Two Esopus men arrested after home invasion burglary

Two Esopus men have been arrested after they allegedly entered a house and attacked people inside, damaging the house and causing minor injuries to the victims.

On Sunday, May 25, police responded to a report of an altercation at a residence in Esopus around 11:25 p.m., according to the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office. Police said victims reported that two males, later identified as Jurgen J. Ladstetter, 43, and Jerry Barnes-Payne, 19, both of 20 Rifton Terrace, Esopus, attacked them and “caused damage to the building.”

According to police, the two allegedly held “cutting instruments” while they threatened the victims.

The victims sustained “minor injuries” after a brief struggle with Ladstetter and Barnes-Payne, who then fled the scene.

Barnes-Payne was apprehended near the residence and Ladstetter several hours later, according to police. The two were charged with first-degree burglary, a felony.

In addition to the felony, both Barnes-Payne and Ladstetter were charged with criminal mischief in the fourth degree and menacing in the second degree, both misdemeanors.

Ladstetter was also charged with the violation of harassment in the second degree.

Police said the two were arraigned in the Town of Esopus Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail — Ladstetter without bail, Barnes-Payne in lieu of $1,000 bail.