Unsubstantiated Email Causes Community Concern
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports that his agency has been flooded with telephone calls inquiring about the contents of an email message being circulated to others in the Southeast area.
The email, sent by “Grace,” was received by several residents in the past few days. It was addressed to “ladies” informing recipients that the sender heard of “two more break-ins and rapes” in the Gage Road area of the town. It went into detail as how the “incidents” allegedly occurred. The email concluded by, “It has been such a terrible few weeks for our town, and I hate to spread more bad news, but I felt the need to let everyone know so we know not to let our guard down.”
“After checking with investigators from the New York State Police at Brewster, the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, the Putnam County Law Enforcement Intel Group and according to our records at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, there have been no recent burglaries or sexual assaults reported to law enforcement at or near Gage Road,” Sheriff Smith said.
“Naturally, while I always ask residents to be vigilant and report suspicious activity, our citizens must be informed of bogus reports or misinformation concerning their safety. I urge the author of the email to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (845) 225-4300 if she has specific information concerning the criminal behavior described in the message that she sent. Absent any contact by the writer, we must believe that the information contained in this email is unfounded and possibly sent to cause undue stress and panic to those receiving it,” the Sheriff said.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
