Village of Camden Police Department

05/12/2026

A 25-year-old Utica man was arrested following a reported domestic incident in the Village of Camden.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, at approximately 12:34 p.m., an officer with the Camden Police Department responded to a residence on 2nd Street for a reported domestic incident.

Upon the officer’s arrival, the suspect was still present at the residence. The suspect, who was later identified as Pediwens S. Joseph, 25, of Utica, New York, was detained based on the officer’s prior knowledge of Joseph through previous arrests, and confirmation through investigation, that an active stay-away order of protection issued on behalf of the victim was in effect.

During further investigation and an interview with the victim, it was determined that Joseph had repeatedly contacted the victim over the course of several days and later arrived at her residence, which violated the order of protection. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was confirmed that the order of protection remained valid at the time of the incident.

As a result of the investigation, Joseph was arrested and charged with the following:

• One count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree (Class A misdemeanor)

Joseph was processed and transported to the Oneida County Correctional Facility, where he was held pending arraignment. He was later released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Camden Court at a later date.

The Camden Police Department thanks the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

05/06/2026

Attempt to Identify – Larceny Investigation

The Camden Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance with a larceny that occurred at Kinney Drugs located at 2 Preston Street in the Village of Camden.

On Thursday, April 30, 2026, at approximately 9:37 a.m., the suspects pictured below stole numerous items from the store before departing the location in a red Hyundai bearing NY registration KWG1007.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident or who has information or camera footage that may assist in this investigation, is asked to contact the Camden Police Department at (315) 245-1222. Information may also be provided via email to Officer Jennifer Hellinger at [email protected].

05/04/2026

The Camden Police Department would like to recognize and commend Corporal Dan Muha for his quick, decisive and professional actions during the incident at the Camden High School. Corporal Muha was among the first of those to arrive at the scene. His actions to assist in extinguishing the fire with a fire extinguisher found inside of the school helped to ensure the situation was quickly brought under control without further incident or damage to the school.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Camden Fire Department, Taberg Fire Department, North Bay Fire Department, and Florence Fire Department for their rapid response, professionalism and dedication to the community. Their coordinated efforts were instrumental in keeping the fire contained to a small area and also preventing further damage.

Additionally, we would like to recognize Randy Bajohr and Josh Mazzaferro for their leadership and effective on-site coordination and communication throughout the entirety of the incident.

The actions of all involved demonstrates a strong commitment to public safety, teamwork, and service to our community. We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone for their outstanding dedication, professionalism and for a safe and successful conclusion to this incident.

04/24/2026

**Updated**

The suspect pictured below has been identified. The Camden Police Department extends its gratitude to the public and law enforcement community for its assistance regarding this investigation.

*Attempt to Identify – Larceny Investigation*

The Camden Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance with a larceny that occurred at Kinney Drugs located at 2 Preston Street in the Village of Camden.

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at approximately 12:50 p.m., the suspect pictured below departed the location as a passenger in a mid-sized, silver-colored SUV. The license plate number is currently unknown.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident or who has information or camera footage that may assist in this investigation, is asked to contact the Camden Police Department at (315) 245-1222. Information may also be provided via email to Officer Cassie Tuff at [email protected].

04/18/2026

An 18-year-old female from Rome, New York, was arrested following a vehicle pursuit that entered the Village of Camden.

On Friday, April 17, 2026, at approximately 10:34 p.m., a patrol officer with the Camden Police Department was notified by the New York State Police that a motor vehicle had thrown an object at a State Police patrol vehicle, causing damage, before unlawfully fleeing the area. The New York State Police reported that the suspect vehicle was traveling northbound into the Village of Camden on Harden Boulevard and requested that the Camden Police Department assist them.

The patrol officer with the Camden Police Department, who was in the vicinity of Harden Boulevard, had observed the suspect vehicle enter the Village at a high rate of speed. The officer positioned his patrol vehicle behind the suspect vehicle and assisted the New York State Police with a vehicle pursuit. The pursuit ultimately concluded near Preston Street in the Village of Camden.

At the conclusion of the pursuit, six individuals, which included four adults and two juveniles, were detained while an investigation was conducted by the New York State Police and the Camden Police Department.

During the investigation, it was determined that Lillyana G. Capoccetta of Rome, New York, was the operator of the vehicle. It was further determined that Gabriel L. Clark of Taberg, New York, was the passenger who caused damage to the New York State Police patrol vehicle.

Following the investigation, the two juveniles were turned over to their respective family members as there were no applicable charges to be filed. Both Capoccetta and Clark were arrested by the New York State Police and subsequently charged for their actions during the pursuit. Clark was later released by the New York State Police and Capoccetta was turned over to the Camden Police Department for additional charges.

