Helicopter Landing in White Sulphur Springs Part of NY State Police Arrest of Man on Child Exploitation Charges

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, NY – New York State Police announced that the state agency arrested Nicholas Coughlin, a resident of White Sulphur Springs, on April 17 on charges related to child sexual exploitation.

Coughlin, 22, is charged with a class D felony count of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child under 17, a class E felony count of possessing obscene sexual performance by a child under 16, and three class E felony counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child under 16.

He was arrested following an investigation after a CyberTip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. State police said that the investigation led to a search warrant at Coughlin’s residence in White Sulphur Springs on Friday.

Troop F Public Information Officer Trooper Jennifer Alvarez confirmed with Radio Catskill that this investigation was part of the special operations response team that state police executed in the White Sulphur Springs area on Friday morning.

Radio Catskill previously reported that New York State Police landed a helicopter on Friday morning, April 17, at White Sulphur Springs Fireman’s Park as part of an active investigation in Sullivan County.

Alvarez confirmed troopers were conducting an investigation but had not provided more information at the time. Alvarez said there was “no threat to the public” at this time.

Informed sources who were not authorized to speak on the matter said that there was also a SWAT team and SWAT vehicle assisting the investigation. Radio Catskill confirmed with the Liberty Police Department and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office that neither local or county police were involved.

“Troop F CCU was assisted by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Liberty, Troop F Community Stabilization Unit, New York State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT), State Police Liberty Uniform, New York State Police K9 Gray, The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC),” according to New York State Police in its press release.

Alvarez said the state agency could not share what time the helicopter landed, but several commentators on local Facebook groups said that they saw a state helicopter hovering in the area between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m.

State police said that Coughlin was arrested and transported to State Police Liberty for processing without incident and arraigned that same day at the Liberty Town Court.

Coughlin was remanded to Sullivan County Jail with bail set at $25,000 in cash, $75,000 in bond, or $250,000 in secured bond. His next court date is scheduled for April 22 at 2 p.m. at the Town of Liberty Court.

Image: Exterior of New York State Police Headquarters in Albany, NY (Photo Credit: New York State Police)