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More details emerge in police-related beating in Kinderhook

Dec 14, 2021 6:33 am

Roger Hannigan Gilson in the Times Union looks at more of the details in the decision of Columbia County Judge Richard Koweek to dismiss most of the charges against four Columbia County residents who beat a man nearly to death in the late hours of a July 4, 2019 party in Kinderhook. Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy Kelly Rosenstrach; Alex, her husband; IRS agent Bryan Haag; and Cory Gaylord, a contractor, were indicted on multiple felonies in October 2020 after a grand jury heard evidence in the case. They were indicted on gang assault and other charges, but Koweek dismissed most of those. Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka said Dec. 13 that he has not decided whether to re-present the case to a new grand jury. "We're considering our options," he said. Koweek dismissed the gang assault charges because he said, the defendant, Harold Handy, was noy seriously injured. Handy spent two and a half days at Albany Medical Center with two bones in his face fractured, and a large hematoma over his left eye. But the DA's office did not present any medical records or details about an operation to have a plate inserted in his face near the fractures. Other new facts emerged in Koweek's 42-page decision. For instance, Cory Gaylord and Alex Rosenstrach both allegedly fired shots during the party while drunk. But neither has been charged with any form of attempted assault or menacing. Handy was allegedly "restrained and beaten on three occasions," but his wife was not allowed to call 911. But the partygoers did let her use her phone, checking each time what number she called. The four defendants now each face a single felony count of unlawful imprisonment, and several misdemeanor charges. Read more about this story in the Times Union.