Arrest stems from New Year’s Day incident
By Kevin E. Foley
Ray DiFrancesco, the owner/operator of Whistling Willie’s restaurant and bar on Main Street in Cold Spring, was arrested by the Cold Spring police and arraigned on Feb. 12 on charges related to a New Year’s Day incident at the establishment. He was released on no bail and will appear in Cold Spring Village Justice Court on March 12.
According to a media release issued today (Feb. 25) by Officer-in-Charge George Kane, DiFrancesco, 51, was charged with third-degree assault, third-degree reckless endangerment and giving a false written statement, all Class A misdemeanors.
No explanation was given for the delay in announcing the arrest. Philipstown.info inquired about the arrest on Feb 21.
According to the release, the arrest followed a month-long investigation into a fight that took place outside the bar in the early morning hours of Jan. 1. The victim in the case was allegedly assaulted after he was ejected from the bar. Police said he suffered a broken knee. After the assault, the investigation found, the victim “was carried approximately one block away and left on the sidewalk in the bitter cold.”
Screams alerted a resident, who called police, Kane’s media release added.
You mean they didn’t give him a lift home in that little white car?