TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Town police in Poughkeepsie responded to a report of a robbery on Fairview Avenue Tuesday night, with one victim claiming to have been hit in the head with a shotgun. The incident occurred in the area of 45 Fairview Avenue at approximately 11:20 p.m.
Several town officers were responding to the scene when it was reported that the suspects fled in a dark-colored SUV, possibly a Durango with Rhode Island license plates, at a high rate of speed toward the City of Poughkeepsie. One witness was believed to have followed the vehicle as it raced into the city, toward police headquarters. The witness discontinued their pursuit and returned to the crime scene to speak with police. A few of the town police officers redirected and made a quick canvass of the city before responding to Fairview Avenue. The vehicle was not located.
Dutchess County 911 issued a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) for a dark-colored SUV with Rhode Island or similar-looking license plates, occupied by four to five men, and considered to be armed with a long gun.
A source close to the investigation told Mid-Hudson News that the victim was approached by a group of men, some wearing ski masks, one of whom struck the victim in the head with a shotgun and stole some of his belongings before fleeing the scene. One suspect was reported to be wearing a white jacket and another is believed to have been wearing a black and red puffer-style jacket.
Another homeowner on Fairview saw the police activity and checked their Ring camera, which had caught video of the vehicle parked in front of their house before the incident a few houses away.
Just before midnight, Town and City of Poughkeepsie police were notified that the Town of Lloyd police in Ulster County were following a vehicle matching the description north on Route 9W toward the Esopus area. It was determined that the vehicle was not the one being searched for.
Police were updated shortly after midnight that the victim is confident that the vehicle involved is a 2018 model charcoal gray Dodge Durango with “blacked out” tail lights.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department at 845-485-3666.
