Saugerties man arrested for violating an order of protection for the third time
Donald E. Degroat of Saugerties, 51, violated a court-issued restraining order for the third time since September of 2019 on the evening of April 19, resulting in his incarceration at Ulster County Jail in lieu of $500 bail after a virtual arraignment. Degroat, who police said is transient and has no home address, went to the victim’s address and engaged her in a domestic dispute. He fled the scene upon the arrival of police at 8:21 p.m., and was not located until the next day on April 20; a investigation revealed that Degroat had “repeatedly” violated the order of protection since his last arrest. He accrued the felony charges of first-degree criminal contempt of a court order and aggravated family offense.
“Now the courts, once you violate a court order of protection so many times, can put bail on the individual [under the new bail reform system],” said Saugerties Police Chief Joe Sinagra. “Obviously, he doesn’t listen to what the judge tells him. The judge tells him that he needs to not harass this person and he ignores that, [so] bail has been put on him by the court.”
On February 20, according to police, Degroat allegedly stalked the same victim to “various locations in the Town of Saugerties” and called her repeatedly to tell her that he was watching her and knew her location. On December 8, police said, Degroat allegedly caused physical injury to the victim and on September 22, Degroat violated a court order issued in March by striking the same victim in the head with a broom handle in the vicinity of her child.
— Christina Coulter
Fatal car crash in Saugerties
On Wednesday, April 22 at approximately 1:22 a.m., Saugerties police responded to a 911 call involving a one-car crash on State Route 9W in the area of Sunoco. When officers arrived, they found a 2000 Honda Accord that had hit a utility pole on the east shoulder of the road. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle and was treated by paramedics from Diaz Ambulance and then airlifted to Albany Medical Center. A passenger in the vehicle sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Saugerties police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash. The identity of the vehicle operator and passenger are being withheld pending notification to next of kin.
Saugerties police were assisted at the scene by the Glasco Fire Department, Diaz Ambulance, LifeNet Medivac, the Ulster County Sheriff’s office and New York State Police.
Saugerties man charged with harassment and menacing with a hammer following rent dispute
On Tuesday, April 21, Saugerties police responded to a report of a fight in progress at 108 Livingston Street in the Village of Saugerties. Upon arrival, officers interviewed Aguilar-Martinez and two reported victims. The victims reported that Aguilar-Martinez had started an argument with them over rent money. During the argument, Aguilar-Martinez, who was inebriated, allegedly pushed one of the victims and then displayed a hammer and threatened the two victims with harm.
Aguilar-Martinez was taken into custody and transported to the Saugerties Police Department where he was processed on two counts of menacing and one count of harassment. He was virtually arraigned and released on his own recognizance upon the court issuing an Order of Protection on behalf of the victims.
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