The New York State Police, Troop F Bureau of Criminal Investigation, announces the arrests of Jeffrey D. Blount, age 34, of Utica, NY and Kevin Smalls, age 31, of Utica,NY, following an incident at the Ulster Travel Plaza on Interstate 87, known as the New York State Thruway.
On January 2, 2025, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Troopers responded to the Ulster Travel Plaza on Interstate 87 south for a report of a 27-year-old woman being held against her will. Upon arrival, the preliminary investigation determined that the victim had left the location in a vehicle that continued southbound on Interstate 87. Troopers were able to locate the vehicle in Orange County, NY, where the 27-year-old female victim, from Utica, NY, was found unharmed.
Blount was arrested without incident and charged with Unlawful Imprisonment in the 2nd Degree (A misdemeanor). Smalls was also arrested without incident and charged with Forcible Touching (A misdemeanor). Blount was arraigned at the Ulster County Court Centralized Arraignment Part and released on his own recognizance. Smalls was issued an Appearance Ticket to appear in the Town of Ulster Court on January 7, 2025.
Both suspects were known to the victim, and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.