| New York State Republican Vice Chair Vincent Reda was charged with petty larceny earlier this week by Clarkstown Town Police after he attempted to leave a Rockland County department store with a $200 coat that he did not purchase.
Reda claims that he didn't steal the coat from the Macy's department store at the Nanuet Mall and that the whole event just was a big misunderstanding, which he says will be straightened out by his attorney next month.
Clarkstown Sgt. Harry Baumann said Tuesday that a Macy's loss-prevention officer stopped Reda "leaving the store with $198 worth of merchandise" taken from a display inside the store.
"The officer observed him remove the merchandise and place it under a plastic bag and exit the store," Baumann said.
The security tag on the coat set off an alarm as Reda went through the security gates used to deter shoplifting. The police report advises the security officer "to hold video or any further evidence of the incident in the event of a possible future court proceeding."
Reda will answer charges of petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property on January 12 in Clarkstown Town Court.
The incident report oddly states Reda's present occupation as "unknown" and doesn't mention that Reda serves as the chair of the Rockland County Republican Committee and serves as the First Vice Chair for the New York State Republican Committee, or other roles he plays within and outside of Rockland County.
Reda had previously worked as a constituent representative for former Republican State Senator Nicholas Spano (SD-35). In 2006, Reda was unanimously elected by County GOP chairmen to be the First Vice Chair of State's Republican State Committee and has served as Ed Cox's closest advisor and strategist.
After his appointment as the State GOP's First Vice Chair, Reda worked for Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos, who consequently assigned him to work in disgraced State Senator Vincent Leibell's (SD-40) office. |
