Walton Man Arrested After Burglary and Choking Incident

On Tuesday afternoon, February 25, 2020, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call for a burglary in progress on Seeley Wood Road in the Town of Walton.

Upon arrival at the scene, Sheriff’s Deputies were informed that the suspect had fled from the residence prior to their arrival. Investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as 40 year-old Ryan W. Kite, of Walton, NY, had forcefully entered the residence where he reportedly stole a quantity of prescription medication and choked a female victim at that location prior to the victim’s 911 call.

Sheriff’s Deputies subsequently located Kite in the Village of Walton Tuesday evening. Kite was arrested and charged with one count of Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony, and the misdemeanor offenses of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree and Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation.

Kite was arraigned in the Walton Village Court and, due to recently enacted bail reform legislation, was released on his own recognizance pending his appearance in the Town of Walton Court on a later date.

Speaking on the arrest, Sheriff Craig DuMond remarked “Here is yet another example of a Bail Reform nightmare. It is still very difficult for me to fathom a world where a criminal can physically break into an innocent victim’s home, violently attack the victim by means of strangulation, and be released back into the community. Who really believes this is in the best interests of criminal justice? The victims of crimes are real and being ignored as a result of the miscarriage of justice caused by the Governor and State Legislature”.