| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED AT COLUMBIA COUNTY FAIR
September 3, 2010
Ghent, NY – Columba County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. and New York State Police Troop K Zone 1
Commander Captain Scott Brown report the arrests of three individuals as a result of an altercation that occurred
Wednesday, September 1st at approximately 10:13pm at the Chatham Fair Grounds. Robert Perez, 29 years of
age of Chatham, NY attempted to initiate a fight in the beer gardens of the Chatham Fair by shoving an individual.
Members of the New York State Police and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded at which time Perez shoved
a uniformed Trooper. Perez was immediately taken into custody. Charles Murphy 36 years old of Philmont, NY
became irate at the arrest of Perez and began a physical altercation with law enforcement officers. Murphy was
subdued and arrested by law enforcement officers. Perez and Murphy were taken to the Sheriff’s Office Fair
Command Station by NYS Troopers and Deputy Sheriff’s. Friends of Perez and Murphy became unruly outside the
command station requiring additional officers to be summoned to the scene including Deputy Sheriff Heath
Benansky and his K9 partner Nico and members of the Village of Chatham Police Department.
Lisa Perez, 24 years old who is the wife of Robert Perez, was also taken into custody when she failed to disburse
from the scene and became combative with Law Enforcement Officers and engaging in a confrontation with the K9
unit.
State Police charged Robert Perez with Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Harassment 2nd degree. He was
arraigned in the Ghent Town Court and remanded to the county jail in lieu of $5,000.00 cash or $10,000.00 bail
bond.
Lisa Perez was charged by the Sheriff’s Office with Obstructing Governmental Administration, Disorderly Conduct
and Resisting Arrest. She was too was arraigned in the Ghent Town Court and remanded to the county jail in lieu
of $1,000.00 cash or $2,000.00 bail bond.
Murphy was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest by Deputy Sheriff’s and was remanded to the
county jail in lieu of $2,000.00 cash or $4,000.00 bail bond following his arraignment in Ghent Court.
Sheriff Harrison said “I commend all of the officers involved for taking quick action in dispersing the crowd and
insuring innocent persons were not injured”.
Captain Scott Brown said certain individuals in the crowd attempted to bait the officers into further confrontation,
however, “the good guys didn’t bite”. According to Captain Brown, “The responding officers acted in a professional
manner during this very bad situation. We in law enforcement want our community members to be able to attend
the fair with their families and small children without having to worry about drunk and disorderly persons causing
disturbances. That’s not what the fair is about, this is a family friendly environment.”
The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are forthcoming.
September 3, 2010
Ghent, NY – Columba County Sheriff David W. Harrison, Jr. and New York State Police Troop K Zone 1
Commander Captain Scott Brown report the arrests of three individuals as a result of an altercation that occurred
Wednesday, September 1st at approximately 10:13pm at the Chatham Fair Grounds. Robert Perez, 29 years of
age of Chatham, NY attempted to initiate a fight in the beer gardens of the Chatham Fair by shoving an individual.
Members of the New York State Police and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office responded at which time Perez shoved
a uniformed Trooper. Perez was immediately taken into custody. Charles Murphy 36 years old of Philmont, NY
became irate at the arrest of Perez and began a physical altercation with law enforcement officers. Murphy was
subdued and arrested by law enforcement officers. Perez and Murphy were taken to the Sheriff’s Office Fair
Command Station by NYS Troopers and Deputy Sheriff’s. Friends of Perez and Murphy became unruly outside the
command station requiring additional officers to be summoned to the scene including Deputy Sheriff Heath
Benansky and his K9 partner Nico and members of the Village of Chatham Police Department.
Lisa Perez, 24 years old who is the wife of Robert Perez, was also taken into custody when she failed to disburse
from the scene and became combative with Law Enforcement Officers and engaging in a confrontation with the K9
unit.
State Police charged Robert Perez with Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Harassment 2nd degree. He was
arraigned in the Ghent Town Court and remanded to the county jail in lieu of $5,000.00 cash or $10,000.00 bail
bond.
Lisa Perez was charged by the Sheriff’s Office with Obstructing Governmental Administration, Disorderly Conduct
and Resisting Arrest. She was too was arraigned in the Ghent Town Court and remanded to the county jail in lieu
of $1,000.00 cash or $2,000.00 bail bond.
Murphy was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest by Deputy Sheriff’s and was remanded to the
county jail in lieu of $2,000.00 cash or $4,000.00 bail bond following his arraignment in Ghent Court.
Sheriff Harrison said “I commend all of the officers involved for taking quick action in dispersing the crowd and
insuring innocent persons were not injured”.
Captain Scott Brown said certain individuals in the crowd attempted to bait the officers into further confrontation,
however, “the good guys didn’t bite”. According to Captain Brown, “The responding officers acted in a professional
manner during this very bad situation. We in law enforcement want our community members to be able to attend
the fair with their families and small children without having to worry about drunk and disorderly persons causing
disturbances. That’s not what the fair is about, this is a family friendly environment.”
The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are forthcoming.