Investigations lead to multiple arrests
By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-HeraldGLOVERSVILLE - City police have made multiple arrests following investigations into three incidents - two fires and a larceny - that all occurred in vacant buildings.
One of the fires severely damaged a house at 45 Grand St. and resulted in an arson charge for a 22-year-old Northville man. All others charged were teens.
Jerome Fonda, of 111 Fondacres Road, Northville, was charged by police with third-degree arson after an investigation into the April 17 fire.
Police said Fonda, Ryan M. Walker, 17, of 121 Spring St., and a 15-year-old city resident broke into the house, where Fonda started a fire on the floor. The fire spread through the building and caused extensive damage, police said.
The city would later have the building demolished because it was deemed structurally unsound.
Walker was charged with third-degree criminal trespass in the incident. The 15-year-old, whom police did not identify, was charged with juvenile delinquency, with the underlying charge being third-degree criminal trespass.
Walker also was charged with third-degree criminal trespass in the other two incidents investigated by city police.
Walker was one of four people arrested following an investigation into the theft of copper from a vacant building.
Timothy Belden, 19, listed as homeless, Jonathan Vouga, 16, of 28 Fourth Ave., and Andrew Thompson, 16, of 66 Fourth Ave. all were charged with third-degree burglary and petit larceny in the incident.
Police said all four entered 181 N. Main St. on several occasions and caused damage to the interior of the building while stealing copper.
Belden and Vouga were arraigned and sent to Fulton County Jail.
Thompson also was charged Tuesday with third-degree criminal trespass, along with Walker, following a police investigation into a June 16 fire at 185 N. Main St.
Police said the pair entered the building before the fire happened.
Both fires involved vacant buildings where youths would gather and party, police said.
Fonda and Thompson are being held at the Police Department. Walker was released with a ticket to appear in City Court.
Police said the investigation has not ended, and more arrests in the case are probable.
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Icetea
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06-26-08 5:46 PM
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Hey ITSJUSTME..........its nice you like to condemn the GSD students, but it should be noted, since you commented on this particular article.......at leasst 2 of those kids, I know for fact, are Northville HS grads, including the one who listed himself as homeless. So by all means, look at other school districts. If you truly believe that the surrounding schools dont have there problems(on the same level per capita), your extremely naive.
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ReclaimGville
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06-26-08 4:48 PM
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Hey Justme.. The parents don't even have respect or morals. Their kids feed off of them. My hope is the DA starts to get tough with these thugs!! Time to send message!!
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kristenk1980
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06-26-08 4:45 PM
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can't check your house when your in prison. they won't let you out to go lock up your house.
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itsjustme
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06-26-08 4:11 PM
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more and more people are doing what i do.. LOL I am house hunting and when the relator asked me where i said anywhere EXCEPT Gloversville school district!!! =-)
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mistyblue0909
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06-26-08 3:54 PM
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I grew up in Gloversville and we never even used to look are doors. What has happened to a place that used to be nice to live in?
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Onesies
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06-26-08 3:20 PM
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Timothy Belden, 19, listed as homeless.... Wow hes got a bright future ahead of him
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Carlttfn
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06-26-08 1:58 PM
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locks only keep honest people out. these kids are on a mission. right down the toilet!
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JUSTME2008
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06-26-08 1:36 PM
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Why are some of the vacant buildings in the city not checked out a little more by the owners? They seem abandoned. Article stated that there was several occasions that the kids used the building. Must have been some evidence that someone was inside I would think. That would prompt me into either getting better locks or making sure all windows/doors are locked.
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JUSTME2008
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06-26-08 12:58 PM
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Parents of these kids are home thinking my kid is safe and he/she does nothing wrong. So many parents are so blind to see the length of their own nose. I am "not" excusing the behavior of the kids, just possibly could have been prohibited if parents took more time to teach their children respect and many other important values (not much today) very sad.
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justforfun
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06-26-08 12:24 PM
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.....and their parents are where???????
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kristenk1980
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06-26-08 11:58 AM
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i hope you little dirt bags get the maximum. yeah they were vacant buildings however there was an occupied building less then 5 feet away with innocent people and animals in it. lucky for you it wasn't as bad as it really could have been. starting a fire at 5 in the morning i hope you made it to school on time that day
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slider
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06-26-08 11:43 AM
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More examples of Fulton County's finest. Sad...
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