The family that cockfights together goes to jail together? New York State Police, after an investigation that involved The Humane Society of the United States, yesterday arrested four members of the Harvey family of Bleecker, NY, for possessing 70 roosters used for cockfighting. And while they were on the family's grounds looking for birds they also happend to find 40 pounds of marijuana, 12 illegal firearms, fighting spurs and thousands of dollars in cash. more ›

After leading New York State Police on a harrowing car chase, a 20-year-old soldier who escaped military custody in central New York remains at large, and authorities say he should be considered armed and dangerous. more ›

Governor Spitzer can rest a bit easier now: The Albany County DA found that the governor's aides broke no laws when they tried to use the state police to discredit a rival, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. DA David Soares will release a report today, but in the meantime, his spokeswoman's statement said, "This office found no illegal conduct. To the contrary, we found that the governor, his staff, and the New York State Police were acting within their authority in compiling and releasing documents to the media concerning the use of state aircraft." more ›

Why is it that things are hotter in Albany with the Legislative session over? The brouhaha between Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Governor Eliot Spitzer has, as the Sun put it, "reached a new low." Bruno had a press conference yesterday, saying Spitzer's alleged State Police surveillance on Bruno's activities was "espionage." From the Times Union:

"I've been in government 31 years and I've never experienced anything like this," said Bruno. "I was stunned to learn Governor Spitzer is using the fine men and women of the New York State Police to conduct surveillance on me," Bruno said. "This should send shivers up the spine of every New Yorker."

The manhunt for Ralph "Bucky" Phillips, who escaped from an Erie County jail and shot three state troopers, may get some help from the NYPD. The NY Sun reports that the NYPD has been in discussion with the New York State Police to send over Emergency Service Unit officers (ESU is what the NYPD calls its SWAT unit) to aid in the manhunt. more ›

Sad news from one of our Stuyvesant tipsters this morning: "I'm a Stuyvesant student and today we lost two of our students in a car accident. They were Kevin Kwan, a junior, and April Lao, a freshman. Both were on the swim team and were attending a swim meet. The news link is below. This is very horrific and troubling for all of us and we would greately appreciate it if you post this on gothamist. You really dont think about such seemingly every day deaths until its someone right next to you. Thanks for taking the time to read this." more ›

A woman who had just picked up coffee from an East Village Dunkin' Donuts was forced into a car by a man posing as a police officer. She managed to escape when police pulled over Richard Padilla's car - he had cut off their car at 119th Street and 2nd Avenue - yelling that he had raped her. Padilla had told the woman he had a gun and kept her captive in his car from 6AM - 8:30AM Monday morning as he drove to a number of spots to sexually assault her. While he was charged with kidnapping, committing a criminal sexual act, sexual abuse and criminal possession of marijuana, Padilla was also wearing a sweater that the letters "NYSP" - New York State Police. The lawyer for Padilla, who was convicted to sexual assault in 1987, said, "He hasn't been arrested for 19 years. He's entitled to some bail." - alas, he was not. more ›