Off duty Kingston officer shoots Middletown man in Wawayanda road rage incident

New details released by New York State Police describe a Dec. 12 road rage confrontation in Wawayanda that ended with a Middletown man being shot. Troopers say the incident began as a one mile long road confrontation between two vehicles on Dolsontown Road and escalated during an altercation when the driver of a Volkswagen, identified as Wallace F., 31, of Middletown, allegedly brandished a knife.

State Police say the off duty Kingston police officer involved was identified as Anthony Simon, 33. The officer fired, striking the Middletown man. Emergency responders transported the injured man to Garnet Health and later to Westchester Medical Center where he remained in critical but stable condition. Troopers and local police assisted at the scene.

Investigators with State Police BCI Troop F are handling the probe and are asking witnesses to come forward. Local reporting and witness video that circulated on social media prompted State Police to release updates as the investigation continued. Authorities have not released additional information about charges or administrative action as the review remains active.

For Orange County residents the incident underscores risks posed by escalating road confrontations on rural and suburban routes. Dolsontown Road is used by commuters, school traffic, and local residents traveling between Middletown and neighboring communities. A prolonged one mile long encounter of this kind can disrupt traffic and raise public safety concerns, especially when weapons are involved.

The involvement of an off duty law enforcement officer elevates questions about use of force protocols and interagency investigative practices. State Police BCI Troop F is the standard investigative team for cases where a local officer fires a weapon, and their work will determine whether criminal charges or departmental discipline follow. In the meantime, community leaders and residents are likely to press for transparency and for any witnesses to share information with investigators so that a full accounting of the events on Dec. 12 can be completed.