(TOWN OF UNION, NY) Two men are facing felony burglary and other charges after being caught in the act by home security cameras and arrested before they could escape in the Town of Union.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at approximately 08:16 PM, members of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Strategic Response Group (SRG) responded to a report of an active burglary at a residence on Boswell Hill Road in the Town of Union. The homeowner, who was not at home at the time, spotted two individuals with flashlights inside his house via his home security camera system and called 911.
Upon arrival at the residence, responding Broome County Sheriff’s Office deputies, with assistance from the New York State Police, located two individuals through a window in the bedroom of the house, with one suspect wearing a dark-colored ski mask. After hearing law enforcement’s commands to Exit the residence, both suspects fled through the house, out the back door and into a wooded area, fleeing in two separate directions.
After a brief pursuit on foot, a Broome County Sheriff’s deputy and NYS Trooper successfully took one of the suspects, Matthew J. Ortloff, age 43 of Chenango Forks, NY, into custody. Ortloff was found to have knives and a screwdriver on his person.
Sgt. Thomas Holden and his partner K9 Raven of the BCSO’s Strategic Response Group were deployed to track the second suspect, Jeremiah P. Johnson, age 45 of Endicott, NY. For approximately one mile, K9 Raven tracked Johnson through a ravine and a dense wooded area in the dark before finding him hiding in the tall grass along the shoulder of Old Newark Valley Road. Johnson was then taken into custody without further incident.
Following the investigation, Ortloff and Johnson were charged with the following:
Matthew J. Ortloff
• Burglary in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony
• Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a Class E Felony
• Possession of Burglar Tools, a Class a Misdemeanor
• Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the 2nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
Jeremiah P. Johnson
• Burglary in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony
• Conspiracy in the 4th Degree, a Class E Felony
• Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the 2nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor
• Petit Larceny, a Class A Misdemeanor
Ortloff and Johnson were arraigned at Central Arraignment Part and remain in custody at the Broome County Correctional Facility.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police and the BCSO Strategic Response Group.
“Outstanding work by our entire BCSO team, as well as our partners at the New York State Police, in bringing these individuals to justice,” said Sheriff Fred Akshar. “This case serves as a perfect example of law enforcement and community members working together make our neighborhoods safer. We could not be prouder of our K9 units and today is no exception.”
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