NORWICH – A Binghamton man was indicted by a Chenango County Grand Jury on July 26 on charges that he allegedly rammed a stolen vehicle into a state police car.
The jury indicted James A. Giacalone on three charges connected to a May 8 incident in the Village of Bainbridge during which prosecutors allege he slammed a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee into a trooper’s car. During the week of the incident, The Evening Sun reported that around 2 p.m. on May 8 in the southeastern county village, Trooper Bruce J. Hamilton observed a vehicle pull into a parking lot that was reported stolen in the City of Binghamton. Upon approaching the vehicle, the car and its occupant, Giacalone, allegedly sped away heading east on state Route 206. Another state police cruiser operated by Trooper George F. Hafele Jr. of the Sidney barracks was heading westbound on the same road.
According to a state police report, Hafele stopped his vehicle along the westbound lane of the bridge spanning the Susquehanna River, and Giacalone then allegedly braked hard, sliding his vehicle head-on into the trooper’s. According to the report, the Binghamton man then fled on foot until he was captured. Giacalone faces charges of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree and reckless driving.
Also indicted were:
• Travis Foster, 18, address unknown, who faces a three count indictment for his alleged connection to the Sept. 14 armed robbery of the Earlville Quickway gas station. Foster allegedly acted in concert with other defendants to bilk the station of $277 with the use of a knife.
Foster made national news early last year when he and South New Berlin man, Kenneth D. Peer, were arrested for forcibly tattooing an obscene message on another Norwich teen’s forehead. The obscure case made last page news on several national papers, and the ordeal was again covered by the Associated Press when the victim was offered free tattoo removal services from Michigan Dr. Greg Roche.
Foster was indicted this time around on charges of robbery in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and petit larceny.
• Joseph M. Craig, age and address unknown, who faces a two count indictment for his alleged possession of methamphetamine oil in early 2006. Craig faces charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
The indictment alleges that on Feb. 10 in the Town of McDonough, Craig possessed 2 ounces of the oil.
On Feb. 14, The Evening Sun reported that as part of a larger investigation into a ring of methamphetamine production in the Southern Tier, five law enforcement agencies raided a meth lab in Smithville. Along with the arrest of Craig and three other individuals, their efforts netted nearly 3 gallons of liquid methamphetamine oil. According to police reports, the foursome found in the rural Town Line Road cabin were in possession of approximately 170 ounces of the oil, a half once of powdered finished product and all the lab tools necessary for the drug’s production.
• Anthony S. Farina, age and address unknown, who was indicted on three charges connected to his alleged June break-in at a Town of Afton home.
On June 5, Farina allegedly entered a building located at 116 Afton Lake Road and stole a digital camera, a TV, a laptop computer and jewelry. The total value of the items involved in the alleged heist is in excess of $30,000.
Farina is charged with burglary in the third degree, grand larceny in the third degree and petit larceny.
• Dennis M. Broughal II, age and address unknown, who was indicted on four charges in connection to his alleged drunk driving in April.
On April 22 in the City of Norwich, Broughal was arrested for driving on Prentice Street while in an intoxicated state. He faces three DWI-related charges. Broughal also faces one charge of criminal mischief for his alleged damaging of property valued in excess of $250 during the incident.
• Robert W. Rifanburg Jr., age and address unknown, who was indicted on two felony charges connected to his alleged driving under the influence of alcohol in July.
On July 16, Rifanburg was allegedly found to be driving his 1982 Honda motorcycle on South Broad Street in the City of Norwich with .11 percent alcohol in his bloodstream. A certificate of conviction attached to Rifanburg’s indictment indicates that he was previously convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in July of 2002.