BUTTERNUTS – “Today looked like a scene out of the movies. It started with a heavy police presence in town followed by a helicopter patrolling the sky,” said Wendy Bovee Oldham on The Evening Sun’s Facebook page. “I watched a helicopter land next to my house at the fishing access.” She said a man dressed in camouflage jumped from the helicopter with what she thought looked like a type of machine gun in his hand.
This response stemmed from a multi-agency search for four individuals in the New Berlin/South New Berlin/Butternuts area on Wednesday.
New York State Police responded to a residence on County Route 18 in the Town of Butternuts in Otsego County at approximately 2:48 p.m. for a 911 call of a home invasion burglary.
It was reported that four subject stole property, then fled from the residence into a wooded area.
“One of the subjects was reported to be armed with a handgun,” says a release from the New York State Police. Warnings were issued to town residents to stay inside and lock their doors.
Oldham recalled that the helicopter continued to circle above the town and the armored vehicle on the ground. “There were police everywhere, and they started putting up road blocks for vehicle searches,” she said.
Patrols from the New York State Police, Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, Town of New Berlin Police, and Norwich Police Department responded to the area.
It was nine hours from the start of the search that all four subjects were confirmed to be in custody.
According to Trooper Nathan Reigal, photos of the subjects are not currently available. “Even though we feel we have the right people, a lineup might be needed, therefore photos will not be released at this time.”
The subjects – all Utica residents – were arrested and arraigned in the Town of Butternuts Court and are being held at the Otsego County Jail.
• Michael B. Mack, 25, is being held on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
• Ricky B. Woods, 17, is being held on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.
• Shirley M. Lamphere, 24, is being held on $3,000 cash bail or $6,000 bond.
• Jyra L. Nash, 17, is being held on $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bond.
All four suspects are charged with burglary in the second degree, a class C felony.
“I could feel the fear and panic well up inside me; this is a little town,” said Oldham. “I've lived here all my life, and we have never had anything like this happen before. The police announced on their loud speaker as they passed though on Route 8 for everyone to stay inside their homes.” She added that she would like to get some peace of mind, feel safe again, and hopes that the town can get back to some normalcy.
All of the arrested individuals will be scheduled to appear in court again at a later date.