ELLENVILLE – Continuing to battle the upswing in activity they've seen throughout the spring and summer months, the Ellenville Police Department made three arrests in the gang assault that was committed in the wee hours of Sunday morning, July 19 near a home on Essex Street. The police department is seeking the arrest of a fourth assailant, identified as Joe Olivero, who is also wanted in connection with the robberies that plagued Ellenville in late-April, early-May.

On the night of Wednesday, July 22, the Ellenville Police Department arrested Jordan Osborne, 19, of the Cedar Grove Apartments in Ellenville; Michael McGriff, 16, of Bachman Avenue in Ellenville; and a 15 year old juvenile male, also of Ellenville. All three were charged with gang assault in the second degree, assault in the second degree, and conspiracy in the fourth degree, all felonies.

The incident involved several men assaulting an unidentified victim outside of a house on Essex Street on that night, punching and kicking the victim and leaving him bloodied and bruised in the street. He has since been treated and released from the hospital for his injuries. Police Chief Phil Mattracion also points out that the term "gang assault" is only used in this instance to indicate that there were multiple assailants, not that they were members of a gang or that the assault took place as a result of gang-related activity.

While it was initially reported that the Ulster County District Attorney would push to try all the perpetrators as adults, upon further investigation it was found that, contrary to what was previously suspected, there were no weapons used in the assault, and as such, the minor would not be charged as an adult. The minor was released into the custody of his mother, and is scheduled to appear at Ulster County Family Court at a later date. Meanwhile, Osborne and McGriff were arraigned before Hon. Judge Matt Parker and were remanded to Ulster County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail, $20,000 bond.

The fourth suspect wanted in the attack is Joe Olivero, 19, of Ellenville, for whom a warrant has been issued. According to Chief Mattracion, Olivero is wanted on four counts of burglary related to the rash of break-ins at Ellenville businesses that occurred this past spring, ending in the May 15 arrests of Iqwan Mandiville, 16, and Richard W. Torres, 17, who were both caught in the act of breaking into Super Seven Grocery on Center Street that day. Olivero, says the chief, fled the state at the time, but had returned to the village recently only to have allegedly been involved in the assault on July 19.

"He's obviously a person who's committed a series of felonies, and should be considered dangerous," says Chief Mattracion of Olivero.

In addition to seeking Olivero's arrest, the Ellenville Police Department is still seeking information on the unknown assailant who attacked a village police officer on July 20. The assailant escaped the police, but the officers involved in the incident have worked with a sketch artist to create a composite, featured here.

Chief Mattracion urges anyone with information about either Olivero's whereabouts or the identity of the assailant to call the police department at 647-4422. All information will be kept confidential.