According to the Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a…

According to the Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a City of Utica couple was arrested following a traffic stop on Commercial Drive in the Town of New Hartford.

On November 29th, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a Road Patrol Deputy conducted a traffic stop on Commercial Drive in the Town of New Hartford. Upon contact with the occupants of the vehicle, the Deputy determined that parties inside of the vehicle were recently involved in a dispute that was being investigated by the New Hartford Town Police Department, that had occurred at the Sangertown Mall just prior to the traffic stop. During the traffic stop, multiple parties that were also involved in the dispute at the Sangertown Mall arrived to the scene in a separate vehicle, as they are acquainted with the parties involved in the traffic stop. Shortly after arriving, Melissa Henderson (Age 42), began to cross Commercial Drive and intentionally obstruct vehicular traffic in the roadway, in violation of Disorderly Conduct NYS PL 240.20 (sub 5). While the Deputy was attempting to take Henderson into custody for the offense she committed, a separate party that arrived with her began to push Deputies on scene and physically obstruct the investigation. The other party, Stephen Bembry (Age 35), as well as Henderson were both taken into custody after they both resisted arrest. During the incident, Henderson also kicked one of the Deputies that was attempting to take her into custody.

Subsequent to the investigation, both parties were charged with the following:

Henderson:1 Count of Disorderly Conduct, a violation1 Count of Harassment in the Second Degree, a violation1 Count of Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor1 Count of Resisting Arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor

Bembry:1 Count of Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor1 Count of Resisting Arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor

Bembry and Henderson were transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building for processing, where they were ultimately held at the County Jail pending their arraignment in CAP Court.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted on scene by the New Hartford Town Police Department, the Whitestown Police Department, the New York Mills Police Department, and the New York State Police.