Michael A. Kissinger
Derrick Young
Thomas J. MercerSince November, state troopers in Schoharie and Montgomery Counties have been getting complaints about mysterious BB gun shooters who fire on unsuspecting cars from a moving vehicle. Yesterday, the New York State Police announced that after eighty complaints and a two-month investigation, they've finally made some arrests.
Four men were arrested on Tuesday and charged with third-degree criminal mischief: 18-year-old Thomas J. Mercer, 20-year-old Michael A. Kissinger, and 20-year-old Robert Manchester, all from Carlisle, and 21-year-old Derrick Young of Sharon.
A press release from the New York State Police:
On Tuesday evening, 1/10/2012, state troopers in Cobleskill arrested four subjects involved in a rash of criminal mischief to vehicles involving BB gun shootings in Schoharie and Montgomery Counties. Troopers developed information which led them to an Evergreen Avenue address in Carlisle, Schoharie County, where two subjects were apprehended. Later Tuesday evening, troopers located two additional subjects as well as the vehicle used in the reported crimes.
The following individuals were arrested for Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree, a felony:
THOMAS J. MERCER, 18, Evergreen Ave, Carlisle,
MICHAEL A. KISSINGER, 20, Evergreen Ave, Carlisle,
ROBERT MANCHESTER, 20, Route 30, Carlisle, and
DERRICK YOUNG, 21, Route 10, Sharon.
MANCHESTER and YOUNG were arraigned in the Town of Cobleskill court and remanded to the Albany County jail in lieu of $10,000 cash and $20,000 bond. MERCER and KISSINGER were issued appearance tickets for January 18th at 6:00 PM in the Town of Esperance.
State police in Cobleskill and Fonda, and the Schoharie and Montgomery County Sheriffs Office have investigated numerous complaints where vehicle’s windshields and/or rear windows were shot at from a moving vehicle. Troopers in Cobleskill received seven complaints on November 20th in the Towns of Esperance, Central Bridge, and Carlisle, and fourteen complaints on January 6th in Carlisle, Sharon Springs, and Esperance. In all, troopers in Cobleskill investigated forty three complaints, troopers in Fonda, three complaints, Schoharie County Sheriffs, sixteen complaints, and the Montgomery County Sheriffs, sixteen complaints. The Schoharie County Sheriffs Department assisted the state police with road patrols and in developing information during the two month investigation. District Attorney James Sacket, Schoharie County, is assisting the state police and sheriffs department with their investigations.
Furthermore, during the course of their investigation, troopers interviewed a subject who was wanted for criminal mischief in the Town of Rotterdam. State police arrested RYAN D. KAUFMANN, 27, Route 145, Carlisle, and turned him over to the Rotterdam Police Department. KAUFMANN, who was not involved in the recent shootings, was remanded to the Schenectady County Jail.
