CRIME & SAFETY
Utica murder defendant ruled fit to proceed in court, rejects plea offer
UTICA — A 51-year-old man accused of beating his roommate to death has been ruled fit to proceed to trial in Oneida County Court. Matthew Johnston appeared before Judge Robert L. Bauer Friday morning, more than a year after Johnston had previously been ruled mentally unfit following the Jan. 11, 2023 death of 59-year-old Khame A. Boman. Johnston underwent a year of treatment in a state mental health facility, and court officials said he has since been ruled mentally competent to proceed with his case.
Utica Man Faces Weapons Charges
UTICA, N.Y. -- A 21-year-old man from Utica is currently facing charges of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. This arrest came after Utica Police Department officers received information about a loaded firearm, which led to an investigation resulting in the location and securing of the weapon.
1-Car Rollover on Genesee Street Ties Up Traffic; No Injuries Reported
UTICA, N.Y. -- On Thursday afternoon, downtown Utica experienced a temporary traffic disruption due to a one-car rollover on Genesee Street. The incident occurred around noon, near the Delta Hotels by Marriott. The Utica Police Department confirmed that the driver did not sustain any injuries. However, the driver was issued...
Central NY man gets 10 years in prison for working in dad’s drug trafficking ring
Syracuse, N.Y. — A 29-year-old man was sentenced to a decade in federal prison this week for drug charges he racked-up while working in a drug ring with his father, prosecutors said. Ivan Rodriguez Jr., of Utica, was charged with possessing and distributing fentanyl from at least June 2021...
30 Students Impacted by Fire at Off-Campus Housing in Herkimer
HERKIMER, N.Y. -- Earlier this week, a fire broke out at an off-campus housing building for Herkimer College. The incident took place at 650 West German St. in Herkimer late Tuesday night. 30 students affected by the fire have received assistance from both the local branch of the American Red...
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.