State corrections officer threatened family members with knife, police say

ROSENDALE, N.Y. » A New York state corrections officer who lives in Tillson and allegedly threatened his family members with a knife during a dispute has been arrested by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputies and suspended without pay, officials said Friday.

Antonio P. Sisilli, 38, of Tillson was arrested with assistance from state police at about 9:53 p.m. Wednesday and was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, coercion and criminal mischief, all felonies, as well as with coercion, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.

Sisilli, who has worked at the Ulster Correctional Facility in Napanoch since December 2003, was suspended without pay Thursday, according to Patrick Bailey of the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Sisilli’s annual salary is $63,043.

Police responded to a an alleged dispute residence in Rosendale where Sisilli was allegedly threatening family members with a knife, deputies said in a press release. Prior to their arrival, deputies said, Sisilli left the residence and told family members he would shoot any police he encountered.

Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum said Sisilli did not directly threaten officers, which is why he was not charged with that crime.

In the course of the domestic dispute, police said items in the house were damaged.

Sisilli was found a short time after the incident was reported and was arrested without incident, authorities said.

Sisilli was arraigned in Rosendale Town Court and sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail pending a court appearance. An order of protection was issued on behalf of the victims.