GOSHEN – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has requested that Goshen Town Court dismiss the charge of aggravated harassment against outspoken community activist Vincent Ferri of the Town of Wallkill.
He recently drafted a flyer with a photo of County Legislator Shannon Wong, which also displayed a butcher knife and bloody hands. He was criticizing Wong’s support of the county’s redevelopment of the government center in Goshen instead of selling it to a New York developer who wants to convert it to an arts center with housing.
Ferri’s attorney, Michael Sussman, was critical of the sheriff’s
office, for telling Ferri to surrender after Wong filed a complaint, or
be picked up to face charges.
“Such a misuse of the authority reposed in the sheriff’s office is of great concern,” Sussman said Tuesday. “That office should coordinate any arrests with the DA’s office, not arrest people for whom legal cause does not exist or arguably exist, as in this instance. Mr. Ferri has received no apology from the sheriff’s department for its misuse of authority.”
