Police chief shot in Maybrook; Suspect dead after standoff
MAYBROOK, New York (WABC) -- A gunman opened fire on police officers investigating a domestic incident in a small town in New York's Hudson Valley Tuesday morning, sending a police chief to the hospital with a gunshot wound and sparking an hours-long standoff that ended with the suspect dead.
State police and the district attorney confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the suspected shooter is dead, though it is unclear whether he was killed by police gunfire or if the wound was self-inflicted. He was identified as 28-year-old Anthony Bostick.
The shooting occurred on Abbey Avenue in Maybrook around 9:30 a.m., with Town of Montgomery Police Chief Arnold "Butch" Amthor struck in the shoulder and rushed to St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh.
State police say Amthor suffered non-life threatening injuries and was conscious and talking when he was taken to the hospital.
"The police officer was shot in the upper torso shoulder area," State Police Major Joseph Tripodo said. "He is OK, non life-threatening injuries, conscious and alert at the hospital."
State police said they were responding to a domestic incident involving a recent breakup between the woman who is the primary renter of the home and her ex-boyfriend, who occasionally stayed at the residence. While interviewing the suspect, there was apparently an exchange of gunfire. Amthor was struck, but it was unclear if Bostick was also wounded.
"We have a shooting protocol anytime an officer discharges their weapon," a police official said. "We'll have two separate and distinct investigations, one involving the discharge that affected the officer, we'll investigate that, and then we'll investigate any other discharged weapon that we need to."
Police entered the home just before 3 p.m. and later confirmed that Bostick was dead.
"There was an exchange of gunfire," Tripodo said. "We do not know if he was hit or not hit. We do not know how he died."
Authorities were relieved the incident came to a conclusion without any further injuries to officers or pedestrians.
"At this point, if the police killed him, it will be justified under what we see right now," Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. "Although we'll have to see what the final autopsy report and everything says."
Amthor, who is the full-time police chief in Montgomery and part-time chief in Maybrook, has been surrounded by family and friends at the hospital.
"Butch is a true gentleman who has dedicated his life to law enforcement," Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus said. "He is expected to make a full recovery...I visited with Butch at the hospital, and I commend the St. Luke's Hospital staff for their professionalism and care that they have provided Chief Amthor."
Neuhaus has been friends with Amthor for more than 20 years, going back to their days in Newburgh when Neuhaus was city manager and Amthor was a detective in the police department.
"He was a standout police officer," Neuhaus said. "He was always thinking ahead, watching different trends. He'd be the first one to help his fellow officers. As you see, as police chief, a lot of people saying he should be sitting at a desk. That's not the type of chief he is."
Six years ago, Mayor Dennis Leahy brought him in to head Maybrook's police department.
"He looks like he is in good spirits," Leahy said. "We just want to see him home with his family and back in our department."
The Alternative Learning Center in Maybrook, because of its proximity to the scene, was placed on temporary lockout.
Maybrook is 70 miles northwest of New York City and has a population of 3,000. A map showing where Maybrook is in proximity to New York:
The New York State Police, in conjunction with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the State Police Montgomery BCI at 845-457-1388.
