Catskill officer resigns after accident results in DWI arrest

CATSKILL―A now-former Catskill police officer is facing a driving while intoxicated charge following a crash in Columbia County.

The single-vehicle accident happened around 8:56 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 on Route 9G in Germantown, State Police reported.

According to troopers, Carlos Yonatan Chavaloc, 21, of Hudson was the driver and two people were hurt. State Police did not immediately respond with additional details about the crash or the extent of injuries.

Troopers charged Chavaloc with driving while intoxicated and issued him an appearance ticket to Germantown Town Court.

Chavaloc had been hired about two weeks ago as a part-time officer with the Catskill Police Department, Chief Daniel Waer confirmed on Monday.

“He has resigned from his position with the department,” Waer said.

Chavaloc was enrolled in the Zone 14 Law Enforcement Academy at Columbia-Greene Community College and employment with a police agency is mandatory to enter phase two of the academy, Waer noted.

Program Coordinator and Professor William DeLuca did not comment specifically on Chavaloc but said, “Employment is a requirement of phase 2 and if a person is not employed they are not part of the program.”