SAUGERTIES – A collaborative effort by Ulster County police departments has resulted in the apprehension of a 23-year-old man wanted for burglary and robbery charges. Dustin Van Etten, a Kingston resident was wanted by the Saugerties Police Department.
Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra issued a plea to locate Van Etten on Tuesday, seeking the public’s assistance in apprehending the wanted man. A Mid-Hudson News story describing Van Etten and his alleged crimes went viral almost immediately on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
On the day that Chief Sinagra asked for the public’s help, the City of Kingston Police located and arrested Dustin Van Etten on the Saugerties warrant.
Chief Sinagra said that a series of break-ins into vehicles in Saugerties on May 20 drew the attention of his officers. During the early morning hours, several cars had been entered illegally resulting in the theft of purses, cell phones, credit cards, and other property.
At about 1:50 PM on May 20, 2022, a Saugerties Police Officer, saw two suspicious males on bicycles in Barclay Heights, where the vehicle break-ins had occurred, and conducted a field interview with both males. One of the males was identified as a 17-year-old from Millers Lane in the City of Kingston and the second male was identified as 23-year-old Dustin Van Etten, from Hasbrouck Avenue in Kingston. Both were interviewed and let go.
Less than two hours after Van Etten and his accomplice were stopped by the police, Saugerties Police received a walk-in complaint from a town resident that their 16-year-old child had been the victim of a robbery earlier that day at the Cantine Memorial Sports Complex. The victim reported that he had been attacked by two males, who were on bicycles. One of the males reportedly displayed a crowbar in a threatening manner during the attack while the other male took the victim’s backpack, cell phone, and a pair of shoes.
Saugerties Police investigated the robbery report and arrested the 17-year-old Kingston resident, charging him with two felony counts of robbery, two felony counts of grand larceny, and five misdemeanor counts of conspiracy, along with misdemeanor counts of petit larceny and attempted petit larceny. The youth was processed at police headquarters as an Adolescent Offender and released on an appearance ticket returnable to the Youth Part of the Ulster County Court.
A warrant for Van Etten included the charge of felony robbery, two counts of felony criminal possession of a weapon, two felony counts of grand larceny, and five counts of conspiracy. He also faces misdemeanor charges of petit larceny and attempted petit larceny.
As a result of New York State bail reform laws, Van Etten was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Saugerties Justice Court at a later date to answer his charges.
