VILLAGE OF WAPPINGERS FALLS – Three members of a violent NYC street gang have been arrested by the Wappingers Falls Police Department (WFPD) after a robbery and lengthy police chase that began in Wappingers Falls on Tuesday. The lengthy incident began as a larceny in the Home Depot on Toute 9 in the village at approximately 2:45 p.m.
Trent Dance, 20, William Marvin Jr., age 24, and 25-year-old Mekhi Murphy, all from Brooklyn, are facing a number of felony charges, with two of the men remanded to the Dutchess County Jail.
According to Wappingers Falls Police Commissioner Paul Italiano, the three subjects were observed filling garbage bags with new electrical equipment from the shelves of the Home Depot. When the men attempted to leave with the $4800 worth of merchandise, a store employee attempted to stop them. One of the suspects assaulted the employee, raising the incident to a felony robbery.
Responding officers from the Village of Wappingers Falls police attempted to stop the getaway vehicle with Florida license plates on New Hackensack Road but the driver failed to comply and proceeded to drive away.
The vehicle continued to the Town of Poughkeepsie where it was involved in a minor accident with a motorcycle. The driver continued the escape attempt by driving through the Towns of Poughkeepsie and Lagrange, eventually traveling south on the Taconic State Parkway and then onto Interstate 84, traveling east into Putnam County. The car then collided with another vehicle on I-84 and became disabled between Exits 61 and 62; the exits for Route 311 and Route 312. The three were surrounded by officers from several police agencies and taken into custody, with the stolen merchandise recovered from the vehicle.
Dance, Harvin, and Murphy were all charged with felony robbery and grand larceny. Murphy was also charged with criminal conspiracy. Dance was arraigned and sent to the Dutchess County Jail with bail set at $50,000. He also has what Commissioner Italiano described as “numerous outstanding warrants in other jurisdictions.” Murphy was remanded to the jail with a $25,000 bail. Murphy, the alleged reckless getaway driver was issued more than 60 traffic citations by various police agencies that were involved in the chase.
The three men are suspected of committing the same type of crime earlier in the day in the Town of Ulster. That town’s police department has pending charges against the gangsters for that incident. Other jurisdictions, including the Village of Port Chester police, are investigating similar crimes, with Port Chester bringing charges against the men for that incident.
Commissioner Italiano noted that his department’s investigation determined that the three men had committed the same type of grand larceny from the same Home Depot on August 21, 2023, when they are believed to have stolen electrical equipment valued at $8,800. During the investigation of the earlier crime, WFPD Detective Sergeant Jenn Farrell was able to identify the perpetrators as members of the “Rich Bosses” street gang from Brooklyn.
Police Commissioner Italiano said “The extensive investigation and research conducted by the Wappingers Falls Police Detective Sergeant resulted in the identification and case connection of this organized theft ring from Brooklyn operating in the Hudson Valley,” adding that “The investigation is continuing at this time.”
The WFPD was assisted on Tuesday by the New York State Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Dutchess County 911, Putnam County 911, and police from the Towns of Poughkeepsie and Kent along with the Village of Brewster police. The Home Depot Loss Prevention team was also credited by Commissioner Italiano.
