A Dutchess County man is accused of taking money for a number of flooring installation jobs across the Hudson Valley, but never starting the work.

New York State Police in Montgomery arrested 45-year-old Martin J. Dyckman of Poughkeepsie for first-degree scheme to defraud and fourth-degree grand larceny, all felonies.

An investigation revealed that Dyckman accepted over $5,000 in down payments from multiple victims to install flooring in their homes without ever purchasing any supplies or starting any work, police say.

Dyckman was arraigned in the Town of Newburgh Court and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.

A "deathblow" tax increase, the return of a nasty STD and a local police officers death top this week's local stories.

More From WPDH-WPDA