Pot Boiler

Early this past June, the big news in town was the sudden early-morning midweek arrival of 12 members of the county's new Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team at the Tannery Brook home of Woodstock Earth and local Rainbow Tribe patriarch Dennis "Day" Yusko, who was forced to the ground as his home was searched and then charged with selling marijuana and criminal nuisance, both misdemeanors, as well as unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

Wednesday, September 19, Yusko pleaded guilty to the possession charge and ended up being fined $100, with an additional amount in court fees tacked on, for his crimes. He and his attorney, Rick Sudano of Rosendale, spoke about the costs of the arrest, which had been reported to have followed a two week investigation by Woodstock police, and called for an end to what they termed "this hypocrisy."

But Woodstock Police Chief Harry Baldwin hinted at more.

"I've just avoided comment on that situation in order to stay out of the middle of this whole mess," Baldwin said this week of the matter. "I think there's more to this story than has been presented."

Asked to explain, Baldwin remained circumspect, choosing to say simply, "It's over and done with... Let it be done... He's certainly not public enemy number one. Let bygones be bygones."

Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum meanwhile, said, "We did our job here. We keep moving on." As for the court results of the case, he said such matters were not really his or his department's concern.

"Our job is enforcement," the longstanding lawman serving his first term as county sheriff said. "It's business as usual for us."

Yusko, meanwhile, had plenty to say, noting how the law enforcement policies that ended up coming after him were basically "just chasing shadows."

"Let me read you something from the I Ching, found under the title of Enthusiasm, a rap that's clear," he continued. "'Only such laws that are rooted in popular sentiment can be enforced while those violating such sentiment only arouse resentment.' That's what's going on."

Yusko went on about how "cops rousting old guys over 60 to prove a point...hey, we're not old enough to know what we're doing?" Yet he also expressed thanks that all he got off with from the entire ordeal was "having to spend a few dollar bills."

"Fortunately, I had enough money to defend myself," he added. "What's funny is that I got more respect for this than all the work I've done through the years. If this can help move opinion against such folly in the end, it may prove worthwhile."

Baldwin, meanwhile, gave a brief update of other police activity in town. Things, he said, were "all pretty stable, staying the same,' with crime activity having leveled off at about 5,000 complaints a year and 500 arrests in town.

"We're right on target," he said.

Were any crimes up while others were down?

"Every year it's a mixed bag with a little bit of everything," he said. "Nothing out of the ordinary. It's not been a terrible year."