Dover resident arrestedafter New Year’s Day standoff

DOVER PLAINS — On Wednesday, Jan. 1, Richard P. Danko was arrested in the Town of Dover following an hours-long standoff with law enforcement after a complaint was lodged against him for allegedly threatening another party with a shotgun.

At approximately 6:10 a.m., deputies arrived at 16 Old State Route 22 in Dover Plains to investigate the report and Danko was subsequently identified as the suspect in the case. But when addressed by authorities, Danko refused to cooperate and fled into a home. Over the next five hours, members of multiple law enforcement units unsuccessfully attempted to convince Danko to surrender. Finally, authorities gained access to the premises and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office’s Emergency Services Unit took him into custody without further incident.

Following his arrest, Danko was charged with third degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, and three second degree misdemeanors including criminal contempt, menacing and resisting arrest as well as bail jumping, also a misdemeanor. Unrelated to this incident, Danko was also sought on a warrant for reckless endangerment. He was charged in connection with both the preexisting warrant and this most recent incident. Danko was arraigned at the Town of Dover Court, and was remanded to the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center where he remains in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.

When reached for comment, Captain John Watterson at the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident is still under investigation and no motive has yet been established. Watterson was unable to confirm at press time whether Danko is being represented by an attorney.

Latest News

Millbrook Scout completes Eagle Scout leadership work to benefit Angels of Light

Celebrating the completion of his Eagle Scout leadership project to benefit Angels of Light on Friday, March 21, Jayden Loibl, 17, was joined by Angels of Light co-Executive Directors, Lori Cassia-Decker, left, and Danielle Mollica.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Capping a lifetime of scouting achievement, Jayden Loibl, 17, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, completing a community project to handcraft outdoor benches and tables for the local nonprofit Angels of Light building at 28 Front St.

In addition to overseeing the construction of sturdy benches and tables that invite passersby to try them out, Loibl’s major project also created a Love Lock Pillar, and finished off the project by making stencil templates of the nonprofit’s logo to be used to identify the space and invite visitors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia approves sidewalk projectalong Route 44
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Pedestrians will soon be able to walk safely between Broadway and Beekman Park, now that a construction contract has been awarded.

The planning process continued for many months, culminating in an invitation to bid. The Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 20, to select the lowest bidder, clearing the way for work to begin.

Keep ReadingShow less
Science confirms: It was a cold winter

Spring has officially arrived with freezing night time temperatures forecast through the first week of April.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Victoria Kelly, Cary Institute Environmental Monitoring Program Manager and Senior Ecologist, prepared this report.

MILLBROOK — Since 1988 the weather station at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the Town of Washington has been keeping track of our local weather — precipitation, temperature, wind, air quality, etc.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East Fire District focuses on budget, spending

The North East Fire house on the south side of Century Boulevard.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

MILLERTON — The commissioners of the North East Fire District recently held their monthly meeting at the firehouse to discuss their current needs and general business.

Discussion centered around the current work on the 2025 budget and proposed expenditures, which ranged from upgrading their heating/cooling system to the possibility of replacing car no. 3.

Keep ReadingShow less