Sweep results in seven arrests

By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN — A Fulton County traffic safety sweep over the weekend resulted in 30 tickets and seven arrests, Sheriff Thomas J. Lorey said.

Lorey said today he was pleased with the results of the sweep.

“I owe much of the success to the plate reader,” the sheriff said.

He was referring to a device obtained by the Sheriff’s Department through a state grant that can scan numerous license plates either on the road or in parking lots to determine a person’s vehicle and driving status.

Lorey said sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Broadalbin and Northville police departments concentrated efforts Friday through Sunday morning on the enforcement of traffic safety laws.

Lorey said 57 traffic stops took place.

A summary of the arrests follows:

• David C. Belfance, 49, of Amsterdam was charged at 3:10 p.m. Friday with misdemeanor operating with a suspended registration on Route 29 in the town of Johnstown. Belfance will appear July 9 in Johnstown Town Court.

• Sarah A. Babcock, 26, of Cohoes was charged at 4:55 p.m. Friday with misdemeanor operating with a suspended registration and operating without insurance on Route 30 in Perth. Babcock is scheduled to appear July 7 in Perth Town Court.

• Steven T. Gadreau, 24, of Syracuse was charged at 6:45 p.m. Friday with operating in excess of 55 mph and misdemeanor third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation following a stop on Route 29 in the town of Mayfield. Gadreau is scheduled to appear July 8 in Mayfield Town Court.

• Karen Backus, 39, of St. Johnsville was charged at 12:19 a.m. Saturday with failure to keep right and driving while intoxicated after a stop on Route 29 in the town of Mayfield. Backus is scheduled to appear July 8 in Mayfield Town Court.

• Donna L. Bargy, 52, of St. Johnsville was charged at 3:55 p.m. Saturday on charges of operating without insurance and misdemeanor operating with a suspended registration on Route 29 in the town of Broadalbin. Bargy is scheduled to appear July 10 in Broadalbin Town Court.

• Molly E. Wickson, 21, of Buffalo was charged at 4:35 p.m. Saturday with misdemeanor operating with a suspended registration on Route 29 in the town of Broadalbin. Wickson is scheduled to appear July 10 in Broadalbin Town Court.

• Ashley C. Kerr, 22, of Amsterdam was charged at 7:10 p.m. Saturday with misdemeanor operating with a suspended registration on County Highway 110 in the town of Broadalbin. Kerr is scheduled to appear July 10 in Broadalbin Town Court.

Lorey said tickets issued during the sweep were in connection with a variety of violations, including uninspected and unregistered motor vehicles, operating without headlights, failure to keep right and traveling above posted speed limits.

The sheriff said additional traffic safety sweeps probably will occur in upcoming months.

The latest sweep was unannounced.

The sheriff said he doesn’t think it makes a difference in the number of arrests or tickets whether the Sheriff’s Department announces the sweeps beforehand.



Michael Anich covers Fulton County and Johnstown. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.