Ossining Police Investigate Pre-Election Incident

On November 7 the Village of Ossining Police Department responded to a report of an incident involving Town Supervisor Catherine Borgia. Town Councilman Peter Tripodi's name was mentioned in the report. Below is a copy of the police blotter, along with responses from Tripodi and Borgia regarding the incident.


The following is the narrative from a police report filed by Catherine Borgia on November 7, 2011 about 11:30 am:

On the above listed date and time Officer Encarnacion responded to 16 Croton Ave on the report of a suspicious incident. Upon arrival Officer  Encarnacion spoke with Ms Catherine Borgia. Ms Borgia stated that earlier today she was at the Ossining train Station campaigning and that she later came to 16 Croton Ave. Ms Borgia stated that when she got to 16 Croton a friend stated that she noticed a bumper sticker (magnetic) on her vehicle and a nail in her tire (not observed to be flat). The Bumper sticker stated "Democrats for Tripodi."

Ms Borgia stated that within minutes of discovering the bumper sticker, Peter Tripodi showed up to 16 Croton Ave. Mr Borgia further stated that she feels Mr Tripodi placed the bumper sticker on her vehicle and that she has a history with Mr Tripodi that stems from their political differences. Ms Borgia stated that she does not feel safe around Mr Tripodi and that she wanted the incident on file.

The following is a news release from Catherine Borgia regarding the incident:

For immediate release                                                             
 
Borgia’s Car Vandalized the Day Before Election Day
 
(November 7, 2011) Ossining Town Supervisor Catherine Borgia’s car was vandalized this morning, when a nail was found in her front tire, causing it to become flat.  Also found on the vehicle was a “Peter Tripodi” political magnetic sticker.  A police report was filed.
 
“I received an interesting phone call from a friend when I was sitting at my desk this morning in the Town Hall,” Borgia said, “He had passed me on the road earlier, and called to ask me if I was supporting Mr. Tripodi for Town Supervisor.  When I told him that I support Sue Donnelly for the job, he told me that he had seen a ‘Peter Tripodi’ bumper sticker on my car earlier this morning.”
 
“When I went down to look at my car, I also noticed there was a nail in my front passenger tire, the same side as where the sticker was placed,” Borgia continued, “I called the police in order to make a report.  Minutes after I called, Mr Tripodi showed up, parked illegally in the town hall parking lot,  and demanded to know what was going on.” Police called the timing of the magnetic sticker, the nail, and Mr. Tripodi’s appearance “suspicious.”
 
 
The following is a response from Peter Tripodi regarding the incident:

“County Legislator candidates should not act like 13 yr old children. That Ossining Town Supervisor Catherine Borgia would allege it was me who put my own ‘Democrats for Tripodi’ political sign on her car is ludicrous, and shows how she will do anything to get her name in print. As for a nail being found in her car's tire, everyone at one time or another has found something protruding from or stuck in a tire, especially when you are nailing campaign signs to telephone polls for weeks straight.  And as for me being at Town Hall when the police arrived to meet with Supervisor Borgia, I go to the Municipal Building weekly. I'm an elected Ossining Town Councilmember and hope the residents of our Town will vote for me tomorrow so I can then be referred to as Ossining Town Supervisor.”

Peter Tripodi, Ossining Town Councilman