September 09, 2021
At approximately 730am Town of Fishkill Police received a report of a black male attempting to gain entry into a vehicle on Route 9D in the area of Dutchess Stadium. A homeowner confronted the man and he fled on foot. Patrols responded and canvassed the area with negative results. Later that morning (900am) a resident in that same area reported to police his residence was broken into while he and his family slept. Patrol Officers and Detectives responded and initiated an investigation. The residents 2018 Dodge Charger had been stolen from the driveway as well as the residents cell phone.
Later in the day it was reported that same vehicle was involved in an incident and subsequent police pursuit in the City of Poughkeepsie which resulted in the injury of two City of Poughkeepsie Police Officers. Town of Fishkill Detectives responded to the City of Poughkeepsie to join in the investigation.
Ultimately, the operator of that stolen vehicle, Malechi Dellefield Hunter, 31 of Newark, New Jersey was taken into custody, returned to Fishkill and charged with Burglary 2nd (Occupied Dwelling) a class D Felony and Grand Larceny 4th (Motor Vehicle). Hunter was arraigned in Town of Fishkill Court in front of the Hon. Harold Epstein and was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
This is another example of local law enforcement working together to get a very dangerous individual into custody. Anyone willing to enter an occupied residence is extremely dangerous which was only confirmed by his willingness to injure police officers.