Bethlehem Police crack down with drug and alcohol arrests over St. Patrick’s Day weekend

BETHLEHEM — Over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Bethlehem Police arrested three motorists for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

On Friday, March 16, at 5:41 p.m., police responded to crash on Corning Hill Road in Glenmont caused by Tammy A. Kleinke, 18, of Ravena, who was under the influence of drugs, according to a release from the Bethlehem Police. She was charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle due to having a revoked license for a previous alcohol related offense, a felony; with driving while ability impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor; and with operating outside of license restrictions, a violation. Kleinke was released on appearance tickets and was scheduled to return to Bethlehem Town  Court on March 20.

On Saturday, March 17, at 1:23 a.m., Bethlehem Police stopped a 2007 Ford Explorer driving erratically on Cherry Avenue in Delmar; the release says; April S. Jacobsen, 34, of Delmar, failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, and with violations of failure to keep right, and refusing to submit to a breath test. She was also scheduled to be in Bethlehem Court on March 20.

On Monday, March 19, at 12:31 a.m., Bethlehem Police stopped a 2018 Jeep on the Slingerlands bypass that had been swerving on the roadway and driving on the shoulder of the road; the driver sped up as officers tried to make a traffic stop, the release said. Karen S. Menia, 58, of Schuylerville was arrested for misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, for moving from the lane unsafely, failing to use a designated lane, failure to comply with a police officer, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and refusing to submit to a breath test. She is due in Bethlehem Court on April 3.

Also this past weekend Bethlehem Police partnered with members of the New York State Liquor Authority, and visited 18 businesses that sell alcohol, to conduct alcohol-sale compliance checks. During these checks, police arrested these people after they sold alcohol to a person under the age of 21:

— Bonnie A. Pepin, 59, of Glenmont, while working at the Glenmont CVS;

— Zachary W. Miller, 19, of Delmar, while working at the Delmar Speedway; and

— Gurjinder Singh, 30, of Glenmont, while working at the Glenmont Mobil.

All three were charged with one unlawfully dealing with a child, a misdemeanor. Pepin and Miller were scheduled to appear in Bethlehem Court on March 20. Singh provided Bethlehem Police with a fictitious name, the release said, so he was also charged with false personation, a misdemeanor. Singh was arraigned in Bethlehem Town Court by Judge Andrew Kirby and was released after posting $500 bail.

On Sunday, March 18, Bethlehem Police were called back to the Glenmont Mobil when it was determined that Singh, while still employed at the store, had stolen several thousand dollars from the store and left, leaving the business unattended, the release said. As the result of an investigation by Bethlehem Police, an active felony warrant has now been issued for Singh’s arrest for grand larceny charges. Anyone with information on Singh’s whereabouts is asked to contact Bethlehem Police at 518-439-9973.

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