Man taken into custody after police search near paul smith’s college — Police force department in full activity. Red light flasher of a patrol police car at sunday. Day patrolling of the city with lights flashers turned off. Security siren of the Canadian police vehicle.

PAUL SMITHS, NY – A multi-agency search came to an end Friday morning when officers located and detained a man walking along State Route 86 near Paul Smith’s College, according to the New York State Police.

Authorities identified the man as Anthony Bechand, who was spotted around 7:30 a.m. after tips from the community. Troopers and Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area, where Bechand was taken into custody without incident and transported to SP Ray Brook for questioning.

The search for Bechand drew assistance from a wide range of agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Task Force, New York State Forest Rangers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Saranac Lake Police Department, Lake Placid Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Plattsburgh City Police Department, Ticonderoga Police Department, the Northern Regional Response Team, and the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office.

State Police credited both the public and the media with helping locate Bechand, noting that community tips were critical to the investigation. Officials said the case remains active, with additional details expected as the investigation continues.

Key Points

A man identified as Anthony Bechand was located Sept. 26 walking on State Route 86 near Paul Smith’s College.
He was taken into custody and transported to SP Ray Brook for questioning.
More than a dozen law enforcement agencies assisted in the search and investigation.

Police said teamwork between agencies and the community was key in bringing the search to a close.

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