Detective earns commendation for stabbing response

By CLOEY CALLAHAN
Posted 9/16/20

On September 11, around 10 a.m., a 54-year old Newburgh man was fatally stabbed.

City of Newburgh detective Michael Loscerbo, happened to be driving in the area of Broadway and Robinson Avenue …

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Detective earns commendation for stabbing response

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On September 11, around 10 a.m., a 54-year old Newburgh man was fatally stabbed.

City of Newburgh detective Michael Loscerbo, happened to be driving in the area of Broadway and Robinson Avenue (Route 9W) when he saw Arthur Thomas, 42, stabbing Felix Alduen-Durand multiple times.

Earlier that day, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, the victim was selling items and it appears the motive of Thomas was robbery.

Monday, September 14, District Attorney Hoovler, City of Newburgh Deputy Police Chief Arnold Amthor, City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey and City of Newburgh City Manager Joseph Donat announced commendation for Loscerbo who “singlehandedly intervened in stabbing in progress and effected arrest of Murder suspect.”

Detective Loscerbo radioed information to police headquarters before exiting his vehicle and drew his service firearm.

The City of Newburgh Police Department reported that Thomas began walking towards Loscerbo while still armed with the knife. Loscerbo was giving verbal commands to Thomas to drop the knife.

“The individual initially did not drop the weapon,” said Hoovler. “He actually took steps toward Detective Loscerbo. At the point in time, Detective Loscerbo took extraordinary precautions and showed great discretion.”

Eventually, Thomas dropped the knife before he was taken into custody by responding officers. He was charged with second-degree murder.

“At any point in this incident, Detective Loscerbo more than likely would have been justified in firing his weapon or using any type of deadly physical force to stop a knife attack occurring on the street in broad daylight,” explained Hoovler.
Alduen-Durand was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital and died from his injuries later Friday afternoon.

Thomas is being held at the Orange County Jail without bail and is charged with murder in the second degree. Officials expect the case to be completed before the grand jury “very shortly.”

Thomas has multiple felony convictions in Orange County.

Loscerbo is a 20-year veteran of the Police Department where he has held the position since 2006. He is also a member of the City of Newburgh SWAT team.
“This is the type of police action we want to see our police officers do,” said Hoovler. “He did everything in his power to make sure that he did not have to shoot the individual, and he was still able to get the outcome that he got, where the individual was arrested and will be held accountable.”

Harvey brought attention to police-community relations in Newburgh.

“Community policing is very critical right now as we see in other municipalities throughout the nation,” said Harvey. “This circumstance could have went a different way.”

Harvey described Loscerbo as doing an amazing job, who exercised “patience, deference and professionalism on all levels.”