He was taken to the police station where he provided a breath sample that returned a .10 percent BAC.

A check of his driving record showed that Gross had three prior arrests for DUI in Utah, California and Oklahoma. He was convicted in Utah in November 2021, the case in Oklahoma was still being adjudicated and the Case in California was pled down to a lesser charge.

He was charged with Felony DWI, given a bill of particulars and an appearance ticket for Bethlehem Town Court at a later date and released.

Aggravated DWI

DELMAR – A Bethlehem police patrol unit observed a gray Honda parked in the Valero parking lot at 2:28 a.m. on Monday, June 17 and the officer observed a man walking around with poor coordination.

The officer pulled into the parking lot across the street to observe more and the man flagged him down to assist. According to reports, the Honda had what appeared to be a muffler wedged between the car and the pavement. Upon interviewing the driver, a 55-year-old man from Utica, the officer observed that he had bloodshot, watery and droopy eyes and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath.

The man said he was driving from Buffalo to Utica and said he had two Bud Light beers earlier, but had not been drinking since he stopped at the station fifteen minutes earlier.

The car’s engine compartment was still warm to the touch at that point.

The man was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device.

At the police station he provided a breath sample that returned a .19 percent BAC. He was charged with aggravated DWI, a misdemeanor, given a bill of particulars, and released with an appearance ticket for Bethlehem Town Court on July 2.

The post Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter June 26: Ravena man arrested for check fraud at local bank first appeared on Spotlight News .