| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
DEPUTY SHERIFF SHOT DURING STANDOFF
September 9, 2008
V/Philmont, NY Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that on Monday evening September 8th, at approximately
11:02PM, Deputy Sheriff’s Chad Shufelt, Patrick Logue and Brian Molinski were attempting to execute an Arrest
Warrant for Assault 3rd Degree, Menacing and Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, for Michael L. D’Alessio, 44
years of age at his residence, 48 Prospect Street in the Village of Philmont. While at the residence and after
Deputy Sheriff’s had announced themselves, D’Alessio fired a weapon inside of the house at which time Deputy
Sheriff’s retreated and set up a secure perimeter around the residence. Shortly after, they were assisted by State
Troopers from Livingston and Village of Philmont Police Officers.
The Arrest Warrant stemmed from an incident earlier in the evening when D’Alessio assaulted an individual
who had brought D’Alessio’s children to his residence for a supervised visit. His children were not injured and D’
Alessio was the only person in the residence when Deputy Sheriff’s attempted to arrest him at 11:02PM.
The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, as well as Incident Negotiators from the Sheriff’s Office and State Police
BCI, responded to the scene and were attempting to contact D’Alessio several times by phone. At about 01:52AM
D’Alessio fired a weapon again from inside the resident and struck Deputy Sheriff Louis Bray. Deputy Sheriff
Bray, as a member of the Sheriff’s SWAT Team, had taken a position outside of the residence and was struck in
the front of his bullet proof vest, the projectile then deflected and struck his arm causing minor injury. He was
treated by Philmont Rescue Paramedics at the scene and remained on duty throughout the incident.
Additionally, the State Police Mobile Response Team, (MRT), were requested and responded to the scene
and assisted the Sheriff’s SWAT Team and patrol Deputy Sheriff’s and Troopers in evacuating the immediate
area. Evacuation of nearby neighbors on Prospect Street began shortly after the incident began and continued
over a several hour period. Approximately twenty residents were evacuated to the Philmont Fire Department
where fire personnel, Columbia County Emergency Management, the County Fire and EMS Coordinators
established a temporary shelter.
For Several hours, D’Alessio did not respond to numerous attempts to speak to him by phone and from
outside the residence. At about 6:00AM, Incident Negotiators Sr/Investigator William Foster, Deputy Sheriff Eli
Fieser and Sr/Investigator Gary Mazzacano, supported by State Police MRT and Sheriff’s Office SWAT were able
to approach the house in an Armored Personnel Carrier provided by the MRT and again attempted to establish
contact with D’Alessio so that he would exit the house. At about 6:20AM, D’Alessio did exit the house and was
taken into custody without further incident.
As of 10:30AM, charges in addition to the initial charges in the Arrest Warrant, are being considered by
Sheriff’s Investigators and District Attorney Beth Cozzolino’s Office.
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr., who was at the scene said, “I am relieved that this situation resulted in no further
injury to anyone involved and that Deputy Sheriff Bray was not seriously injured when he was shot. I commend
the job done by all agencies and believe that the manner in which everyone worked together is why this incident
ended without further violence.”
In addition to uniformed patrol Deputy Sheriffs, State Troopers and Village of Philmont Police Officers at the
scene were: Undersheriff James Sweet, Captain David Bartlett, Lieutenant James Andrews, State Police Captain
Scott Brown, MRT Captain Robert Nuzzo and Lieutenant Gene Hallenbeck, Philmont Police OIC Vern Doyle,
Sheriff’s Senior Investigators William Foster and Kevin Skype, State police Senior Investigator Gary Mazzacano,
ADA Michael Cozzolino and Philmont Rescue Squad. At the temporary shelter were: Philmont Fire Chief Chris
Carlsen and Asst Chief Dick Howard, Emergency Management Director William Black and Deputy Director Paul D’
Onofrio, Fire Coordinator James VanDusen and EMS Coordinator PJ Keeler. Cumberland Farms in Philmont
donated bottles of water for the shelter.
Those residents who had been evacuated were cleared to go back to their residences by 7:00AM.
In addition to the original charges contained in the arrest warrant, and after consultation with District Attorney
Beth Cozzolino, D’Alessio is charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder – AI Felony, Attempted Manslaughter 1st
Degree – C Felony and Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st Degree – B Felony for shooting Deputy Bray. He will be
arraigned later this morning.
