Posted on: May 27, 2026 02:30 PM

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State Police arrest Lewis county man for rape and resisting arrest

On May 23, 2026, at approximately 10:58 p.m., State Police from SP Carthage and SP Lowville responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on Old State Road in the town of Diana, Lewis County.

Upon arrival, Troopers located an unoccupied vehicle stopped in the roadway. Moments later, a female victim emerged from a nearby wooded area visibly injured, covered in blood and dirt, and missing clothing. The victim was yelling for Troopers to keep a male subject away from her as he pursued her from the woods.

Troopers located the suspect, identified as Zachary J. Strough, age 40, of Natural Bridge, NY, who resisted Troopers while being arrested.

Investigators determined the two had been involved in an argument. While traveling on Old State Road, Strough allegedly struck the victim multiple times while she was seated in the passenger seat. Strough then stopped the vehicle, forcibly removed the victim from the car, dragged her into a wooded area, physically assaulted her, and forcibly subjected her to sexual acts.

Strough was arrested and charged with:

Rape in the First Degree (Class B Felony)

Resisting Arrest (Class A Misdemeanor)Strough was processed at SP Carthage and arraigned in the Town of West Turin Court, where he was remanded to the Lewis County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond, or $40,000 partially secured bond.

He is scheduled to reappear in Lewis County Court on May 26, 2026.

The victim was treated at Carthage Area Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries before being transferred to Upstate University Hospital.

The investigation remains ongoing.

From NYSP