TOWN OF ULSTER – Two Kingston adults were arrested after allegedly encouraging juveniles to continue fighting during a pair of altercations at a Town of Ulster apartment complex, police said.
Carmen M. Perez, 53, and Ozzie D. Smith, 34, were each charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child following an incident this week involving four juveniles.
According to the Town of Ulster Police, officers responded to a report of a fight in progress at an apartment complex and identified two juvenile victims and two juvenile suspects.
Investigators determined that the suspects approached the victims and began fighting with them. During the altercation, one of the victims was struck with a baseball bat, police said. After the victims left the area, the suspects allegedly approached them again, leading to a second fight.
Police said further investigation revealed that Perez and Smith, who were responsible for the guardianship of one of the juvenile suspects, stood nearby as the fights continued. At one point, the adults allegedly encouraged the juveniles to continue fighting.
Both juvenile suspects were charged with attempted second-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and menacing. One of the juveniles was also charged with third-degree assault.
Town of Ulster Police were assisted by the New York State Police and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office.
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