Deputy, 3 others indicted in assault
Incident raised questions about bias from sheriff ’s office
Four people were arraigned for gang assault Wednesday in Columbia County Court for allegedly attacking a man during a late-night Fourth of July party at a Kinderhook home that raised questions in the community about how the sheriff ’s office handled the investigation before an elite State Police unit took over the case.
Alex Rosenstrach, 37, a gym owner; his wife, Deputy Kelly Rosenstrach; Bryan Haag, 37, an IRS law enforcement agent; and Cory Galord, 31, a contractor, were each indicted on felony counts of second-degree gang assault and first-degree unlawful imprisonment and accused of restraining and attacking Harold Handy during the party. All four face additional charges.
The Rosenstrachs hosted the party at their home at 3193 County Route 21, where the fighting broke out. Columbia County 911 was called at about 1:27 a.m. July 5, which led to the dispatching of deputies and an ambulance to the residence.
Handy was considered seriously injured and was taken by ambulance to Albany Medical Center Hospital. He was hospi
talized and eventually released.
Residents feared a cover-up was under way as Rosenstrach’s wife Kelly is a county sheriff ’s deputy and they have ties to local law enforcement. The community lit up with social media chatter that other deputies were at the party and involved in the assault. Sheriff David Bartlett repeatedly said that none of his deputies were involved and that he asked for the State Police to investigate.
Among the charges filed against Kelly Rosenstrach were official misconduct for unauthorized use of the sheriff ’s computer system to access records related to the case on July 6 and 7. Then seven months pregnant, she was placed by the sheriff ’s office on administrative leave.
Alex Rosenstrach, 36, owns Clublife Health and Fitness. Rosenstrach was in the news in May when he reopened his independent gym in defiance of the state’s mandate that gyms be shut during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many residents sup
ported Handy, who owns Handy Repairs, a local auto repair business. Rallies were held and signs dotted the area calling for “Justice for Harold.”
Defense attorneys said the case would show that Handy provoked the fights at the party. William Roberts, the attorney representing Kelly Rosenstrach, said it would be shown that Handy was the aggressor.
Handy attacked Haag, according to Haag ’s attorney Paul Derohannesian. “He did what anybody else would do. He defended himself.”
Michael Howard, the attorney for Galord, said gang assault is rarely charged and didn’t fit in this case.
“The story hasn’t been told yet,” Mark Portin, the attorney for Alex Rosenstrach, said.
Handy’s attorney, Paul Freeman of Hudson, could not be reached for comment.
The State Police Special Investigations Unit eventually took over the case, working closely with District Attorney Paul Czajka.
The case remains under investigation, and investigators are examining collateral issues that have
been discussed in “the public domain,” Czajka said in a statement. The district attorney praised the responding deputies and investigators for their professionalism.
Judge Richard Koweek opened the sealed indictment at the county courthouse and signed an order of protection for Handy. The defendants were released on their own recognizance.
The defendants also were indicted on additional charges.
Alex Rosenstrach faces felony second-degree assault and three misdemeanor counts of thirddegree assault, a count of third-degree coercion and second-degree reckless endangerment.
Kelly Rosenstrach faces three misdemeanor counts of official misconduct and one misdemeanor count of thirddegree coercion.
Haag, of Kinderhook, faces a charge of felony second-degree assault and three misdemeanor counts of third-degree assault.
Galord, of Craryville, also faces three misdemeanor counts of thirddegree assault and a misdemeanor count of thirddegree coercion.