FELONY ARREST
NORTH HUDSON — A Plattsburgh teen is behind bars for allegedly stealing a Ferrari and leading police on a high-speed chase.

Joey Porter was arrested this week in connection with the Feb. 22 early morning ordeal that wound through Essex County.

Lewis-based State Police released few details in the case Wednesday but said the 19-year-old is the prime suspect in the chase that topped speeds of 70 mph.

Porter was arrested Tuesday afternoon on charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal possession of stolen property, unlawful fleeing a police officer and for making a false statement to authorities.

The Ferrari, valued at about $100,000, was later recovered undamaged after Porter apparently got it stuck off the road during the joyride.

Plattsburgh City Police were first tipped off about the theft after Porter allegedly broke into the Imported Car Center on Bridge Street, where he reportedly smashed a window and gained access to the building, the car and its keys.

Police said he then went to a friend's house, where an unidentified juvenile joined him for the illegal ride.

An acquaintance contacted police after Porter left the area and headed south.

In addition to Lewis-based investigators and City Police, Plattsburgh-based State Police are also involved in the case and believe Porter, along with three others, ransacked a property in Peru hours before the theft and subsequent chase.

Police said most of the stolen property was located in the city when detectives assisted State Police with the execution of a related search warrant.

Porter, who was also charged with grand larceny and burglary, is now being held in Clinton County Jail on $150,000 cash bail.

Porter has had several run-ins with the law over the years, including in September 2009 when he was accused of stalking a local woman and then egging her car when she refused his advances.

The investigation is continuing.

Police said additional charges and arrests are possible.

NORTH ELBA — A Lake Placid man is facing charges for allegedly beating another man twice in one night.

Ray Brook-based State Police said George W. Stezer was arrested for the alleged assault Tuesday afternoon when he was charged with second- and third-degree assault.

Troopers first learned of the violence Feb. 20 a few hours after the 20-year-old allegedly attacked his 23-year-old acquaintance.

Police said the pair were hanging out inside a local mobile home Feb. 19 when Stezer apparently began arguing with the unidentified victim.

The dispute led outside where, police said, Stezer punched the man twice in the face and then continued beating him after the man fell to the ground.

After the alleged assault, the victim walked to a nearby Econo Lodge, where he asked staff to use a phone.

While waiting, police said, Stezer tracked the man down and continued the beating by smashing a glass bottle over the man's head.

The victim suffered a range of injuries during the attack and has since recovered.

Stezer is now being held in Essex County Jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond and is due back in North Elba Court March 8 to face the allegations.

SCHUYLER FALLS — Authorities believe a Schuyler Falls man collected more than $2,000 of unemployment benefits while he was still working.

Keeseville-based State Police investigators arrested Kevin J. LaBombard Tuesday evening on charges of fourth-degree grand larceny, first-degree falsifying business records and 12 counts of offering a false instrument for filing.

Police said the 45-year-old received a total of $2,300 he shouldn't have.

After being arraigned, LaBombard was released from custody and is due back in Schuyler Falls Town Court today to face the allegations.

MOTORCYCLE CHASE
PLATTSBURGH — A multi-agency effort led to the arrests of three speeding motorcyclists late Tuesday night.

According to the Clinton County Sheriff's Department, deputies assisted Plattsburgh State University Police in arresting the three drivers, who reportedly refused to comply with a University Police officer's attempt to stop them.

The drama unfolded around 10:30 p.m. after an officer attempted to stop the trio as they headed north on Oak Street in the City of Plattsburgh.

Minutes later, a Sheriff's deputy spotted one of the bikes near the Route 374 and Route 22 intersection.

Authorities again attempted to initiate a stop but said Brad Aylward refused to comply.

The chase continued through Beekmantown onto Interstate 87, where a State Police trooper was able to catch Aylward after he got a flat tire.

Deputies subsequently charged the 24-year-old with reckless driving and unlawful fleeing a police officer.

He was also cited for speeding, unsafe turn/failure to signal, driving to the left of pavement markings and following too close.

Authorities identified the two other suspected drivers and arrested Heath Duprey, 22, of West Chazy and Derrick Kennedy, 25, of West Chazy at a Patnode Road residence a short time later.

University Police processed Duprey and Kennedy after they were taken into custody, and it was initially unclear what the pair were charged with.

All three will reappear in court at a later date to face the allegations.

FEDERAL ARREST
CHAMPLAIN — Three people have been arrested, and a fourth detained, after federal officials say they were linked to a recent illegal-alien smuggling attempt.

Customs and Border Protection officials said this week that the Feb. 28 attempt led to the arrests of Marcelo Pimental, 33, of New Jersey; his wife, Tatiane Pimental, 33; and an unidentified Brazilian citizen.

Authorities said the attempt was detected after the Pimentals gave conflicting accounts of their activities in Canada when they attempted to return to the United States.

During the inspection, officials say, Mr. Pimental indicated he had been gambling with his wife, who was driving a separate vehicle behind her husband.

After Mrs. Pimental said the pair had been visiting family, Customs officers noticed what appeared to be an excessive amount of luggage.

Due to the inconsistencies in the couple's story and the personal effects in their vehicles, the pair were referred to a secondary inspection.

When they found the two passports in the luggage not belonging to the Pimentals, officers suspected the pair were involved in a smuggling attempt and contacted the Swanton, Vt., Sector Office of Border Patrol to alert them of their suspicions.

A few hours later, Border Patrol agents found two Brazilian nationals, who matched the description on the passports.

Authorities said the Brazilians initially evaded capture by crossing at a location other than a Port of Entry.

The Pimentals, along with one of the aliens, were subsequently arrested for federal alien smuggling.

The other individual has since been detained as a material witness.

All remain in custody pending further court action.

CAMP FIRE
MALONE — A seasonal camp is now charred and gutted after a wood-stove fire spread through the building midday Wednesday.

Malone Callfireman, along with crews from the Owls Head/Mountain View and Duane fire departments, were called to Daniel Jackson's camp off Route 41 around 11:15 a.m. after the fire broke out and Jackson was unable to quell the flames.

The Westville homeowner was able to escape his camp unharmed as volunteers arrived for the near three-hour battle to extinguish and investigate the blaze.

"Everybody did well, and we had just enough people to get the job done. They had a good interior attack," Malone Second Assistant Chief Paul Langdon said Wednesday afternoon.

He said volunteers used about 5,000 gallons of water to douse the fire, which, Langdon said, left the camp uninhabitable.

Jackson, who is insured, had gone to his camp for the day to clean the driveway when the fire broke out.

Langdon believes the fire originated in the chimney of the wood stove, where Jackson had earlier started the fire to warm the camp.

— By Staff Writer
Andrea VanValkenburg