PRESS RELEASE (ARREST)
LOCATION OF ARREST: Division Street, City of Amsterdam
NAME AND ADDRESS OF ARRESTEE(S):
Damien Bethea AGE: 30
Amsterdam, New York 12010
Deziree RiveraAGE: 37
Amsterdam, New York 12010
NAME AND CLASSIFICATION OF CHARGES (F/M/V):
1. Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd (C-Felony)
2. Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd (D-Felony)
3. Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th (A-Misdemeanor)
4. Menacing 2nd (A-Misdemeanor)
ARRAIGNMENT/BAIL STATUS: Bethea and Rivera were arraigned in Amsterdam City Court in front of the Honorable Judge Lisa W. Lorman and were both remanded on bail to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Bethea was remanded on $5,000 cash bail / $10,000 Insurance Company Bond. Rivera was remanded on $2,500 cash bail/ $5,000 Insurance Company Bond.
INCIDENT NARRATIVE: On Friday, February 10th 2023, at approximately 3:45 p.m. members of Amsterdam Police patrol and detective divisions responded to the area of Division Street and Pine Street for the report of an altercation involving a handgun. Upon arrival one of the individuals involved was located by patrol officers and detained without incident.
Further information was received that a second suspect involved fled the area on foot with a black bag which contained the handgun. A responding detective spotted the second suspect hiding on the side of a vacant property on Division Street. The second suspect was observed to be holding a black bag as previously described by a witness. That suspect was taken into custody without incident and located inside the bag was a loaded handgun.
Following the investigation, both Damien Bethea and Deziree Rivera were arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, as well as Menacing 2nd.
The Amsterdam Police Department was assisted in this investigation by members of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police.
The Amsterdam Police Department was assisted by the office of the Montgomery County District Attorney Lorraine Diamond in this investigation.
While there was probable cause for this arrest, all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
