Select incidents reported by Troop K
Troop K patrols Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester and Columbia counties.
Friday, Feb. 9
Troopers from the Wappinger barracks arrested Steven Schwartz, 53, a teacher at Fishkill Plains Elementary School in Wappingers Falls, on six felony counts of possession of child pornography.
On Jan. 26, the state police began an investigation into a report that a teacher had made inappropriate comments to a student in the Wappingers Central School District. Working with the Dutchess County Child Advocacy Center and the school district, officers say they found Schwartz possessed images of child pornography on his personal electronic devices.
Schwartz, who lives in Poughkeepsie, was arraigned before the Town of Poughkeepsie Court and remanded to Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 14.
Anyone with information concerning this investigation is asked to contact the New York State Police at 845-677-7300.
Monday, Feb. 5
Troopers from the Brewster barracks arrested David Eldredge, 54, of Redgranite, Wisconsin, on charges of felony grand larceny. Eldredge is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from Children’s Bible Fellowship (CBF) in Carmel, where he had been chief financial officer for 12 years.
Investigators said they began an investigation into the possible embezzlement of funds from CBF in July after the charity’s officials discovered and reported the larceny. Police said the funds were used to pay Eldridge’s personal expenses.
Eldredge was arraigned before the Town of Carmel Court and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 26. The state police were assisted by the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin.
Editor’s Note: If you are named in this blotter, and the charges were dismissed or reduced, or if you were acquitted, please e-mail [email protected]. We will verify and add a note to the entry. It is helpful if you provide documentation.