September 9, 2008
V/Philmont, NY Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that on Monday evening September 8th, at approximately
11:02PM, Deputy Sheriff’s Chad Shufelt, Patrick Logue and Brian Molinski were attempting to execute an Arrest
Warrant for Assault 3rd Degree, Menacing and Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, for Michael L. D’Alessio, 44
years of age at his residence, 48 Prospect Street in the Village of Philmont. While at the residence and after
Deputy Sheriff’s had announced themselves, D’Alessio fired a weapon inside of the house at which time Deputy
Sheriff’s retreated and set up a secure perimeter around the residence. Shortly after, they were assisted by State
Troopers from Livingston and Village of Philmont Police Officers.
The Arrest Warrant stemmed from an incident earlier in the evening when D’Alessio assaulted an individual
who had brought D’Alessio’s children to his residence for a supervised visit. His children were not injured and D’
Alessio was the only person in the residence when Deputy Sheriff’s attempted to arrest him at 11:02PM.
The Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, as well as Incident Negotiators from the Sheriff’s Office and State Police
BCI, responded to the scene and were attempting to contact D’Alessio several times by phone. At about 01:52AM
D’Alessio fired a weapon again from inside the resident and struck Deputy Sheriff Louis Bray. Deputy Sheriff
Bray, as a member of the Sheriff’s SWAT Team, had taken a position outside of the residence and was struck in
the front of his bullet proof vest, the projectile then deflected and struck his arm causing minor injury. He was
treated by Philmont Rescue Paramedics at the scene and remained on duty throughout the incident.
Additionally, the State Police Mobile Response Team, (MRT), were requested and responded to the scene
and assisted the Sheriff’s SWAT Team and patrol Deputy Sheriff’s and Troopers in evacuating the immediate
area. Evacuation of nearby neighbors on Prospect Street began shortly after the incident began and continued
over a several hour period. Approximately twenty residents were evacuated to the Philmont Fire Department
where fire personnel, Columbia County Emergency Management, the County Fire and EMS Coordinators
established a temporary shelter.
For Several hours, D’Alessio did not respond to numerous attempts to speak to him by phone and from
outside the residence. At about 6:00AM, Incident Negotiators Sr/Investigator William Foster, Deputy Sheriff Eli
Fieser and Sr/Investigator Gary Mazzacano, supported by State Police MRT and Sheriff’s Office SWAT were able
to approach the house in an Armored Personnel Carrier provided by the MRT and again attempted to establish
contact with D’Alessio so that he would exit the house. At about 6:20AM, D’Alessio did exit the house and was
taken into custody without further incident.
As of 10:30AM, charges in addition to the initial charges in the Arrest Warrant, are being considered by
Sheriff’s Investigators and District Attorney Beth Cozzolino’s Office.
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr., who was at the scene said, “I am relieved that this situation resulted in no further
injury to anyone involved and that Deputy Sheriff Bray was not seriously injured when he was shot. I commend
the job done by all agencies and believe that the manner in which everyone worked together is why this incident
ended without further violence.”
In addition to uniformed patrol Deputy Sheriffs, State Troopers and Village of Philmont Police Officers at the
scene were: Undersheriff James Sweet, Captain David Bartlett, Lieutenant James Andrews, State Police Captain
Scott Brown, MRT Captain Robert Nuzzo and Lieutenant Gene Hallenbeck, Philmont Police OIC Vern Doyle,
Sheriff’s Senior Investigators William Foster and Kevin Skype, State police Senior Investigator Gary Mazzacano,
ADA Michael Cozzolino and Philmont Rescue Squad. At the temporary shelter were: Philmont Fire Chief Chris
Carlsen and Asst Chief Dick Howard, Emergency Management Director William Black and Deputy Director Paul D’
Onofrio, Fire Coordinator James VanDusen and EMS Coordinator PJ Keeler. Cumberland Farms in Philmont
donated bottles of water for the shelter.
Those residents who had been evacuated were cleared to go back to their residences by 7:00AM.
In addition to the original charges contained in the arrest warrant, and after consultation with District Attorney
Beth Cozzolino, D’Alessio is charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder – AI Felony, Attempted Manslaughter 1st
Degree – C Felony and Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st Degree – B Felony for shooting Deputy Bray. He will be
arraigned later this morning.