Capoccetta was charged by the Camden Police Department with the following offenses:

• One count of Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Two counts of Speeding in a Posted Speed Zone (Violation)
• Two counts of Reckless Driving (Unclassified Misdemeanor)
• Three counts of Failing to Obey a Police Officer (Violation)
• One count of Unsafe Turning / Failure to Use a Turn Signal (Violation)

Capoccetta was processed on these charges and later released on an appearance ticket. She is scheduled to appear in the Town of Camden Court at a later date.

The Camden Police Department would like to extend its appreciation to the New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, and the Environmental Conservation Police for bringing this incident to a safe and successful conclusion.

04/16/2026

Veterans, please join us!

Come out to Dunkin’ Donuts at 6 Harden Blvd., Camden, NY 13316 for our Coffee with a Cop & Veteran event.

Enjoy a warm cup of coffee while connecting with local law enforcement and fellow Veterans in a relaxed, friendly setting. This is a great opportunity to build community, share experiences, and learn more about the services and resources available to support you.

We’ll be on hand to provide information about our programs and connect you with valuable Veteran resources.

We hope to see you there!

04/03/2026

Scam Alert

The Camden Police Department is advising residents of an ongoing scam involving fraudulent traffic and toll violation notices being sent via text message.

These messages claim to be from a New York City court and are often referencing a Judge Michael Rodriguez. These messages are alleging unpaid traffic tolls or parking violations. Messages of this kind often typically threaten immediate legal consequences such as driver’s license suspension, fines, or court action, and instruct recipients to click a link or scan a QR code to submit payment. Please be aware that these messages are false and are a scam.

What you need to know:
• Courts do not and will not send official legal notices by text message
• Courts do not request payment through QR codes or unsolicited links
• Scammers will use urgency and fear to pressure victims into paying immediately

Common Red Flags:
• Generic messages that do not include your name or information
• Incorrect, distorted, or unofficial-looking state seals or court logos
• Threats of immediate arrest, license suspension, or legal action
• Requests for payment via QR codes, prepaid cards, or online links
• Spelling errors, poor formatting, or inconsistent court information

What to do when receiving these messages:
• Do not click on any links or scan QR codes
• Do not provide personal or financial information
• Delete the message and block the sender

If you believe you may have received a fraudulent message or have concerns that you are a victim of a possible scam, please contact the Camden Police Department directly.

03/28/2026

A 24-year-old Annsville man was arrested Friday afternoon following a stalking investigation in the Village of Camden.

On Friday, March 27, 2026, at approximately 10:05 a.m., a patrol officer with the Camden Police Department responded to a reported stalking complaint at a residence on 6th Street. During the investigation, the victim reported that the suspect, Mitchell J. Freer, had sent numerous text messages, TikTok videos, and voicemails throughout the day. The victim further reported that Freer repeatedly walked past her residence later that evening. This behavior was reported to have been ongoing for several days.

As the investigation continued, Freer was later located at the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 6 Harden Boulevard in the Village. Freer was taken into custody, and during a search of his person, the patrol officer located an unknown white powdery substance in a small white container. Subsequent testing at the police department confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine.

Following the investigation, Freer was arrested and charged with the following offenses:

• Stalking in the Fourth Degree – Class B Misdemeanor
• Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree – Class A Misdemeanor

Freer was processed on these charges and transported to the Oneida County Correctional Facility, where he was arraigned and later released on his own recognizance. An order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim during these proceedings.

Freer is scheduled to appear in the Town of Camden Court at a later date.

03/13/2026

***Camden Community***

After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to resign from my position as Chief of Police.

Serving the Camden community has been one of the greatest honors of my career. Over the past two years, we worked together to build and strengthen the department, and none of that would have been possible without the tremendous support of the Village Board. It was truly a privilege to work both for and alongside such a dedicated group of leaders who care deeply about this community and the future of the Camden Police Department.

I would also like to thank the Village Clerk, Village Treasurer, Camden Fire Department, and the Department of Public Works. I relied heavily on your experience, guidance, and professionalism, and your willingness to work together made our efforts successful. The teamwork between departments is what truly helps a community operate at its best.

My sincere gratitude also goes out to our local businesses that continually supported our PBA events, as well as community partners like International Wire and the Camden School District who helped us rejuvenate Camden’s Shop With a Cop program. Your support helped create opportunities that directly benefited families and children in our community.

To the Camden Police Department team — thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and the countless hours you put in to ensure we are present at community events and committed to keeping the public safe. Your hard work never went unnoticed, and I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished together.

As I look back on my time here, I do so with nothing but pride and appreciation. It has truly been a privilege to be given the opportunity to serve the Camden community.

Thank you all for the support, the partnerships, and the trust you placed in me.

— Chief Redden

02/11/2026

The Utica Center for Development will be organizing a veteran event on Fed 27th. We encourage our local veterans to stop in for coffee. See the posting for more information.

Help spread the word, please share!