Wine, shrimp and scallops n fixings for jailhouse meals

MONROE-Monroe police arrested two men in separate incidents last weekend with somewhat refined culinary tastes. The stories begin Saturday night at about 9, when police received a call from the staff at Star Liquors about a shoplifter who had just stolen a bottle of Jekel Pinot Noir and was last seen heading down Route 17M toward Harriman on a bicycle. Police broadcast the suspect's description and began canvassing the area. One person told officers that a man on a bicycle fitting the description had entered a room at the James. Police went to the Route 17M motel and found the suspect, Arthur D. Dally, as well as the bottle of Pinot Noir. He was arrested at the scene, identified by witnesses and charged with petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors. He was sent to Orange County Jail on $250 cash bail or $10,000 bond pending an appearance in court. Dally, 48, of 5 Church St. in Harriman, pleaded guilty in Monroe Town Court this week and was sentenced to time served. He told police he was visiting friends at the James. The Jekel Pinot Noir is produced by a vineyard in California, which lists its 2001 vintage n "pure, bright cherry jam, cola, orange zest, clove and mocha, with crisp acids and a smoky oak veneer; delicious" n under $20 a bottle. But the culinary capers were not done yet. On Sunday, at 6:20 p.m., a ShopRite employee telephoned police headquarters. A shoplifter had just run out of the store with $173.78 worth of shrimp and scallops. And ShopRite employees were chasing the suspect through the woods. In the course of the pursuit, the suspect dropped the seafood. Shortly after beginning their search, officers found a man hiding in the woods. Police said that when the suspect, Timothy W. Howard, was told he was being arrested, he began fighting with the officers. He also threatened to kill the witnesses who identified him as the shoplifter, police added. Howard was placed in a patrol car, where police said he unsuccessfully tried to kick out the vehicle's rear window. No officers were injured. At headquarters, Howard, 41, of 23 East Main St., Washingtonville, was charged with petty larceny and resisting arrest, both Class A misdemeanors. He was sent to the Orange County Jail on $1,000 cash or $5,000 bond, pending a court appearance. Howard pled guilty to the charges in Monroe Town court later in the week as was sentenced to time served.