| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that a multi-agency investigation into illegal drug trafficking in Columbia County
resulted in the arrest of seven individuals. On March 4th, 2009 & about 9:00PM, the Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement
& Education Unit, (DEEU), SWAT Team, Criminal Investigators, Crime Scene Technicians and Uniformed Deputy
Sheriffs along with the State Police BCI & Uniformed Troopers from Livingston, State Police Capital CNet, United States
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) - Albany Office and NYS Division of Parole executed two Search Warrants, one at 23
Main St Apt 5 in the Village of Philmont and one at 1895 State Rte 23 in the Taconic Meadows Mobile Home Park,
Craryville, T/Copake. Sheriff’s Office DEEU Investigators with assistance from the Columbia County District Attorney’s
Office obtained the search warrants which were issued by Columbia County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols.
Both search warrants were executed simultaneously and as a result, approximately 53 gms of Crack Cocaine, 25 bags
of Heroin packaged for sale and 123 gms of marihuana were seized in addition to $4,400 in cash and drug sales
paraphernalia. Also seized were five flat screen televisions, computers and various other electronic game consoles and
devices which will be analyzed to determine if they are stolen and/or utilized to facilitate illegal drug trafficking.
There were no injuries at either location. Unfortunately, a Pitbull/Mastiff dog had to be shot and killed while it was
attacking a member of the SWAT team upon their entry into the Philmont apartment. The apartment was occupied by
three adult males at the time the warrant was executed. The dog was removed by the Sheriff’s Office and turned over
to an individual associated with the apartment the next day, March 5th.
Arrested and charged from the Philmont location is:
A 17 year old male from Highland Ave, Philmont charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th
Degree (C-Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree (A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Possession
of Marihuana (Violation). He was arraigned in Philmont Village Court by Judge Rick Tracey and remanded to the
Columbia County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash and $50,000 bail bond to return at a later date.
27 year old Robert E. Perez of 23 Main Street Philmont charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th
Degree (A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Possession of Marihuana (Violation) and Possession of a Controlled Substance Out
of its Original Container (Public Health Law Violation), as well as Violation of Parole. Perez was issued appearance
tickets for the CPCS 7th and UPM and remanded with no bail to the Columbia County Jail for the Violation of Parole.
At the Craryville location, 4 individuals were found smoking Crack Cocaine in a room where three small children were
present. Arrested and charged are:
41 year old Carol Babjeck, 50 year old Darci-Jo Gibeau, 50 year old Edward F. Gibeau and 26 year old Elizabeth J.
Winters all of Taconic Meadows Mobile Home Park NYS Rte 23 Craryville, T/Copake. All charged with Endangering the
Welfare of a Child, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree (both A Misdemeanors) and Loitering
Unlawfully to use a Controlled Substance (B Misdemeanor). They were arraigned by Copake Judge John Spencer and
remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bail bond to return March 9th at 7PM.
Additionally, 29 year old Jose Sanchez of Taconic Meadows Mobil Home Park was charged with Federal Drug
Possession charges by the US DEA. He was turned over to the custody of US Marshall’s at the Albany County Jail. He
will be prosecuted federally by the Northern District United States Attorney’s Office.
Information provided to Investigators over the past several months indicated that both locations were associated with
illegal narcotic trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
Investigators are checking to see if any of those arrested are on public assistance.
The Philmont Police Department assisted at the Philmont location. The investigation is continuing and additional
charges, including federal charges are possible.
Sheriff Harrison thanked all agencies involved for their hard work and cooperation. He also thanked the many people
from both the Philmont and Craryville communities who made multiple calls to law enforcement agencies about illegal
and suspicious activity at the search warrant locations.
Sheriff Harrison said, “Illegal activity in Columbia County will be addressed using all the local, state and federal law
enforcement resources available.”
resulted in the arrest of seven individuals. On March 4th, 2009 & about 9:00PM, the Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement
& Education Unit, (DEEU), SWAT Team, Criminal Investigators, Crime Scene Technicians and Uniformed Deputy
Sheriffs along with the State Police BCI & Uniformed Troopers from Livingston, State Police Capital CNet, United States
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) - Albany Office and NYS Division of Parole executed two Search Warrants, one at 23
Main St Apt 5 in the Village of Philmont and one at 1895 State Rte 23 in the Taconic Meadows Mobile Home Park,
Craryville, T/Copake. Sheriff’s Office DEEU Investigators with assistance from the Columbia County District Attorney’s
Office obtained the search warrants which were issued by Columbia County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols.
Both search warrants were executed simultaneously and as a result, approximately 53 gms of Crack Cocaine, 25 bags
of Heroin packaged for sale and 123 gms of marihuana were seized in addition to $4,400 in cash and drug sales
paraphernalia. Also seized were five flat screen televisions, computers and various other electronic game consoles and
devices which will be analyzed to determine if they are stolen and/or utilized to facilitate illegal drug trafficking.
There were no injuries at either location. Unfortunately, a Pitbull/Mastiff dog had to be shot and killed while it was
attacking a member of the SWAT team upon their entry into the Philmont apartment. The apartment was occupied by
three adult males at the time the warrant was executed. The dog was removed by the Sheriff’s Office and turned over
to an individual associated with the apartment the next day, March 5th.
Arrested and charged from the Philmont location is:
A 17 year old male from Highland Ave, Philmont charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th
Degree (C-Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree (A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Possession
of Marihuana (Violation). He was arraigned in Philmont Village Court by Judge Rick Tracey and remanded to the
Columbia County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash and $50,000 bail bond to return at a later date.
27 year old Robert E. Perez of 23 Main Street Philmont charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th
Degree (A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Possession of Marihuana (Violation) and Possession of a Controlled Substance Out
of its Original Container (Public Health Law Violation), as well as Violation of Parole. Perez was issued appearance
tickets for the CPCS 7th and UPM and remanded with no bail to the Columbia County Jail for the Violation of Parole.
At the Craryville location, 4 individuals were found smoking Crack Cocaine in a room where three small children were
present. Arrested and charged are:
41 year old Carol Babjeck, 50 year old Darci-Jo Gibeau, 50 year old Edward F. Gibeau and 26 year old Elizabeth J.
Winters all of Taconic Meadows Mobile Home Park NYS Rte 23 Craryville, T/Copake. All charged with Endangering the
Welfare of a Child, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree (both A Misdemeanors) and Loitering
Unlawfully to use a Controlled Substance (B Misdemeanor). They were arraigned by Copake Judge John Spencer and
remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bail bond to return March 9th at 7PM.
Additionally, 29 year old Jose Sanchez of Taconic Meadows Mobil Home Park was charged with Federal Drug
Possession charges by the US DEA. He was turned over to the custody of US Marshall’s at the Albany County Jail. He
will be prosecuted federally by the Northern District United States Attorney’s Office.
Information provided to Investigators over the past several months indicated that both locations were associated with
illegal narcotic trafficking and illegal weapons possession.
Investigators are checking to see if any of those arrested are on public assistance.
The Philmont Police Department assisted at the Philmont location. The investigation is continuing and additional
charges, including federal charges are possible.
Sheriff Harrison thanked all agencies involved for their hard work and cooperation. He also thanked the many people
from both the Philmont and Craryville communities who made multiple calls to law enforcement agencies about illegal
and suspicious activity at the search warrant locations.
Sheriff Harrison said, “Illegal activity in Columbia County will be addressed using all the local, state and federal law
enforcement resources available.”
