NEW HARTFORD, NY — Two Utica residents were arrested following a traffic stop on Commercial Drive that escalated when additional parties arrived at the scene.
A Road Patrol Deputy conducted a traffic stop on Commercial Drive at approximately 7 p.m. on Nov. 29.
Upon contact with the occupants of the vehicle, the Deputy determined that parties inside the vehicle were recently involved in a dispute being investigated by the New Hartford Town Police Department that had occurred at the Sangertown Mall just prior to the traffic stop.
During the traffic stop, multiple parties who were also involved in the dispute at the Sangertown Mall arrived at the scene in a separate vehicle, as they are acquainted with the parties involved in the traffic stop.
Shortly after arriving, Melissa Henderson, 42, of Utica, began to cross Commercial Drive and intentionally obstruct vehicular traffic in the roadway.
While the Deputy was attempting to take Henderson into custody, a separate party who arrived with her began to push Deputies on scene and physically obstruct the investigation.
Stephen Bembry, 35, of Utica, and Henderson were both taken into custody after they both resisted arrest.
During the incident, Henderson also kicked one of the Deputies who was attempting to take her into custody.
Henderson was charged with one count of disorderly conduct, a violation; one count of harassment in the second degree, a violation; one count of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.
Bembry was charged with one count of obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and one count of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.
Bembry and Henderson were transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building for processing, where they were ultimately held at the County Jail pending their arraignment in CAP Court.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the New Hartford Town Police Department, the Whitestown Police Department, the New York Mills Police Department and the New York State Police.
