Millerton Police Report

The following information was provided by the Millerton Police Department. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

DWI felony arrest

On Saturday, Sept. 5, Millerton Police Sgt. Matthew Leonard was on Beilke Road in the town of North East at around 12:45 a.m. and observed a vehicle driving erratically and unable to stay in his lane. Leonard stopped the driver for the violation and ultimately arrested the driver for driving while intoxicated. 

The driver identified himself at the time of arrest, as Hector R. Salazar-Ramos, age 47, of Millerton. Leonard found that although the driver was not a licensed driver, his privilege to drive was revoked in New York state. The revocation was a result of a prior alcohol conviction. Leonard also learned that the driver was wanted on a warrant from Putnam County. 

Leonard processed the driver for a felony — aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree — as well as the misdemeanors of driving while intoxicated, driving without an ignition interlock and driving with a blood alcohol of .08 percent or more. There were additional violation charges filed as well. 

Leonard released the driver on the new charges and met with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to turn him over on the warrant. It was learned that he was released after posting bail in Putnam County.

Through further investigation, it was learned that the driver had been convicted of a prior DWI under a different name, Hector R. Ramos, with the same date of birth the driver originally gave to Sgt. Leonard. The original charges that Leonard had prepared for misdemeanor charges became felony charges, due to the prior conviction for driving with a blood alcohol of .08 percent or more. 

Leonard contacted the Honorable Town of North East Justice John Crodelle after preparing felony charges. Judge Crodelle issued an arrest warrant for Ramos, who was picked up on those charges, on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Ramos was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail on $20,000 cash or $40,000 bond. He was scheduled to return to the town of North East Court on Monday, Sept. 21.

DWI and impersonation

On Saturday, Sept. 5, Millerton Police Officer Benjamin Doty was  on State Route 22 in the town of North East at around 3:41 a.m. and observed a vehicle cross over the center line of the roadway. Doty stopped the driver for the violation and ultimately arrested him for the violations of driving without a license, failing to keep right and DWI. 

The driver identified himself as 26-year-old Franko Guitiesro of Millerton. 

He was charged with the misdemeanors of driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated — having a blood alcohol content of .18 percent or higher. He was released to appear in the town of North East Court at a later date.

Through further investigation, it was learned that the driver had provided Officer Doty with a false name. Doty was on patrol in the village of Millerton on the evening of Friday, Sept. 11, and spotted the subject who previously identified himself as Franko Guitiesro. Doty attempted to interview the subject, who fled on foot. Doty found him hiding near a Dumpster and the subject advised Doty he fled because he had to relieve himself. Doty transported the subject to the Millerton Police Station to further interview the subject.

It was learned that the subject’s name, or at least a name he had been arrested under previously, was Jose Pop-Tut. Pop-Tut had a warrant out of the town of North East Court for a previous DWI case. He was mandated by the North East Court, due to lawful requirements, to use an ignition interlock device on any vehicle driven in New York state.

Officer Doty arrested Pop-Tut for a number of violations. He was additionally arrested on the misdemeanor of criminal impersonation in the second degree and failing to use an interlock device. He was charged with the felonies of driving while intoxicated and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol of 0.18 percent or more and aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree. 

Pop-Tut was arraigned by the Honorable Town of North East Justice Casey McCabe. He was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail on $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond. His next appearance was in the town of North East Court on Monday, Sept. 21. 

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