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Clarkstown Police Department Issues a Scam Alert

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New City, NY – A homeowner has reported to us that several people have come to her home expecting to receive items they “purchased” on Facebook over the past few days. These individuals have all stated that they prepaid via Zelle for the items. These listings have been placed in local community groups making them seem more legitimate, consumers should do their best to verify all listings prior to making any purchases online. Below we have listed several red flags you should be aware of when purchasing items online.
Facebook Marketplace Scam Red Flags
Scammers prey on your emotions to make you think you’ll be missing out on a great sale or amazing deal if you don’t follow through on their rules. This emotional response is the basis of social engineering attacks, and they rely on you acting quickly rather than taking time to investigate. If you encounter any of these while buying or selling, it’s best to abandon the transaction:
-Low prices for what should be high-ticket items
-Refusing to meet up in person for exchanges
-Moving conversations outside of Facebook Messenger
-Asking for payment in the form of a gift card
-Requesting deposits on items before receiving them
-Asking for items to be shipped before payment is received
-Buyers providing a prepaid shipping label
-Buyers overpaying then asking for a refund of the difference
-Transactors without a profile picture
-Requests for your personal phone number or other information

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Crime

Pomona Man Arrested After Stolen Vehicle Alert Leads Police to Narcotics Investigation

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A stolen vehicle alert led Haverstraw police to a 49-year-old Pomona man who authorities say was found with a large quantity of narcotics.

According to the Haverstraw Police Department, officers were alerted Tuesday, Aug. 11, after a license plate reader notification indicated that a stolen vehicle was entering the Village of Haverstraw.

Police later located the vehicle in Pomona and took the occupant into custody without incident.

The suspect was identified as Diamond Dickerson, 49, of Pomona.

During the investigation, police said Dickerson was found in possession of a large quantity of narcotics.

Dickerson was charged with:

  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree — Narcotic Drug with Intent to Sell, a Class B felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree — Narcotic Drug/Stimulant with Intent to Sell, a Class B felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony
  • Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree with Intent to Sell, a Class D felony
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree — Motor Vehicle, a Class E felony
  • Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor

Dickerson was transported to the Haverstraw Police Department for processing before being arraigned in West Haverstraw Village Justice Court.

He was remanded to the Rockland County Correctional Facility.

The Haverstraw Police Department said the investigation was conducted with assistance from the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Rockland County Intelligence Center.

The charges are allegations. A criminal complaint is not proof of guilt, and Dickerson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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Crime

Pearl River’s Paula Bohovesky Killer Headed Back to Prison

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More than four decades after the murder of 16-year-old Paula Bohovesky, one of the men convicted in her death is headed back to state prison after repeatedly violating parole.

Robert McCain, who was convicted along with Richard LaBarbera in Bohovesky’s 1980 murder, was granted parole in 2021 after spending roughly 40 years behind bars.

Since his release, McCain has returned to custody multiple times. His parole has now been revoked following three violations, according to recent reports.

Murder of Paula Bohovesky

Bohovesky was 16 when she was killed on Oct. 28, 1980, while walking home after working at the Pearl River Public Library.

The Pearl River High School student was attacked and killed in a case that shocked the community and remained in the public spotlight for decades.

McCain and LaBarbera were later convicted of the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

The two men eventually became eligible for parole after serving decades behind bars.

LaBarbera was released on parole in 2019. McCain was granted parole in 2021, despite opposition from Bohovesky’s family and members of the Pearl River community.

McCain’s Return to Custody

McCain’s release did not mark the end of his involvement with the criminal justice system.

In July 2025, he was arrested following an incident at a park in Cortlandt. He later pleaded guilty to forcible touching and served four months in jail.

He was subsequently involved in another case in Peekskill.

According to authorities, the November 2025 incident involved an attempt to remove a license plate and registration from a parked vehicle. McCain later pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment and petit larceny.

In March 2026, he was sentenced to six months in jail. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision also imposed a six-month sentence for a parole violation.

His latest parole revocation means McCain will return to state prison. News 12 reported that he is expected to serve approximately 10 additional months, with a projected release date of May 1.

Continued Opposition to His Release

McCain’s parole has been controversial since the beginning.

Bohovesky’s family, community members and local officials had opposed his release and urged the state to keep him incarcerated.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day has also been a vocal critic of the parole decision. Following McCain’s 2025 arrest, Day renewed his criticism of the decision to release him.

The case has also become part of the broader political debate over New York’s parole policies, with critics arguing that the state has been too lenient toward people convicted of serious crimes.

However, parole decisions are made by the New York State Board of Parole, rather than by a political party or Albany lawmakers as a group.

For Pearl River residents who have remembered Bohovesky’s death for more than 45 years, McCain’s return to prison represents another chapter in one of the community’s most painful and enduring cases.

Bohovesky was 16 when her life was cut short. The latest developments surrounding her killer have once again brought her name and the 1980 murder back into public attention.

Photo Courtesy: Senator Weber’s office

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