HYDE PARK – A well-known car thief was arrested by Hyde Park police Tuesday night after a crime spree that started in the Town of Poughkeepsie at approximately 7:30 p.m. Twenty-nine-year-old Frank Booth faces charges of felony burglary for breaking into the Citgo Gas Stop on Route 9 in Staatsburg.
According to Hyde Park Police Chief Robert Benson, his officers were dispatched at 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday for a burglary in process. Patrols arrived and found the front glass door broken and packs of cigarettes all over the floor.
While officers were investigating the crime scene other units were canvassing the area, including the parking lot of the nearby Royal Crest Ledges apartment complex. An officer observed a male walking in from Scenic Drive and stopped to interview the man. Officers noticed two garbage bags containing several packs of cigarettes in close proximity to the man. The male was detained and he was identified as Frank Booth of Hyde Park.
While checking the area further patrol found a 2016 Ford Edge that had been reported stolen from parking lot of Little Ceasars on Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie. At the time the vehicle was stolen, it had been left running and unattended by the operator. Town and City of Poughkeepsie police were searching the immediate area for the car. Benson said “We believe the stolen vehicle was used in the commission of this crime.”
Booth was arrested for felony Burglary and arraigned in front of the honorable Judge Jean McArthur and placed in the Dutchess County Jail on $5,000.00 cash bail $10,000.00 secure bond.
Booth was released from Dutchess County Jail earlier on Tuesday and then committed these crimes. Railing against the way bail reform keeps returning known car thieves such as Booth to the streets, Chief Benson said “Booth was only remanded because he had one felony conviction and several open felony, and misdemeanor charges. This made this arrest a qualifying offense and he was remanded to Dutchess County Jail. Without the previous arrest and release, Booth would have been released on an appearance ticket, because of the parameters of bail reform. More charges are likely to be filed as the investigation progresses.
After Booth was processed by the Hyde Park Police, he was turned cover to the Town of Poughkeepsie Police who are likely to file additional charges against the subject.
