A Delmar man’s legal troubles ended last night in Bethlehem Town Court, as the case against Daniel Van Plew was quickly dismissed by Judge Paul Dwyer.
Van Plew, 37, was arrested after he tackled a teen who had rang his Egmont Court home’s doorbell in a game of ding dong ditch. Robert Madeo, the father of the boy, pressed charges after his son was injured in the altercation.
`Obviously he’s very relieved, and he’s grateful the charges were dropped,` said Peter Gerstenzang, Van Plew’s attorney. `Everybody’s glad that it’s over, and he get back to worrying about getting a trolling motor and fishing with his kid.`
Van Plew chased and tackled the 14-year-old after 10 p.m. on July 17. The youth and his three friends who were also participating were not arrested on trespassing charges because of their age.
The arrest quickly became the talk of the town, and even garnered national media attention.
District Attorney David Soares elected not to pursue the charges after reviewing the case.
Gerstenzang said Van Plew appreciated not only a public outpouring of support, but also the treatment he received from police.
`They did arrest him, but they treated him with a great deal of courtesy,` he said.
Kristie Hanson, Madeo’s attorney, could not be reached.“
