MONTICELLO, NY — An alert off-duty police detective is being credited with the apprehension of two individuals for a theft in progress at the Home Depot in Monticello.

On Saturday, April 9,  Fallsburg detective Brendan Pavese observed a female grab a Dewalt chainsaw and run out the front door of the store, past employees. The off-duty detective immediately contacted the Sheriff’s Office about his observations and provided a license plate number and description. Several minutes after the initial report, a sheriff’s patrol stopped the suspect vehicle on East Broadway in Monticello.

Upon approaching the car, deputies were able to see in plain view, the stolen chainsaw in the back seat. Deputies arrested the driver, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, 39, of Beach Lake, PA; and the front seat passenger, Brittany L. Neuberger, 31, of Monticello, NY. Both suspects were charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Deputies also learned that Fitzgerald had a suspended driver’s license, was found to be listed as a missing person by the Pennsylvania State Police and also to had an outstanding warrant with the New York State Police in Liberty for failing to appear in court on a prior drug charge. He was turned over to state troopers for arrest processing.

Neuberger was found to be in possession of oxycodone, methamphetamine, and fentanyl as well as a stolen credit card that was reported to the sheriff's office in February 2022. She was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor and felony possession of stolen property. Despite having 22 prior arrests and seven open cases, Neuberger was issued an appearance ticket and released under New York’s bail reform law. Both suspects are due back in the Town of Thompson justice court later this month.