Police: Man threatens to ‘kill’ neighbor over grass cuttings

Middletown police have been called twice within the last week to the 2200 block of Grand Avenue after neighborhood disputes escalated.

Brian Santefort, 41, called police Friday night and said his neighbor, Michael Hamilton, 55, who lives across the street, threatened to “kill him” following an argument after Santefort allegedly got grass clippings on Hamilton’s vehicle, according to police reports.

Police interviewed both men Friday night and told them to stay away from each other to prevent further incidents.

But police were called back Saturday night after Hamilton told police that Santefort allegedly let the air out of his vehicle tires. Hamilton had video evidence that Santefort committed the crime, he told officers. Police gave Hamilton a criminal complaint form, advised him to burn a copy of his video and present it to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Santefort told police that he worked all day Saturday, parked his car in his back yard, then walked into his house. He said he never got close to Hamilton’s vehicle.

On Tuesday, Santefort told the Journal-News he realizes Hamilton has video cameras outside his residence and he “couldn’t be that dumb to do something on camera.”

He’d “absolutely love” to see the video footage, Santefort said.

Hamilton was unavailable to comment Tuesday and several phone messages were left.

A copy of the police report was forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office.

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