Salisbury Man Charged with Weapon and Child Endangerment Offenses

On October 12, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., New York State Police responded to a report of a missing person at a remote campsite located off Christman Road Spur, accessed via an ATV trail in a heavily wooded area in the Town of Ohio, Herkimer County.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 12-year-old reported their hunting companion had become lost in the woods. New York State Police deployed multiple resources to assist in the search, including K9 units, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

At approximately 8:00 a.m. on October 13, the missing individual was located and identified as Ryan D. Zawtocki, age 28, of Salisbury Center, NY. Zawtocki told investigators that he became disoriented in the woods and entered a nearby unoccupied camp to stay warm. 

The investigation further revealed that the 12-year-old, who had completed a hunter safety course, had gone hunting with Zawtocki. During the outing, Zawtocki allegedly provided the juvenile with an illegal semi-automatic rifle. Due to unfamiliarity with the weapon, the child discharged one round into the ground. Shortly afterward, Zawtocki and the juvenile became separated.

The 12-year-old sought help from a nearby residence after being unable to locate Zawtocki. 

Both individuals were found uninjured.

As a result of the investigation, on October 15, 2025, Ryan D. Zawtocki was charged with:

• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree – Assault Rifle (Class D Felony)

• Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A Misdemeanor)

Zawtocki was arraigned in the Town of Ohio Court and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court on December 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

State Police were assisted by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Forest Rangers.