Sheriff Brian Hess announces the arrest of Diego Rodriguez-Ordonez, 24, of Brewster, New York, following a reported forcible touching aboard a train at the Southeast train station, his second arrest in approximately 18 hours.
On September 29, 2026, at approximately 9:09 PM, Putnam County 911 dispatched Sheriff’s Deputies to the Southeast train station after a female passenger reported being forcibly touched by a male aboard a train. The suspect fled before Deputies arrived.
A Deputy quickly located Rodriguez-Ordonez near the train yard. When the Deputy approached,
Rodriguez-Ordonez refused repeated commands and resisted arrest. A Taser was deployed, and he was taken into custody.
- Rodriguez-Ordonez was charged with:
- Forcible Touching, a Class A misdemeanor
- Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
- Resisting Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor
- Criminal Trespass in the Third Degree, a Class B misdemeanor
He was arraigned in Southeast Justice Court, where bail was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.
Earlier that day, at approximately 3:05 AM, Sheriff’s Deputies assisted the Kent Police Department at the Sinclair gas station in the Town of Kent, where Rodriguez-Ordonez allegedly assaulted a store clerk who attempted to stop him from stealing merchandise. Sheriff’s Deputies located Rodriguez-Ordonez hiding in a swampy area near the gas station and took him into custody. He was charged by the Kent Police Department with robbery and assault. Kent Police also charged Rodriguez-Ordonez with felony criminal mischief in connection with a separate incident at a nearby bank.
“Two arrests. Two victims. Eighteen hours. This individual was back on our streets just hours after his first arrest. This type of predatory behavior has no place in Putnam County. I am grateful that neither victim was seriously injured, and I commend our Deputies and our partners at the Kent Police Department for their swift and thorough police work,” said Sheriff Hess.
