DA gets Cole-Hatchard fireworks
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- July
- 6
Stony Point Police Chief Patrick Brophy today said he officially has asked the Rockland District Attorney’s Office to investigate the fireworks show on July 4th at the home of Councilman Stephen J. Cole-Hatchard, who also is a Clarkstown police detective and a North Rockland school board member.
Possessing, selling and using fireworks for personal use is illegal in New York State.
Brophy wanted to ensure the public confidence in the investigation. He specifically noted that Cole-Hatchard is a town official who is involved in contract negotiations and other business with the police department.
Now, the investigative ball is in the District Attorney Michael Bongiorno’s court. In the past, Bongiorno has asked for a special prosecutor from a different jurisdiction to handle these types of cases.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Louis Valvo said today that the state police have been asked to investigate in conjunction with District Attorney’s Office. Valvo said they were awaiting an answer from the state police.
Valvo said he couldn’t guarantee the DA’s office would not ask for a special prosecutor, if warranted by a police investigation. Valvo said Cole-Hatchard, as a Clarkstown police detective, is involved in several pending criminal cases in court. Valvo said the office might face a conflict of prosecuting someone who is a witness in other case.Cole-Hatchard has declined to return a telephone call seeking comment. He told a Journal-News reporter Laura Incalcaterra on Wednesday night that he didn’t light fireworks but handed them out.
This entry was posted
on Friday, July 6th, 2007 at 12:14 pm by Steve Lieberman.
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Dont you think your newspaper and you are making a big deal out of nothing?
I am reporting what’s happening in a news story. The newspaper doesn’t make decisions for the police departments or the district attorney’s office. It’s not my job to make judgments.
Thanks for reading
Fireworks are our given right to celebrate the 4th of July. Virginia, Tennessee and south. sell and allow fireworks year round. why? because its a celebration of freedom. NY has taken a totalitarian rule on us by making it illegal. because of idiots. we need to start getting our freedoms back.
Otherwise I hope i am dead by the time Big Brother fully gets control. sigh