Police: Ulster County Man Calls For Police, Meets Police Armed With Rifle

An Ulster County man is accused of calling 911 for police help and then meeting officers on his deck with a rifle.

On Wednesday around 6:30 a.m., deputies from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Esopus after the homeowner, 51-year-old Richard S. Neese, called 911 asking for help from police.

When deputies arrived on scene, Neese appeared on the rear deck of his home allegedly armed with a rifle.

After a brief standoff, Neese disarmed himself. While being taken into custody he fought with officers, causing a minor injury to a trooper, police say.

Neese was charged with three-counts of menacing a police officer, assault, two-counts of criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies, and misdemeanors for resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.

Neese was arraigned in the Town of Esopus Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 secured bond.

Deputies were assisted on scene by the New York State Police, New York State Police K9 Unit and the Town of Rosendale Police Department.

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