Two Gouverneur men face charges after a violent fight escalates across multiple locations

New York – A chaotic series of events unfolded across two St. Lawrence County towns on the night of May 9, ultimately leading to the arrests of two Gouverneur men following what authorities described as a violent altercation involving weapons, reckless behavior, and significant damage to property.

New York State Police arrested 32-year-old Ryan M. Weir and 34-year-old Travis N. Cole after responding to a report of a physical fight at the Riverside Hotel on County Route 12 in the town of Rossie. According to officials, the incident began around 10:03 p.m. and escalated quickly, spanning multiple locations and resulting in criminal charges for both individuals.

What began as a fight between Weir and Cole in the parking lot of the Riverside Hotel drew the attention of a passerby who attempted to defuse the situation. Police say this good Samaritan managed to get both men into their vehicle in an attempt to remove them from the scene. But what happened next added a dangerous twist to an already volatile situation.

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As the victim drove away from the hotel with Weir and Cole in the vehicle, Weir reportedly threw an object at the victim’s car, damaging it. Rather than let the incident go, the victim chose to follow the men, presumably to hold them accountable for the damage.

That pursuit ended at the Clearview Motel, located along U.S. Highway 11 in the town of Gouverneur. There, tensions reignited. Both Weir and the victim exited their vehicles. As the two approached one another, things took an even more threatening turn.

Weir allegedly brandished a machete and advanced toward the victim. Feeling endangered, the victim grabbed a metal pole lying nearby and used it to defend themselves. They struck Weir in the head, causing him to retreat.

Meanwhile, Cole, who had taken control of another vehicle, began driving erratically around the victim. Police say his actions were threatening and caused the victim to fear for their safety. In a split-second reaction, the victim hurled the metal pole through the passenger window of Cole’s vehicle, striking him in the head. Cole sustained a minor injury.

When troopers arrived at the motel, they worked quickly to separate the parties involved and gain control of the situation. After a preliminary investigation, both Weir and Cole were taken into custody and transported to the State Police station in Gouverneur.

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Weir was charged with multiple offenses, including criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, menacing in the second degree, and criminal mischief in the second degree for the earlier damage to the victim’s vehicle. Following his arraignment in the Town of Gouverneur Court, Weir was released under the supervision of probation. He also received an appearance ticket to return to Rossie Town Court later in June.

Cole, on the other hand, was charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree due to his aggressive driving behavior during the confrontation. He was processed and released with an appearance ticket to return to Gouverneur Town Court, also in June.

The case highlights how rapidly a physical altercation can spiral into a multi-location, weapon-involved incident, drawing in law enforcement and risking public safety. No further injuries were reported beyond those sustained by Weir and Cole, and authorities have not disclosed whether the victim will face any charges related to the use of force.

The investigation remains ongoing, and more details may emerge as court proceedings develop in the coming weeks. For now, police are urging community members to avoid taking matters into their own hands and instead call authorities when tensions escalate.

As the town processes the night’s events, the community is left with a stark reminder of how quickly violence can erupt — and how fast a split-second decision can shape the outcome of an already dangerous situation.