A 21-year-old Hurleyville man is facing four criminal charges after police say he held a running hedge trimmer over his head and revved the engine toward officers who had responded to a threat complaint at a Sullivan County home. Jose Armando Castro was arrested by Fallsburg Police and now awaits a future court date on charges including menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.
According to Mid Hudson News, Castro allegedly held the hedge trimmer over his head in an aggressive manner and began revving the engine toward officers as they arrived. The outlet reports he was charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the confrontation.
Call Reported Threats to a Woman and Her Son
The incident traces back to Friday, October 9, when Fallsburg Police were called to a residence in Hurleyville, a hamlet in Sullivan County in the Catskills, according to NewYorkUpstate.com. Officers responded to a report that Castro had made verbal threats toward a woman and her son, per the same account. The River Reporter similarly notes that Fallsburg Police responded to a Hurleyville residence on October 9 following a reported harassment complaint.
It was during that police response that Castro allegedly turned the hedge trimmer on the officers themselves. The station's report states he held the tool above his head and revved it toward the responding officers, an act that led to two additional charges beyond the initial menacing and weapons counts.
Additional Charges Filed, Castro Released
Castro was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child and obstructing governmental administration, the outlet reports. He was released on an appearance ticket pending a future court appearance, with no additional details yet available on when that hearing will take place.
