New Year’s Day and the days leading up to the start of 2012 were anything but a holiday for City of Newburgh police. Officers were called to a newly reopened bar at South Lander Street and Benkard Avenue at 2:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day after reports of fights between armed combatants.

According to police, several arrests were made outside the Continental Bar at the above location by officers who had observed the altercations utilizing surveillance cameras in the area.

The first arrest occurred at 2:30 a.m. after Joshua Williams, 22, of Newburgh, got into an altercation with another man on the sidewalk outside the bar. Officers observed as Williams pulled a handgun on the other man before being pulled away by bystanders. Williams reportedly then passed the gun to Nicholas Patterson, 24, of Newburgh.

Officers Roman Scuadroni, Carlos Mendez and John Maguire arrived on the scene as Paterson tried to flee on foot. Patterson was seen throwing the gun over a fence as officers tackled him, but the gun, a loaded .38-caliber revolver, was quickly retrieved by officers. Patterson was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree and was held pending arraignment.

Williams fled the scene during the commotion, but returned to the Continental Bar, where he became involved in a sidewalk fight with a 26-year-old Poughkeepsie man. Two other men joined Williams in the attack that left the Poughkeepsie man with multiple stab and gunshot wounds. A second 26-year-old Poughkeepsie man also sustained a gunshot wound to the upper leg in the attack. All three suspects fled on foot but were apprehended by responding officers a short distance away.

Officers recovered a .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun as well as a large steak knife believed to have been used in the attack. Williams, Corey Owens, 18, and Thomas Cousar, 20, all residents of the City of Newburgh, were charged with attempted murder in the second degree. Williams and Owens were additionally charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degree.

The Continental Bar recently reopened after being shut down in March 2011 in a joint investigation by police and the City of Newburgh Fire Department. At that time, multiple violations of City of Newburgh Code were found and the building was condemned. An investigation is being conducted into whether all of the violations have been rectified.

The business was inspected by police and fire officers and charges are anticipated. It appears the premise has been operated as an illegal bottle club. No liquor license was located by investigating officers.

Earlier that same day, at 1:20 New Year’s morning, city police were called to 879 Liberty St., where they found a 22-year-old Newburgh man bleeding from an apparent stab wound to his chest.

The victim told officers that he was walking on Liberty Street when a suspect approached him and stabbed him with a folding knife. Detective Joseph Cortez responded to the scene and was able to identify the suspect as Thomas “Mac Daddy” McDonald, 20, of Newburgh.

Shortly before 4:30 a.m., McDonald reportedly threatened another man with a knife outside of Pineapple Larry’s Bar on Grand Street. Responding officers located McDonald a short distance away and took him into custody. McDonald was charged with assault in the first degree, a felony. He was jailed pending arraignment.

City of Newburgh Police also investigated several incidents days prior to the New Year that involved illegal possession of weapons.

On. Dec. 28, at about 7:30 p.m., police responded to reports of a robbery at Fullerton Avenue and Third Street. When officers arrived, two men stated that two suspects had put guns to their heads as they were walking on Third Street. The victims said the robbers had stolen their wallets and cash. One of the victims was struck several times on the head with a handgun when he resisted. Both suspects fled the area on foot.

Officers located two 15-year-olds, both residents of the City of Newburgh, matching the description of the suspects a short distance from the scene and discovered they both were armed with BB guns. Both suspects were placed under arrest and charged with robbery in the first degree and robbery in the second degree.

One of the 15-year-olds has since been charged with two additional robberies. One robbery occurred on Saturday at a barber shop on South Lander Street where a small caliber handgun was discharged into the ceiling and wallets and jewelry removed from staff members. Also, a man was attacked from behind as he walked to his car at a local gas station and his wallet containing cash and credit cards was taken. The victim sustained several broken ribs in this attack.

Both suspects were initially remanded to a juvenile detention facility on Dec. 29 but have since been released into the custody of their parents/guardians by the City of Newburgh Court.

On. Dec. 31, shortly after 12:30 a.m., City Police arrested a 15-year-old for possession of an illegal handgun. Officer Carlos Mendez was on patrol in the area of Renwick and Mill streets when he observed two youths looking into parked cars and pulling on door handles.

As Officer Mendez got out of his police car, he noticed that one of the youths adjusting an object in his waistband. As the officer approached, the youth continued adjusting the object and bladed his body away from the officer. Officer Mendez stopped the youth and found him to be in possession of a loaded .357-caliber revolver.

The 15-year-old City of Newburgh resident was placed under arrest and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

By ALLAN GAUL
agaul@tcnewspapers.com